I have been taken to task by Sandra for not writing something positive about Latvia. There is of course lots to write about that is truly wonderful here (sport, choirs, dancing, Brainstorm, public transport, the countryside, Mazsalaca, countryfolk and Laima chocolate) but I set myself the task in this Blog of reflecting what I saw on a daily basis as this recession unfolds and trying to reflect it as accurately as I can. It is not my job to motivate the country to succeed, nor to be the one to sell it as a good place to live. The Government has that task and the Latvian Investment Agency has to get to grips with getting investors to come and stay, and tourists to flock to the shores.
But to suggest that all is rosy would be to bear false witness. Latvia has inherited a wealth of systematic faults that bubble under the surface and break out in nasty forms like corruption, nasty bureaucracy and illegal wage packets and these must be tackled sooner or later. They are the boils on society that stop Latvia being the country it should be and those who live in Latvia enjoying the life they deserve.
The Latvian tourist agency once considered advertising Latvia as "Land as God intended". The country is truly beautiful and that is one of the reasons I am here. And I promise faithfully to reflect in my blogs the good things I see with as equal force as the bad things. And I am sure that when the Latvin Investment Agency read this they will soon be inviting you to visit!
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What little I've seen of the country so far is indeed beautiful, the people are by and large very friendly, and the culture fascinating. But you're right, you can't overlook the fact that things could be so much better.
ReplyDeleteBack home too.