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The world's most ethical tourism destinations

Jessica Marati — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Mauritius, Latvia, Serbia, Bahamas, Costa Rica, Dominica, Palau, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

Each year, non-profit organization Ethical Traveler conducts a survey of the world's developing nations, analyzing their progress toward promoting human rights, preserving their environment, and developing a sustainable tourism industry. The study, run by Ethical Traveler's all-volunteer staff, factors in country scores from databases like Freedom House, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the World Bank, then dives into actions that governments have taken to improve circumstances within their countries in the previous year.

The top countries are celebrated in Ethical Traveler's annual list of the Developing World's Best Ethical Tourism Destinations, with the hope that increased tourism will help those countries continue to improve. "Travel and tourism are among the planet's driving economic forces, and every journey we take makes a statement about our priorities and commitment to change," they say. "Ethical Traveler believes that mindful travel is a net positive for the planet. By choosing our destinations well and remembering our role as citizen diplomats, we can create international goodwill and help change the world for the better."

This year's list includes Argentina, the Bahamas, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, Latvia, Mauritius, Palau, Serbia, and Uruguay. Explore these countries more in the slideshow below.

Gallery: The world's most ethical tourism destinations

[Flickr image via Lisandro M. Enrique]

The world's most ethical tourism destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Israel, Chile, Slovak Republic among countries with highest adventure travel potential

Kraig Becker — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Israel, Jordan, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Chile, News

A new study conducted by George Washington University, Vital Wave Consulting, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) shows that Israel, Chile, and the Slovak Republic led the way in adventure tourism in 2010. The study, which resulted in the third annual Adventure Tourism Development Index, uses a mix of quantitative data and expert surveys to rank nations from around the globe on their approach and commitment to sustainable adventure travel.

The study examines what researchers call the "ten pillars" of adventure tourism. Those pillars include such things as infrastructure, cultural resources, adventure activities, entrepreneurship, and more. When those factors were all examined and ranked accordingly, for each country, a score was calculated that resulted in rankings for both developed and developing nations.

So exactly which countries earned high marks in the latest Adventure Tourism Development Index? The top ten developing countries included the following: Israel, Slovak Republic, Chile, Estonia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Jordan, Romania and Latvia.Conversely, the top ten developed nations included: Switzerland, Iceland, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Finland and Austria.

The ATTA is quick to point out that these lists are not an indication of how well visited these countries currently are as adventure travel destinations, although some are already popular amongst travelers. Instead, it is a general rating on the climate that exists in these places that make it possible to support sustainable tourism now and into the future.

Judging from the list, it appears that Europe is well ahead of the game in terms of promoting sustainable travel. Both lists are dominated by countries from that continent, which could come as a surprise to many travelers.

To read the entire report click here.

Israel, Chile, Slovak Republic among countries with highest adventure travel potential originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR

Meg Nesterov — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine

This year is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union and 21 years since the reunification of Germany. While citizens of the USSR and GDR were unable to travel abroad and restricted in domestic travel, foreign travelers were permitted under a controlled environment. In the early nineties, if you were a foreigner looking to go abroad to the Eastern Europe or Central Asia, you called your travel agent and hoped to get approved for a visa and an escorted tour. After your trip, you'd brag about the passport stamps and complain about the food. Here's a look back at travel as it was for foreigners twenty years ago and today visiting the biggies of the former Eastern Bloc: the United Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

Soviet Union/USSR (now: independent states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldovia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.)

Travel then: Before 1992, most tourists were only able to enter the Soviet Union with visas and travel itineraries provided by the state travel agency, Intourist. Intourist was founded by Joseph Stalin and also managed many of the USSR's accommodations. Like North Korea today, visitors' experiences were tightly controlled, peppered with propaganda, and anything but independent, with some travelers' conversations and actions recorded and reported. Read this fascinating trip report from a Fodor's community member who visited Russia in 1984 and a Chicago Tribune story with an Intourist guide after the glasnost policy was introduced.

Continue reading Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR

Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps

Alex Robertson Textor — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Cyprus, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City

Creative new use for border crossing posts at German/Austrian border.

In the late 1980s, an American spending a summer traveling across Europe with a Eurailpass would see his or her passport stamped possibly dozens of times. With a few exceptions, every time a border was crossed, an immigration agent would pop his or her head into a train compartment, look at everyone's passports, in most cases stamp them, and move on. Every Eastern Bloc country required visas, some of which could be obtained at the border and others of which had to be applied for in advance.

Today, an American can enter the Schengen zone in Helsinki, fly to Oslo and then on to Amsterdam, proceed by train through Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, then by bus to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and then by ferry back to Helsinki before catching a flight to Athens and landing in Greece without once needing to submit a passport to a border guard's scrutiny.

The development of the Schengen agreement across Europe has altered the geopolitical map of the continent in many ways. For tourists, the development of the Schengen zone has simplified travel by drastically reducing the number of times a passport can be checked and stamped as national borders are crossed.

The Schengen Agreement is named after the town of Schengen in Luxembourg. It was here in 1985 that five countries-Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, West Germany, and France-signed an agreement to essentially create borderless travel between them. A model for this agreement had been created years before by the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), which eliminated border controls back in 1948. The Nordic countries also did away with internal border posts, in 1958.

In 1995, the five original Schengen countries plus Portugal and Spain inaugurated the zone. In 1997, Austria and Italy joined. Greece followed in 2000 and the five Nordic countries joined in 2001. In late 2007, nine more countries joined the Schengen zone; most recently, Switzerland signed up in 2008.

Continue reading Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps

Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New photography book on food and travel profiles meals around the world

Laurel Miller — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Food and Drink, Stories, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Kenya, Bangladesh, Latvia, Mexico, United States, Books, News

There are a few key things that unite mankind, one of which is the need to eat. Whether the act itself is one of indulgence or subsistence is largely a cultural and geographic, and not just economic, issue. It's this dichotomy that forms the theme for a fascinating new addition to the food and travel book genre.

What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets is the work of photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith d'Aluisio. The duo traveled to 30 countries to profile 80 vastly different people and the "food that fuels them over the course of a single day." Each profile features extreme examples of the subject's diet and caloric intake, rather than a daily average, and provides a window into world foods we might not otherwise be aware of.

The authors also note on their website, "While we have been diligent about providing cultural context and geographic relevance in each of our stories, the people profiled represent only themselves and no one person, or even five, can represent an entire country. Please use this work to further your exploration and understanding of the world."

Profiles include a Maasai herder in an extreme drought in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, a Bangladeshi seamstress, a Latvian beekeeper, a Minnesotan teen who works in a mall, a Mexican rancher, and a Tennessee man who is a candidate for obesity surgery.

You can see a slideshow of sixteen of the book's subjects on Time's website, here.

New photography book on food and travel profiles meals around the world originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AirBaltic expands, spruces up

Alex Robertson Textor — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, United Arab, Uzbekistan, Finland, Georgia, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, Middle East

Yesterday, Latvian airline AirBaltic launched two new routes: Riga-Madrid and Riga-Beirut.

Riga-based AirBaltic is an airline to watch. Little known in North America, the airline is notable for its low starting fares and the inclusion of most of Europe's most popular tourist destinations on its route map. But what really sets the airline apart from the pack is its range of underserved destinations across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and the Nordic countries.

These less well-served destinations include Baku, Tbilisi, and Yerevan in the Caucasus; Almaty, Dushanbe, and Tashkent in Central Asia; Amman, Beirut, Dubai, and Tel Aviv in the Middle East; and destinations like Kuopio, Tromsø, and Visby across Nordic Europe.

The catch is that most routes fly in and out of Riga, a beautiful city that is sadly not exactly top-of-mind among most visitors to Europe. While AirBaltic's fabulous range of destinations can best be accessed from a starting-point in the Baltics or the Nordic countries, the airline's fares for connecting flights from cities across Western Europe can also be quite competitive.

In anticipation, no doubt, of the summer traffic to come, AirBaltic also upgraded its site yesterday. The visual changes are minimal, but they go some way toward making the site more streamlined and enjoyable to peruse.

(Image: Flickr/Londo_Mollari)

AirBaltic expands, spruces up originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

Kraig Becker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Europe, Oceania, South America, Botswana, Israel, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Ecotourism

The Adventure Tourism Development Index is a study put together by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, in conjunction with George Washington University and Xola Consulting. The joint effort examines 192 countries and ranks them based on their commitment to sustainable adventure tourism, as well as a number of other factors that influence their ability to host an adventure travel market and offer unique experience to travelers.

The ATDI uses what it calls the "10 Pillars of Adventure Tourism Market Competitiveness" to determine its rankings. Those pillars include Sustainable Development Policy, Safety and Security, Tourism Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Adventure Activity Resources, Entrepreneurship, Humanitarian, Health, and Image.

The study used a combination of surveys, gathered from top adventure travel specialists from around the planet, and quantifiable data from each of the countries to establish a list of the top adventure destinations in both the developed and developing world.

The results of the research are quite interesting, offering up some destinations that might not have seemed like viable options in the past. The top ten developing countries are as follows:

1. Slovak Republic
2. Israel
3. Czech Republic
4. Estonia
5. Slovenia
6. Chile
7. Bulgaria
8. Latvia
9. Botswana
10. Lithuania

And the top ten developed countries are:

Continue reading Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tired of where you live? Buy yourself a new town in Latvia!

Scott Carmichael — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Latvia, News

Do you ever get bored of your own town? How about packing up all your stuff and moving to your very own town? This could be your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rename a town after yourself!

Of course, the move would involve relocating to Latvia, and you'll need to bring a decent chunk of cash along with you, but bidding has opened to find a new owner for the former top secret Russian military town of Skrunda-1.

Bids start at 150,000 Lats (about $290,000 USD). The winning bidder will become the owner of the entire town - including 5 million square feet of land, 10 apartment buildings, two nightclubs, a shopping center, a child care center, a sauna, and of course a variety of abandoned military buildings. The radar facilities were sadly destroyed, so anyone thinking of starting their own secret missile base will need to find somewhere else.

The town has been abandoned since 1999, so you'll need to make a couple of trips to the local equivalent of Home Depot to fix things up.

Continue reading Tired of where you live? Buy yourself a new town in Latvia!

Tired of where you live? Buy yourself a new town in Latvia! originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Latvia fed up with "English pigs" - creates anti-Brit police force

Scott Carmichael — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Latvia

The Latvian capital city of Riga is home to a lot of beautiful things, and I'm not just talking about their stunning blonde women.

Sadly, a lot of that beauty is being spoiled by British tourists who don't understand how to behave when abroad. The mayor of Riga complains about large groups of drunk Brits screaming and taking over the local bars and strip clubs.

One local resident went on record to say "They are drunk by the time they get off the plane and they don't sober up again until they go back home three days later".

One British organization even offers full package deals of "strip clubs and shooting" where stag party revelers can get lap dances and then shoot a couple of rounds with an AK-47, all for just $260.

Apparently the extreme low cost of flying within Europe has brought out some of the worst the UK has to offer, forcing the mayor to take some drastic measures. Starting this week, a dedicated division of the Riga police will be on the lookout for British tourists who take their fun a little too far. One man has already spent 3 days in jail for peeing on the Latvian national monument, so they obviously are not joking around. Oh, and the phrase "English pigs"? That is how the Latvian interior minister referred to these tourists. Classy.

Latvia fed up with "English pigs" - creates anti-Brit police force originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Latvian way to fix the economy? Hot blondes!

Scott Carmichael — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Latvia, News

The world is in a global economic meltdown, but Latvia is suffering a bit more than most other nations - their economy is expected to shrink by 16% this year.

Some countries have introduced financial measures to get things back on track, others have been forced to simply sit back and wait for the worst to blow over.

Latvia is not one of them - their economic stimulus package is brilliant, and involves declaring May 31st "national blondes day"

The event was organized to cheer up the nation, and raise money for a charity. The event started with a parade, and other activities included a golf tournament, fashion show and an evening ball.

I'd say this is the kind of event that every country should consider. Perhaps May 31st could become a worldwide blondes day. Even if it doesn't fix the economy, it certainly will spice things up a little.

Continue reading The Latvian way to fix the economy? Hot blondes!

The Latvian way to fix the economy? Hot blondes! originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Riga, Latvia: the best place you've never been

Tom Johansmeyer — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: History, Europe, Latvia

A lot has changed since the Cold War ended. If this is news to you, please stop reading immediately. You don't want to drink water from a fire hose. But, if you are in fact aware that the Berlin Wall fell (and that David Hasselhoff provided the soundtrack, to the joy of Germans and the chagrin of Americans), then keep going. You're about to find out why you need to get out to Riga, Latvia.

The days of bugged hotel room phones may be in the past, but you can still see the equipment used to defend the Eastern Bloc against the evils of capitalism at the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia - a name that makes clear how welcome the Russian's were in this corner of the world. However, these devices are notably absent from the , now a primo site in what is sometimes called the Paris of the Baltics.

Cruise along Albert Street to enjoy the city's architectural high-points, including facades adorned with serpents, birds, flowers and female faces. German, Austrian and Finnish influences converge on this small nation to create a unique blend that is hard to find anywhere else. With cobblestone under foot, you will soak in the history of this city, and this country, through the faces of its buildings.

Stop by the Central Market while you're in Riga. It occupies five old Zeppelin hangars, with each representing a different food group: meat, fish, dairy, bread and produce. Also, stop by Laima, the country's top local chocolate-maker, and make sure you leave room in your bags to bring some home.

When the Iron Curtain was pulled back, we celebrated, and we moved on. Many of the countries once obstructed from view were merely forgotten. Remember them, and add them to our itinerary. As time passes, relics of the communist era will be supplanted by the latest iteration of modernity. The clock is ticking.

Oh, and don't speak Russian!

Riga, Latvia: the best place you've never been originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OK, in Latvia, do not speak Russian

Jeffrey White — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Latvia

Language is a funny thing: When you say something wrong, even in a foreign tongue, you don't have to be told you made a mistake. The reaction says it all.

It comes in the form of a stony face, a pause, and an answer that in itself is a correction.

At least that's what I was thinking about today. I'm writing this from Latvia, a country that has its own language - Latvian - and a de facto language, Russian, that was the lingua franca here throughout decades of communism.

Unfortunately, I don't know a word of Latvian. Instead, approaching a shopkeeper a little while ago, I spoke to her in Russian. Zd`rravstvuite, I said, using the basic hello in Russian, and proceeded to ask her how much a scarf cost (it's **bleeping** cold here!). I speak enough Russian to ask the very basics: how much, where to, what is good.

But I awakened her ire with my Russian greeting. She returned it with something I didn't understand, and proceeded to answer all my questions decidedly not in Russian.

Continue reading OK, in Latvia, do not speak Russian

OK, in Latvia, do not speak Russian originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hospital-themed restaurant in Latvia. Check in like a patient and order up a meal

Jamie Rhein — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food and Drink, Blogs, Latvia

Here's another unsual restaurant that joins the ranks of off beat eateries like the Toilet Restaurant in Taiwan.

In Riga, Latvia, folks who head to the restaurant Hospitalis check in as if they are patients in a hospital. Once seated in the midst of operating tables, medical equipment and other hospital related paraphenelia, nurses wait on them.

The nurses are not real nurses, just dressed that way. Kind of. Their attire looks more like the va va va voom variety than the nurses who wear sensible shoes. Also, they can play the violin.

Continue reading Hospital-themed restaurant in Latvia. Check in like a patient and order up a meal

Hospital-themed restaurant in Latvia. Check in like a patient and order up a meal originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Independence days and elephants

Jamie Rhein — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Festivals and Events, Angola, Mauritania, Cambodia, East Timor, Russian Federation, Albania, France, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, Barbados, Dominica, United States, Colombia, Suriname

I've whipped out my International Calendar to see what might be left to tell about November before it slips away from Eastern Standard Time in a few hours. What I see is a whole lot of independence days and a slew of other politically geared occasions.

Nov. 1--Antigua-Barbuda gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1980.
Nov. 3--Dominica gained independence from the UK in 1978. Panama gained Independence from Colombia in 1903 and Micronesia gained independence from the U.S. in 1980.
Nov. 9--Cambodia gained independence from France in 1953.
Nov. 11--Poland gained independence in 1918; Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
Nov. 18--Latvia gained independence from Russia in 1918; Morocco from France in 1956.
Nov. 25--Suriname gained independence
Nov. 28--Mauritania gained Independence from France in 1968 and Albania gained Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, Panama gained independence from Spain in 1821 and East Timor gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
Nov. 30-Barbados gained independence from the U.K. in 1966

Other than these, Tonga has had Constitution Day (Nov. 4); Russia, Revolution Day (Nov. 7); Brazil, Republic Day (Nov. 15); and Vanuatu has had National Unity Day, (Nov. 29)

My favorite happening of the bunch of events that occurred this month, though, is the Surin Elephant Round-Up in Thailand.

Independence days and elephants originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jail Hotels: bunking like an inmate

Abha Malpani — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: History, Europe, North America, Latvia, Switzerland, United States

Call me weird, but there is something sickly exciting about living in a hotel that used to be a jail. I prefer hostels, bed and breakfast inns and motels to hotels -- with a special dislike towards 5-star luxury -- but should I have the opportunity to stay at the new Boston jail hotel, I'd take it.

Smartly called "Liberty Hotel", the once notorious Charles Street Jail celled Boston Mayor James Michael Curley and Frank Abagnale Jr., the con artist played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie "Catch Me If You Can." After a $150 million refurbishment, it is now a 4-star hotel that seems to have succeeded in making something once squalid into something luxurious. Opened only in August, the likes of Meg Ryan and Mick Jagger have already been guests.

Less luxurious and more prison-like is the "Jail Hotel" in Switzerland, and the Liepaja prison in Latvia that takes your 'lock-up' experience to different heights. At the Liepaja, you are photographed and given a prison passport; you are given a medical test, a 'do's and don'ts' list, and you have to make your own bed to strict army codes; a gun shot is fired if they see you smirking!

Any takers?

[Via ABC News]

Photo: Travelblog.org -- Downpour30, Justin and Lauren

Jail Hotels: bunking like an inmate originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 08 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe's Red Asphalt: The Most Dangerous Roads in the EU

Neil Woodburn — Tue, 08 May 2007 08:18:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Thinking of renting a car and driving through Europe this summer? Want to come back alive? Well then, there are a couple of countries you should probably avoid--mainly those located in the Baltics.

According to a recent EU report, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia had the highest number of per capita vehicular fatalities in 2006. Lithuania led the charge with 223 deaths per million inhabitants. Latvia took second with 177 while Estonia grabbed the bronze with 152.

A deeper analysis of the report in the Baltic Times wasn't able to provide a clear answer as to why driving in the Baltics is such a dangerous ordeal. The paper did point out, however, that alcohol wasn't entirely to blame. Only 14.8 percent of Lithuania's fatalities were drunk driving related. Spain, on the other hand, holds the dubious honor of having the highest percentage of drunk driving fatalities: 29.5 percent. France and Portugal follow closely with 28.8 and 27.8 percent respectively.

Hmm... I might be wrong here, but I'll bet those three countries consume more wine per capita than anywhere else in Europe. Heavy beer drinking countries like the Czech Republic and Austria, on the other hand, experienced only 4.8 and 5.9 percent of fatalities due to drunk driving.

So, where are the safest roads in Europe? Malta with 25 fatalities per million inhabitants followed by the Netherlands (43) and Sweden (49).

Europe's Red Asphalt: The Most Dangerous Roads in the EU originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 May 2007 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Word for the Travel Wise (12/17/06)

Adrienne Wilson — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:09:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Europe, Latvia, Foreign Language

After going through some of the language archives I just realized I forgot to include a very useful link in the Latvian lessons that can help not only with the exploration of Latvian, but many other langs as well. BBC Languages Quick Fix has a section for Latvian with audio on all the very basics. This is one of my favorite links and I have referred several people who want to learn more popular lingos to their pages. If you haven't yet - please check it out!

Today's word is a Latvian word used in Latvia:

paldies - thank you

To learn Latvian online for free you'll need to be resourceful. Start with this Latvian Institute website full of info on the country and a short page dedicated to the lang and some common words which include axe, broom, pea, and beard. The Latvian tourism site has few, but far more useful in terms of greetings. If you're more about face-to-face language practice head to the American Latvian Association's annual meeting in April. As always find out who on My Language Exchange would be willing to help.

Past Latvian words: cirvis, dzintars, mugura

Word for the Travel Wise (12/17/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 17 Dec 2006 20:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Word for the Travel Wise (10/17/06)

Adrienne Wilson — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Europe, Latvia

It's been a while since I had a Latvian word and with winter right around the corner I'd like to suggest travel to the town of Sigulda. Known as a minor health resort and winter sports center it sounds as if you can get a very good back massage which should be much after spending a day on the bobsled run. See Lonely Planet's short description of Sigulda.

Today's word is a Latvian word used in Latvia:

mugura - back

To learn Latvian online for free you'll need to be resourceful. Start with this Latvian Institute website full of info on the country and a short page dedicated to the lang and some common words which include axe, broom, pea, and beard. The Latvian tourism site has few, but far more useful in terms of greetings. If you're more about face-to-face language practice head to the American Latvian Association's annual meeting in April. As always find out who on My Language Exchange would be willing to help.

Past Latvian words: cirvis, dzintars

Word for the Travel Wise (10/17/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Word for the Travel Wise (04/09/06)

Adrienne Wilson — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Europe, Latvia

Earlier today I took a little time to polish my silver jewelry (a chore I truly dislike doing) and couldn't help admiring an old piece of amber I'd gotten in San Francisco's China Town. It was my first real piece of amber and who would have guessed that piece would have inspired me to consider travel to the Baltic, where amber can be found in droves? At least that is what I'm told. The more I began looking at the different kinds of amber;green, yellow and brown and discovering how unique each one was I couldn't help thinking what it must be like shopping for it in Europe.

Today's word is a Latvian word used in Latvia:

dzintars - amber

I'm not certain how Latvia ranks in finding extremely unique pieces of dzintars or amber, but a day spent shopping for jewelry in Latvia has got to be quite different than the time I spent in China Town.

To learn Latvian online for free you'll need to be resourceful. Start with this Latvian Institute website full of info on the country and a short page dedicated to the lang and some common words which include axe, broom, pea, and beard. The Latvian tourism site has few, but far more useful in terms of greetings. If you're more about face-to-face language practice head to the American Latvian Association's annual meeting this coming April. As always find out who on My Language Exchange would be willing to help.

Past Latvian words: cirvis

Word for the Travel Wise (04/09/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 09 Apr 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Red Corner: Vilnius, Tallinn, and Riga

Neil Woodburn — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 08:14:00 EST

Filed under: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Red Corner

The Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were the last to be incorporated into the Soviet Union, and boy do they show it. The extra 20 years of European influence can still be seen today as these three countries, now independent, are rapidly becoming hot tourist destinations-thanks in large part to this quaint European vibe still very much alive.

The flavor of these three capitals is succinctly captured in an LA Times piece by Beverly Beyette who heaps accolades upon the Art Nouveau façades of Riga, the walled old town of Tallinn, and the hidden courtyards of Vilnius. Vilnius, however, was Beyette's least favorite of the three capitals, but one which I particularly like; it just takes a little bit more exploring to fully enjoy it.

This fairy tale ambience of the Baltics, however, is offset by dark memories of Soviet and Nazis abuses. Although she doesn't write too much about it, Beyette does delve outside the idyllic comfort zone of her travels to visit the horrific Museum of Genocide Victims in Vilnius and The Museum of Occupations in Tallinn. A few hours in either one of these museums can ruin your whole day with the horrors contained within; it is a necessity, however, when visiting the Baltics.

Red Corner: Vilnius, Tallinn, and Riga originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 09 Apr 2006 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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