I have recently returned to FL from a trip/vacation to Riga, Latvia. Latvia is a beautiful NE European nation and is a great and economic place for pastries, coffee, and food in general. Smoking in Latvia produces a very interesting dichotomy. Latvia has the fourth highest smoking rate in Europe but, smoking is not particularly easy or welcomed. Without getting too deep in the weeds of the laws, smoking in public is generally illegal (including parks, restaurants, and within 10m of any business). The prohibitions extend to home balconies and common area halls and stairwells. Basically, it is allowed in your home and at a few designated/sequestered areas at cigar/club venues. Buying pipes or tobacco is a chore that, requires a dedicated pursuit.
I saw a couple of pipes in ”tobacco“ shop windows and went in for a look. I did not see any tobacco so, I asked t.he proprietor if any was sold. He proceeded to remove the tarp from a covered glass showcase where there was, possibly, a dozen tins and maybe 20 pouches of “pipe” tobacco. I believe there is little care (and less knowledge) about the products of this genre. I found nothing that I would purchase. The ’best” they had were a couple of (what I would consider) the least desirable Peterson tins.
I found approximately the same routine at a “tobacco” kiosk at a major mall. The best pipes that were offered were Chacoms listed at twice the price that they could be found on a U.S. website.
Strangely, multiple bongs and cannabis paraphernalia were openly displayed at these and other retailers.
This is despite the fact that, Latvian laws prohibit cannabis and (supposedly) 80% of the population supports prohibition
I did not feel comfortable taking any pictures at these retailers. Pipe tobacco seemed like a secret that no one wanted to admit existed.
Now, for something truly strange. My wife and I’s current plan is to relocate to Riga upon my retirement next spring. FL is too hot for my wife and Russia is too cold (in multiple ways) for me so, this is our wonderful compromise. Unfortunately, it looks like this will probably limit my tobacco consumption and I surely can’t take my immense cellar halfway across the globe. I plan on listing some rarities, hard to finds, one-offs, and (hopefully, for those interested) some stout bargains in the FS thread and on some of our advertisers sites over the next year. So, interested parties should be on the lookout.
I saw a couple of pipes in ”tobacco“ shop windows and went in for a look. I did not see any tobacco so, I asked t.he proprietor if any was sold. He proceeded to remove the tarp from a covered glass showcase where there was, possibly, a dozen tins and maybe 20 pouches of “pipe” tobacco. I believe there is little care (and less knowledge) about the products of this genre. I found nothing that I would purchase. The ’best” they had were a couple of (what I would consider) the least desirable Peterson tins.
I found approximately the same routine at a “tobacco” kiosk at a major mall. The best pipes that were offered were Chacoms listed at twice the price that they could be found on a U.S. website.
Strangely, multiple bongs and cannabis paraphernalia were openly displayed at these and other retailers.
This is despite the fact that, Latvian laws prohibit cannabis and (supposedly) 80% of the population supports prohibition
I did not feel comfortable taking any pictures at these retailers. Pipe tobacco seemed like a secret that no one wanted to admit existed.
Now, for something truly strange. My wife and I’s current plan is to relocate to Riga upon my retirement next spring. FL is too hot for my wife and Russia is too cold (in multiple ways) for me so, this is our wonderful compromise. Unfortunately, it looks like this will probably limit my tobacco consumption and I surely can’t take my immense cellar halfway across the globe. I plan on listing some rarities, hard to finds, one-offs, and (hopefully, for those interested) some stout bargains in the FS thread and on some of our advertisers sites over the next year. So, interested parties should be on the lookout.
