Riga has a lot of markets, they all are typical to East European markets. Where you can easily smell where is what you looking for :) This one is very small market just placed on the street in one of Riga's neighbourhood called Purvciems.
Riga Police isn't worst than in many Western countries. In most of the cases they just do their job according the law. But in some neighboring countries it is very normal when people hate the Police, like due their abuse and illegal actions. Hence a lot of people in Riga, who enjoy those countries culture, think the same about Police in Latvia. Those people just have no idea how bad Police is there, and how good (comparing to them) it is in Latvia! :) On this picture Police check somebody's documents on Raina blvd.
Building of Riga Katedrāle (Riga Cathedral) was used for different purposes. It was observatory, warehouse and now it is again Orthodox Church, as in the beginning. Soviet regime banned any religion, so almost all churches, mosques, synagogues in Union were destroyed or rebuild to different type building. Blasphemous method to easier control the people.
A very nice house can be found at Elizabetes street, in center of Riga. Statues of two male faces made like looking in different ways of street, watching what is happening around :) This building like a museum exponent, full of small perfect details.
This building is embassy of glorious nation of Kazakhstan in Riga :) I am one of them, who like Borat movie. And I do not understand why a lot of people find this movie offensive. This movie is a really big joke about stupid people and derision of many stupid fears. Watch a nice video on youtube.
Nothing special, but tower above building make this house looking like a steamboat :D Before this house was looking like a big T letter, but then after was decided to cut one part of house, the highest one. Now tower has doors to outer space :D
One of the most beautiful embassies in Riga is embassy of Russian Fedaration. Only 15 years ago Latvia was a part of Russia (USSR), but now there are more than just complicated relations with Moscow. There are vague rumours that below this building is a secret prison, tunnels to other important objects in Riga, and even that this embassy is connected to Secret Moscow Metro 2.
For most people of Riga word Ķīpsala means only Expo Center and its surroundings. But actually it is a whole neighbourhood on island in the middle of city. Now Kipsala goes through fast renascence, but still there is a lot of slum, forgotten houses and poor people despite high prices for land.
Riga isn't a richest city in the world, but a lot of people like to show off anyhow. It is very common, that a person who earns less than living wage, buy an expensive car :) Why? Just because people in Riga like to have a beautiful life (like in Hollywood movies), despite how much money they have. This picture was taken at last night on the street, where vehicular traffic forbidden at all! But is doesn't concern 3 white limos and police van as well :)
Landscape on Bastejkalns (Bastion Hill) is changing. It is easier to design parks during the winter, because much less people walking there in cold days. Try to find 3 workers in this photo, but be careful, they are wearing camouflage! :)
Riga is getting decorated before winter holidays. Seems that somebody read my a little bit negative post about Riga decoration before Christmas and turned garlands on! :) Riga Railroad bridge now has a beautiful illumination during the nights.
Riga get lighter. Light snow in the morning made up Riga more nice. White is more nice-looking than grey. Isn't? :) Photo has been taken on the bridge over small river called Mārupīte in Uzvaras Parks (Park of Victory)
Yesterday was Lāčplēša diena (day of Lacplesis - Latvian National epic hero), that day in 1919 Riga was liberated from German army. Excelled participants of this battles were awarded with order of Lāčplēsis. Since them every year people gather around President's Castle to place a candle as a keepsake for those people who died for Riga liberation.
Small bridge is situated in the Bastejkalns Parks (Park of Bastion Hill). Almost every newly wedded couple come here on wedding-day to fasten a padlock, sometimes with engraved names of owners. This tradition symbolizes strength, durability and longevity of new created union of woman and man.
Doma Laukums (Dom Square) is getting smaller. Somebody who owns the land here, has decided that is more profitable to build a building instead to keep open space. Living places in Vecriga are very expensive, they are comparable to world major cities like London, Paris, Moscow. But actually, just 75 years ago Dom Square wasn't a square :) It was just a street, with 1-2 levels wooden houses. Take a look to Riga Cathedral aka Riga Dom.
People in Riga do not celebrate Christmas as in many other countries people do. Streets and public places are often stay without any decoration. Only big stores and supermarkets are decorated. For example, this picture was taken in Stockmann Supermarket (where photographing, actually, is forbidden :))
This is one of several flower marketplaces in Riga. This is the most famous one, located at where Terbatas iela (street) begins. This area called as Sakta among people.
There is a lot of beautiful and original buildings in Riga, generally in centre. And a lot of them are in really poor condition or even abandoned. For example, this house located in center is real work of art, but nobody is living here since a long time.
Kapteiņa Enriko Pulkstenis (Captain Enrico's watch) is a very good cafe-bar with outrageous interior design, tasty menu, nice waitresses and quite low prices :) This is not advertisement, it is just a place where I am having a lunch almost every working day. Design of this cafe is like some artist's studio, fulfilled with details during tens of years. Here you can find menu on the wall, Lenin and Ulmanis portraits, money from all world countries and many other shorter details. Enriko located on Dzirnavu street, where it crosses Antonijas street.
This statue is from behind of World Trade Center of Latvia. It's a bust of Ulugh Beg, sultan of Timurid Empire and famous scientist. That monument was a gift of Uzbek Goverment to Latvia in year 2004.
A big trailer, huh? :) I never met such houses in Riga. But I guess in North America they are quite popular for living. Interesting, how to deliver post to owner of this house. Address is the same as the number plate of car? :D
Last winter in Riga was no snow until the middle of January. This year is much better :) But due quite warm weather this snow was too wet, and melted away in couple hours :(
This is the where Latvian National Library (LNB) will be build. There is no consensus of opinions about this building. Because this project can take a lot of money from national budget. But really, does Latvia really need in so big and nice Library? Do people living in latvia read a lot of books? I think, books already are in past. National Library building in January 2008. National Library building in March 2008. Or all pictures together.
We are warmly welcoming you on board of reborned Riga Daily Blog. Due very busy crew of this blog, there is no confidence that this blog will be really daily, but we will try our best! We hope you will enjoy this trip. Thank you. Photo has been taken across Riga International Harbour.
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