Riga is the sort of town which degrades completely once one leaves the sheltered and somewhat upgraded old town. Decaying buildings, pigeons, cats, groups of old women talking in groups and depressed looking men drinking out of shared bottles. I suppose that the tourists don't get to see what real life is like in the ex soviet union. If you stay at the Amber Hostel you'll get to see the real Latvia because this student residence seeing summer use as a hostel is set right in the midst of a depressing moonscape of buildings which have seen no maintenance in 40 years. You'll not only need to bring your own toilet paper you'll need to bring your own toilet seat. The mattresses were filthy and no attempt had been made to clean the rooms after their use, presumably, to house undergraduate male students. It's a complete dump and should be avoided.
