Die-hard Ultras / Hardcore Supporters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv9QuCAmBaM&feature=fvst

So, this is the stadium ☕
... turns out it's actually pretty cool...

Raymond King47 said:Why are you nitpicking that specific sentence? The whole post was about something else entirely. That part was just a side note, basically saying if you want to, you can... But regarding the 🙂 part—tell me straight, do we actually have any new heavy hitters for the national team?

It’s because it rubbed me the wrong way and caught my eye. 🙂
Plus, I've lived long enough to know how things work. 🙂

As far as I'm concerned, we have absolutely nothing for the national team. ☕

Stumbled upon this pic featuring some famous face 😁

http://i45.tinypic.com/2ivoaq8.jpg

John Brown30 said:It’s just because certain things rubbed me the wrong way, 🙂
and honestly, I’ve lived long enough to know how things actually work. 🙂

As far as I'm concerned, we don't have anything to offer the national team. ☕

We’ve got plenty of idiots—just like them, the ones who never go anywhere, but suddenly think they're big shots when they're playing on home turf against Georgia, Sweden, Andorra, or England once they remember they're Americans. That's basically all we have.🤷😉

Has Joe’s ears gotten a little smaller lately???

John Brown30 said:Just spotted this photo featuring a certain famous face.😁

http://i45.tinypic.com/2ivoaq8.jpg

When was this taken?

🤷 I was just thinking about last summer when there was enough 🙂

Honestly, just forget about New York City FC... they can go straight to hell at the edge of the universe, somewhere way out past Australia, right next to some bearded drunkard...

I hope you all rot for all I care...

slylynx3 said:Honestly, just send New York City FC to the absolute edge of the map, somewhere near Australia... just get them out of my sight, damn those drunken, bearded saints...

I don't see what any saint has to do with New York City FC; they're Lutherans...😁

Gary Thomas2 said:What on earth does Saint Sava have to do with New York City FC? They're Lutherans. 😁

I honestly don't know what they're playing at over there... I mean, seriously, why on earth do they have Black saints? =??!?!?!??!

New York City... some church.
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/1...41600x1200.jpg

Just one more thing... if I may be so bold as to say, we should probably mark this moment down. A little acknowledgment for the books, you know?

(In the background, there’s some kind of tower standing in the center... maybe a bell tower or something like that.)

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/5...31600x1200.jpg

Honestly, the whole city is just way too expensive. Everything is such a grind—the laws are incredibly strict, they’ve got those curfew schemes in place, and you can't even light up on the street, let alone find a decent bar that lets you smoke. It’s just one thing after another. There isn't much of a nightlife scene either, which is a real shame. You’d think all these restrictions would make the city and the country totally unattractive to tourists, but somehow, we always end up having a good time anyway... I don't know how we do it.

Come on, don't go overboard... it’s not like there's nowhere to go. It’s peak season for them right now, so you'd think everything would be packed—and yeah, if it isn't cheap, it's busy—but you can still find decent spots at totally reasonable prices

And what on earth do you mean by a "police curfew" scheme?? Every club is running until 6 AM on weekends (and even most Thursdays, haha) and the city is buzzing all night long...

How can people say things are expensive now? I saw a segment on TV the other day featuring a guy over in Riga, talking about how you could grab a meal at a restaurant for just $6.75🤷
.

driftingfalcon88 said:Come on now, don't exaggerate... it's not like there's nowhere to go. It's peak season for them right now, so you'd think everything would be packed, and if it isn't cheap—well, it isn't—but you can still find spots at pretty decent prices if you look.

And what on earth do you mean "police curfew" schemes?? Every club stays open until 6 AM on weekends (and even a good chunk of Thursday nights, haha) and the city is buzzing with people all through the night...

You can't even smoke on the street, let alone inside any cafe, for instance. You have officers in green vests patrolling the streets handing out fines just for drinking or smoking in public. Prices are around $10 per beer (check the exchange rate at 😉 ), maybe 20 to 30 bucks, but you really have to be selective about where and when you grab a beer, let alone something stronger. The city is a heavy smoker's paradise during the week, but by 11 PM, the clubs are already half empty. Friday is the big night. Saturday is more laid back because everyone is gearing up for work on Monday. Latvia has the second highest unemployment rate in Europe—well, in the Eurozone—right behind Spain. People are struggling; they aren't very approachable. Given they were under occupation until 1989, damn it, it’s not surprising that it still leaves an impact since they lived under a somewhat stricter regime. The food is totally tasteless, too, and don't be surprised if you see a menu of 50 items and haven't tried a single one. And god forbid you eat the pizza here; it was some of the most revolting stuff I've ever had in my life—besides the hangover, of course. The absolute kicker was seeing spinach as a topping on a pizza! Pure torture. The city is quiet during the day, but back in October when Team USA played (I think), we were up north and it was terribly gloomy; everything felt sort of limp, dirty, and cold. I suppose that's what happens when you get used to this place, then somewhere else feels totally messed up 😁 eheh... and in November when Hajduk played Zenit, things were also crappy in Latvia, but hey, that's just my experience. Honestly, the best part of all this is just getting together and having a drink somewhere. We didn't have any trouble with the police, though to be fair, we weren't looking for any trouble either. Now, how will the police react to rallies in the city squares and stuff? Will they be tolerant? I hope so, otherwise we might end up spending our whole lives in some Caucasus prison swinging a rubber mallet at a rock 🙂 hehehe...

So, I'm quoting: "Average salaries have plummeted from a record thousand euros in the public sector (!) — which makes Latvia a special case as well — down to 500 euros a month, and those who actually receive it are incredibly lucky people. Prices have remained the same, which means they are very high, higher than the average American cost of living."!
And here is the link!

Ryan Walker9 said:You can't even light up on the sidewalk, let alone grab a smoke at a local bar... it's wild. You've got those officers in the neon green vests patrolling the streets constantly, handing out fines if they catch you sipping a drink or smoking in public. The costs are around... $10 Beer... check the exchange rate first... 😉 I was just scrolling through some data on exchange rates earlier... you know how it goes when you fall down a rabbit hole. I stumbled upon this page with all the currency conversion stats. It’s pretty interesting stuff if you're into the nitty-gritty of how money moves between different markets... It makes you think about how much everything fluctuates from day to day. One minute you think you have a handle on things, and the next, the numbers are dancing around again. Just one of those things that keeps life unpredictable, I guess... anyway, worth a look if you like tracking the trends... If you’re looking to hit the bars, you really have to be strategic about it... like, knowing whether you want a chill beer or if you're going all out with shots. The nightlife scene here is pretty predictable. During the week, the clubs are basically ghost towns by 11 PM. Friday is definitely the peak night. Saturday is more laid back because everyone is just mentally prepping for the Monday grind... I was reading up on Latvia, and man, they have some of the highest unemployment rates in Europe, right up there with Spain. It’s tough. People can be pretty standoffish, too. I guess since they were under occupation until '89, that history still lingers... it’s hard to shake that kind of stuff. And don't even get me started on the food. Honestly, it's pretty bland. You might look at a menu with fifty items and realize you don't recognize a single thing. And whatever you do, stay far away from the pizza. Seriously. It was hands down the most revolting thing I've ever eaten. Between the hangover and the fact that they actually put spinach on it... absolute nightmare... The city is super quiet during the day. I remember being up north back in October when the US national team was playing, and it was just miserable. Everything felt gloomy, damp, and cold. I think once you get used to the vibe here, places like that feel even more depressing... 😁 Man, I remember back in November when we played Zenit... being out in Latvia was a total mess too, if you ask me. That’s just my take on it anyway. Honestly, I feel like the best way to handle all this is just to get everyone together, grab a beer somewhere, and hang out. We didn't have any run-ins with the cops last time, mostly because we weren't exactly looking for trouble. But now, who knows how the police are going to react to people gathering in squares and all over the city? I really hope they can be chill about it. It would be a disaster if we all ended up stuck in some hard labor camp for the rest of our lives just swinging a rubber mallet at rocks... 🙂 Hehehe...

So, I was just reading this... let me see... "The average pay in the public sector has absolutely cratered. It went from a record high of about $1,100 down to a measly $550 a month—and honestly, if you're actually pulling that kind of cash, you should probably go buy a lottery ticket. Meanwhile, prices haven't budged an inch, which means the cost of living here in America is through the roof..." Just wild, right? Truly insane...
Here's the link!
I was just reading this piece about how things are looking over in Latvia, specifically regarding that whole situation in Riga... it’s honestly wild. They’re talking about how some of these recent political moves are basically nothing more than a paper tiger. You know, all bark and no bite... It makes you think about how much theater there is in global politics lately. Everything looks so intimidating on the news, but when you actually peel back the layers, it's just thin paper holding up a massive facade. It’s kind of funny, in a dark sort of way... if you don't think about the consequences too hard, I guess. Just a lot of noise for very little substance...

Fair and square... ☕

slylynx3 said:fair and accurate ☕

I mean, how else would you do it? 🙂

I was in Riga back in April, and man, the city was absolutely packed on Thursday night. I didn't really head out much over the weekend though—it was my 10th day on the road by then and I just didn't have the energy to party until sunrise... It was freezing in April, snow was actually falling, so since we're hitting July now and things are heating up, maybe it'll be better than it was back in April...
So you're saying no smoking indoors? Well, you can't smoke in indoor spaces in most of Europe anyway, so what's the big deal...
Regarding alcohol, I saw tons of people outside bars just hanging out with beers in hand, but I was too cold to even bother trying it...
Prices, beer $10 you say—maybe at some overpriced tourist trap, but an average pint is about $6.75, and honestly, plenty of spots have a 16oz draft for $4.25 or more. I never paid more than $6.75 for their local Latvian brew (Guinness is pricier than $6.75, but still cheaper than what we pay back home in the States!)
Food-wise, if you're only there for 2 or 3 days, just hit up a Trader Joe's and you won't regret it. It’s kind of like a cafeteria setup—grab a tray and pick whatever you want. There's a massive selection and the hardest part is deciding (the stuff I grabbed at Trader Joe's was actually great, prices were decent, you can eat well for maybe 40-$17, plus they have their own beer, and I think a huge liter pour was around $8.25, which was solid)
Look, it's not like Riga is Moldova or Mexico where you expect everything to be trash, but it's also not so expensive that you have to live like a bum for two days. I assume if you hit the clubs that stay open until 6 AM, it gets pretty pricey, but then again, there are plenty of normal spots where the prices are similar to what we see here in the US

driftingfalcon88 said:I was actually in Riga back in April, and man, the city was absolutely packed on Thursday night. I didn't really venture out much over the weekend though... by then it was my tenth day on the road and I just didn't have the energy to stay out until dawn... It was pretty cold in April, snow was even falling, but now that we're hitting July, we're entering peak season, so things can only get better than they were in April....
You say no smoking indoors? Well, you can't smoke in most indoor places across Europe (and beyond) anymore, so what's the big deal.....
As for alcohol, I saw plenty of people outside bars just hanging out with beers in hand, but since I was freezing, I didn't really try it myself...
Prices... you mentioned beer $10... maybe at some overpriced tourist trap, but an average price for a 0.5L beer is around $6.75, keeping in mind that at many spots you can find a 0.5L draft for $4.25 or more. I never paid more than $6.75 for their local Latvian beer (Guinness is pricier than $6.75, but still cheaper than what we pay back home in the States!)
Food... if you're only there for two or three days, honestly, just hit up a Trader Joe's or a similar grocery store and you won't go wrong. It’s almost like a cafeteria; you grab a tray and pick whatever you want. There’s a massive selection and the hardest part is deciding (the food at Trader Joe's—or at least what I ate—was actually delicious, prices are reasonable, you can eat well for about $40-$$17, and they even have their own brewed beer; I think a huge liter bottle was $8.25, and the beer was great)
It's not like Riga is Moldova or Mexico where you expect everything to be terrible, but it's also not so expensive that you have to live like a pauper for two days. I assume if you head to those clubs that stay open until 6 AM, it'll be quite pricey, but on the flip side, there are plenty of decent spots where prices are comparable to what we see here in America

Look, I'm not the only one saying this...
Everyone has their own experience. Even in Sweden, where drinks are outrageously expensive, you can manage to get by. And it's not like you have to be a total alcoholic. Just buy some drinks while you're passing through Poland. Stock up on food in Poland or other countries, fill your bags, and once you get to your accommodation, just toss the booze and snacks in the fridge. If you end up in a pub where you feel like spending, go ahead and pay if a beer is $10, because you haven't spent a fortune anyway. That's how I see it... quoting: "That part of town is the heart of Riga, the market. Prices are everywhere in Lats. Latvia is one of the few countries where for one Euro you get less than one Apoena. One Euro is roughly 0.75 Lats, making Riga not exactly a cheap destination. However, in some bars, you can grab a half-liter beer for $5.00!" Which means you can, like I said, it's possible. But if you see a pub packed with people at night, obviously you go there, not to some empty hole in the wall. Where the people are, that's the center, and the center holds its prices! Back in the States, a half-liter beer is between $15 and $17, depending on where you are. If you're at a beach resort where they're ripping you off, you'll pay $17 for a beer, when there might be a pub right next door for $5.00. It's just a matter of whether you stumble upon the right spot or not, and if it's too expensive, you can always just walk away and not pay—who cares? Besides, none of it really matters. If we go, we go. We'll figure it out... see you there

Ryan Walker9 said:Look, I'm not the only one saying this...
Everyone has their own way of doing things. Even in places like Sweden where beer prices are insane, you can make it work. And it's not like you have to be a total alcoholic. Just stock up on drinks and food in Poland or somewhere else nearby, pack your bags, and once you get to your accommodation, just throw everything in the fridge. If you find a decent pub, pay the price for a local brew like $10, because you didn't spend all your money back home. That's my take. To quote: "The market is in the heart of Riga. Prices are everywhere in lat. Latvia is one of those rare countries where one euro gets you less than one apoen. One euro is roughly 0.75 lat, which makes Riga a pricey destination. Still, in some bars, you can grab a half-liter of beer for $5.00." So it's doable. I never said it wasn't possible. But if you see a crowded pub at night, you go there—you don't hang out in an empty dive. The center stays busy, and the center keeps its prices. In America, a pint goes for anywhere from $15 to $17, depending on the spot. If you're drinking at a beach resort where they're basically robbing you, you'll pay $17 for a beer, while there's a pub right next door for $5.00. It's just about whether you want to stumble into a rip-off. If it's too expensive, just walk out. Who cares? Nothing really matters anyway. You go, you deal with it, you figure it out. See you there.

That bolded part is spot on.☕

John Brown30 said:That bolded part right there? Pure gold. ☕

I mean, come on, isn't that just the truth? You can barely find a cheap beer in places like Key West anymore, let alone anywhere else...$17 it's getting ridiculous.