Imanta Stacija (Imanta Station) is a station on the railway between Riga and Jurmala. The Station located between two suburbs Imanta and Zolitude. The station building built in the end of 19 century, when the railway to Jurmala was just finished.
Seems that to build a tall skyscraper, you have to dig a deep hole before. Soon here will be a Z-Towers. Z-Towers it is 2 skyscrapers for different purposes. For now here is 25-30 meters deep pit. Actually, 4 months before here was the same pit, but not so deep :)
Last Days several heavy snowstorms in Riga created massive disruptions to everyday life. In the night, when nobody can see, serious people venture to play a snowball fight, but no doubt, it is serious snowball fight :)
Uzvaras Piemineklis (Victory Monument) is a large military monument in Pardaugava Victory Park. The monument was erected in the spring of 1985 to commemorate the victory over the fascism during the 2nd World War. The central Obelisk symbolizing salute volley, statue on the left is the statue of the Mother Motherland, and on the right are soldiers representing different types of forces.
Victory Monument is always in the middle of enmity between Russian and Latvian communities. Obelisk was blown up several times during the last 15 years. Latvian patriots say that monument is symbolizing Soviet Occupation, but not the Victory.
This grey building is Central Office of Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post). Mail delivery works in Latvia since 1630. It is not a big secret that everywhere outside of Latvia and Lithuania, people mixing up over those two neighbour countries. Every month there is more than 10 tons of international mail come by mistake, because people write addresses like Vilnius, Latvia or Riga, Lithuania. Even on BBC or CNN channels you can hear Riga, the capital city of Lithuania :)
- Don't hit, I am already beaten.. I found this bomzh or bomj (bum) (with Rolex on his left hand) in a stairway of my house late night. He was sleeping on the floor and has bled all beneath him. When it is cold outside, Riga bums often get into basements or garrets of apartment buildings, but I really dislike when they stink next to me.
Two days back in Riga was another one big fire after La Rocca Club Fire. Top floor of building of Galerija Centrs (Shopping Center) was burning for several hours. Fire was categorized as top complexity, 17 firefighting units arrived, traffic in Old Riga was blocked, hundreds of idlers were walking around.
It's snowing in Riga again. 5th year in a row Riga has warm winter, but snowy march :) Photo was taken from Riga Television Center towards Riga East Side, and especially Maskachka. The tall building on the left is Latvian Academy of Science.
This old musician plays on the Old Riga Streets for the past 10-15 years. He is as famous in Riga as Dancing Granny :) As I remember, before he was playing synthesizer with big column loudspeaker, but last years he is playing saxophone. Hence he has quite broad skills in music :D
16 March is a kind of Patriots' Day in Latvia. This Day few Nazi veterans, who still alive, lay wreaths on Freedom Monument in Riga. It is not an official holiday anymore (it was till 2000). Worldwide Nazism is convicted, but not in Latvia. 16 March is used by the Right political parties as Hate Speech Day between Latvian and Russian communities in Latvia. This is a big waste of time and money. Just imagine how much cost to protect those 50 old dudes from furious contraries. Everybody should understand that there is nothing about the freedom.
Overcast days in Riga are often as in London :) Krišjāņa Barona street is parallel to Brivibas Street, and is one of the major and longest streets in Riga Center area. Kr. Barona Street is famous for many shops and shopping centers located on it. Its named for Krišjāņis Barons, who became famous for collecting Latvian folk songs. The street starts from Aspazijas boulevard, passes described Radio street, Merkela Street, and many others until the VEF Bridge, where Kr. Barona street joins to Brivibas Street.
Zolitūde (from French Solitude) aka Zolik is Soviet type neighbourhood on the Riga West Side. Formerly was planned as an extension of adjacent Imanta suburb, with the code name Imanta 6, after Imanta 5. As many other Soviet style areas, Zolik was specially designed to resist a nuclear blast during threatening atomic warfare. This is why all buildings placed in special order to protect themselves. Try yourself Riga sightseeing trip by plane
As in many European cities Riga has statue of Roland. Roland is epic hero, who became symbol of city independence. But, frankly speaking, Riga was never an independent city. Roland is placed on Blackhead's House square, faced to Riga Town Hall. See also Riga Webcam with Roland in the middle.
New six-story office building raised in the middle of the Ķīpsala slum, small island in Daugava River. It reminds me London City Hall, but just a little bit :) There is also possibility to moor your boat, if you arrived by sailing.
Vanšu tilts (Cable Bridge) was built in 1981. At the opening time it was the longest cable-stayed bridge in Europe. To this date it is the last opened bridge over Daugava River in Riga. Soon Dienvidu tilts will became the newest one :) Every year there is at least one incident, when somebody climbs on bridge tower via cables.
Latvijas Nacionālais Mākslas muzejs (Latvian National Museum of Art) aka LNMM is one of the most interesting and largest Riga museums. It is located in the Center of Riga, on Kr. Valdemāra Street close to Orthodox Cathedral. LNMM permanent collection contains more than 50 thousands works of art. In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the Museum of Art organizes and hosts travelling shows throughout the whole year.
Yes, I know, today is already 9 march, but better late than never :) Yesterday in Latvia was a little bit controversial holiday. The kernel of the problem is that a lot of Latvians think that International Woman's Day is strongly related to Soviet past and vote down to make this holiday as an official day off. Despite this many people in Riga celebrate this holiday as the official one :) I found this social advertisement on the big screen in front of Central Railway Station. And sorry for the low quality :) The text is the poem about love of the famous Latvian poet Imants Ziedonis. See also 8 March in 2009.
Riga Central Market is a very interesting and impressive place for foreigners, but not the safest one :) It has 5 big Pavilions for fish, milk, grocery, meat and vegetables. I am not sure, but a lot of people telling that century before those pavilions were used as garages for dirigibles. Take a look at the post Typical Buyer as well :)
Ziepniekkalns (Soap Maker's Hill) or simply Zepchik how it is called among Russian-speaking Rigans, is one of the latest neighborhoods in Riga built up in early 1990s. Like Purvciems on the east, Zepchik is forming Riga border, but southwest. And both of them look like typical Soviet suburbs. Typical streets with typical houses where are identical quite cheap flats. But soon prices here will go up a bit, due the building of South Bridge, which will connect Ziepniekkalns to East Bank.
Would you like to see whole Zepniekkalns with your own eyes? Apply for Riga Sky tour.
When it is difficult weather conditions, everything is going bad. New transport breaks down, but old, tens years ago resigned transport come out for air :) Like this good old trolleybus, which is big rarity now. Photograph was taken yesterday on Brivibas iela, next to Famous Freedom Monument.
Bastejkalns (Bastion Hill) is an artificial hill in the center of Riga next to Riga Canal. Built up as defensive stand on the northeast of Old Riga, nowadays it is park, where a lot of people walk everyday. In the beginning of 20 century it was so popular and beautiful place to walk, that doctors recommended for social elite "go for a walk to Bastion Hill for de-stress" :) See also Bastion Hill in Winter.
Snowy morning again in Riga, trucks are delivering bread to stores, people hurry up to their workplaces. Aleksandra Čaka iela (Aleksandrs Chaks Street) is one of the major streets in Riga running parallel to Brivibas Street. It is named for the famous Latvian Writer living in Riga during the first half of 20th century. He has written a lot of works about urban life, specifically about Riga life. Please note that Caka iela is kind of synonym for Marijas iela.
Merķeļa iela (Merkel Street) is famous in Riga not only as one of the major traffic junctions, but for dozens pawn shops located on it. Pawn shops working 24/7 attracts a lot Gypsies and other criminal elements, making left side of the street quite dangerous and repellent for usual Rigans, despite its location in the very center of Riga.
Taking a ride in Riga by luxurious limousine is quite cheap attraction comparing to other cities. Sometimes the whole bunch of limousines can be seen in one place. This is a picture of wedding celebration in front of Hansabanka building and Press building taken last summer.
Everyday in Riga I see many tags of urban heroes shadowing them and remembered, why we write our names upon the walls, so if we grow, when we go, you'll see a piece of us. Especially Andrejsala area in Riga became famous for its alternative look due a lot of colourful graffities.
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
