One of the shortest streets in Riga is Radio iela (Radio street) Before Riga Great Radio and TV Tower was built, Riga had several small towers geographically dispersed in Riga. First Radio Tower in Riga was located here, in very center of Riga. Nowadays tower is demolished, but the street's name remain untouched. Twin brother of this tower is tower in Agenskalns.
Do you know who is Mr. Soboleff? Soboleff is a new rising star in Riga. He started to make funny videos in internet just one year ago. After several months he was recruited by draugiem.lv (kinda Latvian myspace) and continued making videos for them. He won some contests and started to work as reporter of Hello, Jūrmala (Latvian version of Star Academy) After just another victory Parex Banka placed a monument to him on Andrejsala. Monument is made of plastic, but it looks impressive :)
When some visible comet is passing nearby Earth, Riga Mobile Observatories are deployed in public places to give an opportunity for all comers to see the Star with hair :) For example, this truck in front of Blackheads House is real observatory for free.
Riga Tower Clock on Central Railway Station is one of the modern Riga sights. During Soviet epoch clock was digital. After Central Railway Station reconstruction in late 90s new tower was built with analog clock and magnificent bar on top. Bar is open to everybody and has nice view of the city.
There is, oops, there was just one Amusement Park in Riga borders, in Mežaparks wood. This days it is demolished and burned to clear away the place. Biggest observation wheel in Riga was taken to pieces and sold as metal scrap.
Dienvidu Tilts (South Bridge) is the most expected and the most expensinve project in Riga for the last several years. It will connect Ķengarags neighbourhood with Pārdaugava, more particularly to Ziepniekkalns. It is more important than LNB project and of course not cheaper :) Bridge cost is more than a half billion euro, and the bridge itself is less than 500 meters long.
Please don't be afraid, Latvia is not preparing to new war :) This barricades was set up in front of Latvian Academy of Art as part of exposition to remember events was held during early 1991. In 1991 Latvia achieved independence from USSR. Some fights occurred in Center of Riga, and some barricades were placed in the city. Latvian government spend a lot of money every year on such things. Why this year? 17 years isn't so big anniversary. What they want to prove or to show?
VEF Tilts (VEF Bridge) is named after famous VEF Factory located next to the bridge. Through the age, bridge is very narrow to carry all traffic going from city center to Riga eastern neighbourhoods like Teika and Jugla. Despite that bridge is a part of Brivibas street, it was not widened since opening in 1913. Actually VEF Bridge is not a bridge :) It is overpass or flyover over railway.
Vecrīga is historical and geographical center of today's Riga. Prefix vec- in Latvian means old, so the result is Old Riga. Russian youth often call it as Старушка (starooshka literally means Old Woman). Old Town borders are Kr. Valdemāra iela on the north, Aspazijas bulvāris on the east, 13. Janvāra iela on the south and 11. Novembra krastmala on the west. Main touristy street is Kaļķu iela, which is directly connected to Brīvības iela. Photo has been taken from Saint Peters Church last winter.
Saules Akmens in Latvian means Stone of the Sun. Saules Akmens is tallest Riga skyscraper built for Hansabanka Central Office in 2004. With height 121 meter this building became a notable landmark and the symbol of successful Latvian economics. UPDATE: Since 2008 it is not more the tallest building and more popular under name Swedbank Building.
Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis (Riga TV and Radio Tower) is a major city sight, built in 1985 by soviet engineers. It is built on Zaķusala island, which is located in the geographic middle of Riga. Riga Tower is 2nd tallest concrete tower in Geographic Europe and 10th in the World. Observation floor is open almost everyday. By The way, it is possible to rent TV Tower for private or company party :)
Andrejsala (Andrew's Island) is a neighborhood in Riga next to Center and Petersala. Andrejsala always was a harbour and industrial area of Riga. Nowadays here gather a lot of alternative young people. This area is very famous for its graffiti walls :)
Do you know that pirates are remarkable for their adherence to principle and common honesty? This man came to Riga from countryside to find a job, but he was refused everywhere :( He has one hand, like real pirates had ages ago. Pirate said: Begging on the street doesn't shame me as much as return home with zero result.
Just imagine, how two people feel them self working during such weather on antenna for mobile networks. On Background you can see Saules Akmens skyscraper and Vanšu tilts.
St. Valentine's Day is being celebrated in Riga just for the last 10-15 years, since Latvia became Western-influenced country. A lot of lovers express their feeling by gifting flowers or some other other gifts like those Plush toys photographed in Olympia. I was told a legend, that this holiday was invented by French flower traders especially to increase their sales :) See also Valentine's Day in 2009.
Rigas Dome (Riga Town Hall) rebuilt in 2003 after destroying in Second World War. Town Hall rebuilt just few years after Blackheads House, which located across the square. Riga City Council work in this building now. See also Rigas Dome more closer.
Salaspils is a small town located in suburban area of Riga. Its population is 20 thousands of people. Actually it is a city since 1993, but mostly of Salaspils residents work and study in Riga. So it is just a matter of time, when whole Salaspils will be inside of Riga borders.
Galerija Centrs (Center Gallery) is one of the best shopping centers in Riga located in Vecriga (Old Town) Hundreds of shops and cafes make a circle on each of 4 floors. A small garden inside of those circles makes unique atmosphere.
Zemkopības ministrija in Latvian language means Ministry of Agriculture. Ministry of Agriculture building is in TOP 5 Riga tallest buildings. Unfortunately, but sight place on top is closed for tourists already for the last 10 years.
Riga Free Port is one of the biggest on Baltic Sea. Up to 50% of cargo turnover is made up of transit coal. Trains with coal come from Russia and Ukraine to Riga Free Port Then cargo cranes load ships going to rest of the world.
This year in Riga just few days were cold enough to play Ice Hockey on the river and specifically on Agenskalns Bay (pictured). I didn't manage to make a good photo with game, so now I just show where was the field :) House of Press can be seen on background.
Brīvības iela means Street of Freedom in Latvian language. It is the main drag in Riga. Dividing East part of Riga into two parts. Brīvības iela is so long, that different parts of it named as boulevard, street or highway. The name of it has been changed several times regarding to political regime in Riga. In the early beginning it was Petersburg road (18th century) It was Александровскiй бульваръ or Alexanderboulevard (Alexander Blvd), when Riga was in Russian empire. Then Brīvības iela during First Latvian Republic times (Freedom monument was built). After that Adolf-Hitler-Straße (Adolf Hitler st.) during German Nazi occupation. Then Улица Ленина (Lenin st.) during Soviet period. And now it's again Brīvības iela, after Latvia gained Independence in 1991. What could be next? Bush Street, or maybe Ulitsa Putina? :)
Riga Cathedral aka Riga Dom is the oldest building in Riga. Since it foundation in year 1211, Riga Cathedral was rebuilt several times. In 1930s houses on the left side of Cathedral were demolished, since then there is a Dom Square which nowadays is quite popular tourist attraction.
Rīgas Sv. Pētera baznīca (Riga St. Peter's Church) is the main Riga sight during ages since 15th century. Few times it was the tallest building in Europe by various categories. It was completely destroyed in 18th century by fire and 20th century during Second World War. Frontal Attires is quite nice as well :) View taken from Grēcinieku iela (street)
One of the oldest Embassies in Riga is Embassy of Germany. Address is Boulevard Raiņa 13. Long time the number 13 was hidden, because apparently it is very unlucky. So address was as simple as just Riga, Latvia Embassy of Germany :)
Today I woke up because of terrible industrial noise. Riga Renovation Agency decide to remove from top of Old Gertrudes Church small statuettes, which imminent threat of falling down. But why saturday morning? This street is not busy during working days. Maybe they are afraid of religious fanatics? :)
About 2-3 Years ago Riga was still very famous for its beautiful and cheap girls. Many foreigners came to Riga just for sex, so Riga became like a big strip bar, where you could take any girl. Since that time government made a lot of social programs to extirpate that. Now Riga girls are afraid to hang out with foreigners, because everybody other will think that they are whores. Success. So strip bars are empty like this one in Old Riga. Even chair for invite-master girl is empty :) BTW, this strip bar is one of the blacklisted places in Riga.
Riga Photos, Top Stories, Wonderful Sights, Remarkable Places, Typical & Famous People, Travel Guides & Official Information, Shopping, Party & Nightlife, Glamour & Fashion Clubs, Sport & Crowdy Bars, Alternative & Underground Pubs, Luxurious & Cheap Hotels, Live Webcams, News, Vague Rumors & Wild Facts about the biggest City in Baltic States
