Aberdeen head out to Riga, the capital of Latvia, on Wednesday for their second match against Daugava Riga.
For Dons supporters making the trip, the game on Thursday will, hopefully, be the highlight. But what are you going to do after the game, and the time you have beforehand?
From casual strolls to more energetic activities like paintball and flying – yes, flying – there’s going to be no difficulty killing time in Riga.
1) Go see the giant metal tortoise (and sunbathe)
The weather in Riga looks like it’s going to a tad warmer than it will be here, so be sure to put some time aside to top up your tan at the beach. Jurmala beach is close by and offers plenty of scenic walks for those who want to stretch their legs. There’s also a huge bronze sculpture of a tortoise to look at.
2) Eat, drink, explore, repeat
Blended with modern and traditional culture, Old Riga’s unique architecture, which survived the two world wars, offers a good few hours of sight-seeing.
There are also loads of bars and restaurants to head to after the game. Slow food, a healthy alternative to fast food, is big in Riga so be sure to try the fresh produce on offer – a salad dubbed as “rosols” is a native favourite.
3) Learn to fly
Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it’s a Latvian flying in the Aeroidium.
The Aeroiduim is a vertical wind tunnel that enables you to fly in the air without the aid of a parachute so all those dreams you had as a child about being Superman might come true after all.
4) Latvians take their paintball very seriously
Paintball in Latvia is more like a war zone than a regular game. Pretty much every region Latvia has a paintballing venue so just drop by the nearest tourist information centre to find one near you.
5) Keep your ‘significant other’ happy
Riga hosts a range of picturesque locations such as the canal pictured above.
If you’re travelling with your significant other and dumping them for a couple of hours whilst you go to the game – this could be your get out card. Take them out for a romantic stroll after the Dons have secured their place in the next round.
6) Find freedom
Smack bang in the city centre, the 42 metre high Freedom Monument symbolises the soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence and to reinforce the notion of sovereignty in the country. And it’s made of granite, so you’ll feel right at home.