This pink slum dwelling, located not very far from Daugavpils iela, is home for several Gypsy families or clans. There is no secret that one of the major Gypsy businesses is drug dealing. So, what do you think, what this three men street gang is waiting for?
Riga Old Synagogue Ruins located between Central Market and Market of Latgale on Gogola street. Synagogue was burned during Nazi Occupation of Riga in 1941.
Yesterday in Switzerland on the Ice Hockey World Championship Latvia won one of the best Ice Hockey Nations - Sweden. Thousands of fans celebrated this event on the Riga streets, It was feeling like Latvia won the whole championship ;) Sarauj Latvija! :)
Depot of Passenger trains in Riga. All passenger train cars in Latvia are painted in orange color, which makes them different wherever they go. In fact, they go only to Russia, Belarus and Ukraine because of Russian gauge. Latvia is not connected directly to Western Europe by railway.
Empty & ugly road from Riga towards Saint-Petersburg and Tallinn, called Vidzemes šoseja (Vidzeme Highway)
This picture is taken in the beginning of April, during the early spring the nature has no make up at all :)
On the background you can see another one Riga sign, but mirrored one.
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu or simply Deloitte is one of the big four Auditors. It is a good sign for relatively small city Riga, when such companies has their representatives here. Also Chevrolet centre can be seen on right side. Chevrolet is taking 28th place by popularity among car makes in Riga.
I always wonder how storks are making their nests. The stork nests are always so strong and well-balanced, so they are able to withstand any storm. Usually white storks come back to Latvia after winter migration in April and leave the country in late August. Interesting, in how many cultures the White stork is responsible for bringing babies into human family? :)
Рижская Гребенщиковская староверческая церковь or Rīgas Grebenščikova vecticībnieku baznīca(The Grebenschikov's Old Believers church) is the only church in Riga belonging to Russian Orthodox Old-Rite Church. Sorry for pun ;) Despite this is not very popular religion in Latvia, just 5000 members, it is very rich. For example Old-Rite Church is the biggest landowner in Riga. The land territories from Daugava till Purvciems neighborhood are belonging to Old Believers.
Who could have believed a couple of years ago that it would be possible to buy a psychedelic drugs in center of Riga absolutely legally? I guess only the last Riga junkies could think like that.
Nowadays a lot of shops (mostly online) were opened, which officially sell analogs of cannabis aka spice.
It is said that effect is absolutely the same, but Latvian police doesn't have any device to prove illegal status of this product.
Some Riga bars, e.g. Bakery, already include such products in their menu.
See similar herbal shop in Vilnius.
Православная церковь всех святых or Visu svēto pareizticīgo baznīca (All Saints Orthodox Church) This church was built after great fire in 1812. In the beginning the building was built from wood, but after it was rebuilt piecemeal into brick building. The initial wooden building was moved 500 meters away and named after St. John The Baptist Church. Today the Orthodox church celebrates Pascha (Easter), the last day of 49 days long fasting season. Христос воскресе! (Happy Easter!)
Ģirts Rozentāls aka Ozols is the most famous rapper in Latvia and, I guess, the most successful. Ozols quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his rap song about Zolik. During his artist carrier he won several Latvian music awards. Nowadays Girts Rozentals owns several shops and works as DJ in Essential Club. Today I couldn't believed my eyes, when I saw Ozols in tram together with his unknown friend, but I would like to help him to make his name taste like ass :)
Zaķusala (Hare Island) is the land strip washed by Daugava river in the middle of Riga. In the past Zakusala island was split into two smaller islands, which both were densely populated. Here were a lot living houses, shops, warehouses and even an hotel. Nowadays Zakusala is home for Radio and TV facilities like TV Tower and TV Center (at the background). The name of the island comes from population of hares which can be found here. By the way, foxes can be found as well :)
Грузоперевозки по области (Cargo transportation in your oblast region) truck parked on Kliveru iela. Interesting, since when Riga became one of the oblasts of Russia? :)
Nometņu iela (Shelter street) is one of the oldest streets in Pardaugava. Its source is at Orthodox Trinity church and its destination is Market of Agenskalns. Nometnu street is very typical street for Pardaugava because of old wooden houses.
On Easter Sunday children are usually looking for Easter Eggs since the early morning :) I guess it is not difficult to find these ones growing on the tree, but what about to pick up all of them? Happy Easter! :)
Do you know that Latvia is almost less religious country than any other in the world? The percentage of people living in Latvia who said that they "believe there is a God" is less than 30%. This picture has been taken in Essential club this Easter holidays. As you can see that even during Holy Week the Riga clubs are full.
Holy Friday or Good Friday is the day, when people commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus. This day is part of Easter and it is the bank holiday in Latvia and in many other countries of Western world. I met this people singing prayers in Dobele, town which is 75 kilometers from Riga.
The tallest structure in European Union is Riga TV Tower. Its height is almost 370 meters. Observation deck is 97 meters above ground level or 104 meters above sea level, so if the weather is fair enough you can easily see the Baltic Sea and the cargo ships sailing in it. The express elevators Otis bring you on top in less than one minute just for 2,50 Latvian Lats (3 EUR)
Passioned cleaner brooming the top of the entrance was caught in early morning in Purvciems Actually, there is no access to this small roof, except small window.
Bar aka restaurant Barselona in Pardaugava. Popular Latvian website Delfi office is just behind the building. By the way, I recommend you to visit sister blog Barcelona Daily Photo
There is no such term as Riga Lower Center, but I guess it is quite good nickname for the area between Caka iela and Railway line Riga - Saulkrasti. Geographically this area is in the center of Riga, but
Real estate prices here are much lower, than is other center parts of Riga
Buildings here are quite low, not higher than 5-6 storeys
How much of spam do you get daily in your post box? By the way, flats in Latvia are being numbered, unlike as in many other countries, where the surname of flat tenant is being written on top of postbox. Surnames in Latvia are being considered as quite private information. No one likes to make it public.
The full name of this church in is Александро-Невская правосланая церковь in Russian or Sv. Ņevas Aleksandra pareizticīgo baznīca in Latvian, which in English means Alexander Nevsky Church. It was built in 1825 on Brivibas street (at that time Petersburg road)
Critical economical situation in Latvia makes government and private companies saving resources wherever it is possible. For example, during the night the tallest Riga skyscrapersSwedbank and House of Press have no illumination at all. To depict this picture, the photo has been taken with an exposure time of 15 seconds.
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