Lots of driving today for us as Spring is finally here! We had fun going to
various markets and picking up fresh, seasonal veggies to enjoy all week. What
we do with those veggies is a topic for the other blog, so instead let's talk
about different ways you can get around Latvia.

Surprisingly, or perhaps not so surprisingly, there are more options in
Liepāja alone than there in many American cities! Salt Lake, for example,
really only has buses and light-rail. Of course, we're rather behind when it
comes to mass transit.

A little late today, but hey, it's still Wednesday somewhere, right? Let's get
to it.

  * **dzelzceļš** : railroad [slider title="decline me"] _dzelzceļš_ , m, 1. dekl.  
_vsk_.: dzelzceļš, dzelzceļa, dzelzceļam, dzelzceļu, ar dzelzceļu, dzelzceļā  
_dsk_.: dzelzceļi, dzelzceļu, dzelzceļiem, dzelzceļus, ar dzelzceļiem,
dzelzceļos [/slider]

This is neat. _Dzelzs_ means _iron_ and _ceļš_ means _road_ , so a railroad
means literally, _iron road_ , which makes a ton of sense. Unfortunately, the
word for _locomotive_ is simply _lokomotīve_ instead of our more fun
colloquialism of "iron horse" which would have suited beautifully.

A railroad station is a _dzelceļa stacija_.

  * **tramvajs** : tram, streetcar [slider title="decline me"] _tramvajs_ , m, 1. dekl.  
_vsk_.: tramvajs, tramvaja, tramvajam, tramvaju, ar tramvaju, tramvajā  
_dsk_.: tramvaji, tramvaju, tramvajiem, tramvajus, ar tramvajiem, tramvajos
[/slider]

If you want to take the tram in Liepāja, you can usually pick up tickets at a
discount at Narvesen kiosks, or you can buy tickets from the driver. Another
word for trams, at least in our area here, is light-rail.

A tram stop is a _tramvaja pietura_.

  * **autobuss** : bus [slider title="decline me"] _autobuss_ , m, 1. dekl.  
_vsk_.: autobuss, autobusa, autobusam, autobusu, ar autobusu, autobusā  
_dsk_.: autobusi, autobusu, autobusiem, autobusus, ar autobusiem, autobusos
[/slider]

When getting on a Latvian bus, look around for the conductor to buy a ticket.
You can spot them by the rolls of tickets crossing their chests on bandoliers.
If there isn't a conductor, buy a ticket from the driver.

If you hear the phrases, "galapunkts" or "lūdzu izkāpiet" - it's time to get
off! You've reached the end of the line.

A bus stop is an _autobusa pietura_ while a bus terminal is an _autoosta_.

  * **trolejbuss** : trolley [slider title="decline me"] _trolejbuss_ , m, 1. dekl.  
_vsk_.: trolejbuss, trolejbusa, trolejbusam, trolejbusu, ar trolejbusu,
trolejbusā  
_dsk_.: trolejbusi, trolejbusu, trolejbusiem, trolejbusus, ar trolejbusiem,
trolejbusos [/slider]

The difference between a bus and a trolley is that a trolley runs on overhead
electric wires.

A trolley stop is a _trolejbusa pietura_.

  * **mikroautobuss** : minibus, shuttle, microbus [slider title="decline me"] _mikroautobuss_ , m, 1. dekl.  
_vsk_.: mikroautobuss, mikroautobusa, mikoautobusam, mikroautobusu, ar
mikroautobusu, mikroautobusā  
_dsk_.: mikroautobusi, mikroautobusu, mikroautobusiem, mikroautobusus, ar
mikroautobusiem, mikroautobusos [/slider]

You can also shorten it to _mikriņš_. We don't have very many shuttle routes
that are open to public use here in Western America (shuttles are primarily
for corporate use), but they are commonly used all over Latvia to service
various routes. The claustrophobic or the socially anxious would be well
advised to steer clear of these. You'll talk with the driver who will charge
you for your ticket based on how far you need to go unless you're on a route
that has a flat fee (which he will tell you).

A mikriņš stops at a _mikroautobusa pietura_. However, unlike traditional
buses, these do not stop unless you flag them or request to exit. On rural
routes, they are often willing to stop at any given point requested along the
route. To request a stop, say "Lūdzu pieturiet šeit" or "Please stop here". In
this way, they are more like cabs.

  * **braukt** : to drive [slider title="conjugate me"] _braukt_ , 1. konj. (short)  
_tag._ braucu, brauc, brauc, braucam, braucat  
_pag._ braucu, brauci, brauca, braucām, braucāt  
_nak._ braukšu, brauksi, brauks, brauksim, brauksiet / brauksit  
_pav._ brauc, brauciet [/slider]

One of the essential Latvian verbs to know, braukt is used to refer to
traveling via any means of wheeled ground transportation _regardless of
whether or not you are the driver_. This can make it difficult to translate
well as English assumes that if you are driving, you are the driver. Latvian
makes no such assumption and applies the verb equally to both drivers and
passengers.