Temporary Riga photos are being published not in a regular manner due to blog author has moved to Vilnius.

Antonov An-2

Kukuruznik
Antonov An-2 or Kukuruznik (Кукурузник) is the most popular airplane in the former USSR countries and beyond.
This one is parked at neglected Spilve airfield. Price of such aircraft is less than 100,000 USD.
See also photo of Rumbula airfield fleet.

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Varšava

Varsava
Varšavas iela (Warsaw street or Warszawska) is a small street in Maskachka area, which delivers its name from Riga's sister city Warsaw, the capital of almost neighbor country Poland, and which is only 561 km (349 miles) away.
Before 2003 the name of this street was Īsā iela (Short street), which was used in the records since 1880.
I am interested, are there many regular readers from Poland? Please sign :)
See also other destinations from Riga.

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Пушкин

Pushkin statue at Riga
Last week was a monument opening ceremony of the most famous and high-minded Russian author Alexander Pushkin (Александр Сергеевич Пушкин), who was shot in the age of 38 (1799 - 1837)
Pushkin had a fabulous life and was recognized as genius during his life already. He wrote many chefs d'oeuvre, basically he has changed the Russian literature.
It was difficult to take a picture of statue without people nearby, because a lot of people were constantly coming here, to Kronvalda parks to see bronze Pushkin.

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Essential

Essential Club Riga
Essential is one of the biggest and the busiest clubs in Riga. Sometimes the club queue is veeeery loooong :)
Working days from Thursday till Monday and 4 arenas filled with different music styles make this club beloved by many locals and foreigners. Essential Club is a good place to go out and to show off.
This photo was taken last night on crossroads of Elizabetes and Skolas, in fact that was Thursday night.

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Tank 1919-1920

Tank 1919 - 1920
Tank is being sculpted in Ilguciems, most probably, will be devoted to Latvian war of Independence (5 December 1918 - 11 August 1920).
Did you know that Latvia had produced their first tanks during the First World War already? At that time it was absolutely new product, which still was not available in the most of the world states.

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Old Riga Airport

Old Riga Airport terminal
Terminal of Old Riga Airport located between Ilguciems and Bolderaja neighborhoods in area called Spilve.
Nowadays the airfield is still being used as Skydivers base.
Beige Car is Soviet car Volga. See also front view of Spilve airport.

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I love you

I love you Riga
Most probably these lovely romantic writings on AB Dambis are devoted to some person living at Kugu iela 26.
In the beginning there was only You are my #1, then I can't live without you appeared, and only then banal I love you was written.
These lyrics are being updated approximately each 4-6 months.
What do you think, who is more able to do such things: a man or a woman? :)

Updated: see the next writing - You are not alone.

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Tekstiliana

Tekstiliana building
A future prospect advertisement of Tekstiliana project in Tornakalns area. Housing estate Tekstialiana is going to be built in place of old textile mill.
BTW, the office of building owner Capitolia is located at Kugu iela 26, in the house which was renovated from bakehouse.

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Rīgas svētki 2009

Rigas Svetki
Rīgas Svētki (Riga Festival) is an annual event to celebrate Riga's birthday. Today Riga became 811 years old :)
Birthday is always a good reason to make some inventory.
So, for the last year Riga population went down from 717,371 to 713,016 people (-4,355 or -0,61%), but
Riga district population (including cities inside) has grown from 940,725 to 942,002 (+1,277 or +0,14%)
However Latvia population became less for -9,600 or -0,42% of people (from 2,270,894 to 2,261,294)

Check also fireworks photo of Rigas svetki 2008 and 2010.

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Nakts Skrējiens

nakts skrejiens
Nakts Skrējiens (Night run) is an sport event, which was held last night in Riga center.
Around 4000 people had signed up for the late competition. The event itself is devoted to Riga Days 2009.
The race start was at National Theater, then people had run over the Suspension Bridge and then back to the finish next to Congress' House.
Check Nakts Skrējiens 2010.

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Koncertzāle Dzintari

oncertzale Dzintari
Dzintaru koncertzāle (Dzintari concert hall) is the most important arena in Jurmala town.
The wooden building was built in 1936, the hall was rebuilt in 1960 without walls and the space merges with the surrounding Jurmala dune park.
It is stamping ground of Russian entertainment stars.

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Ne dienu bez Rīgas

Ne dienu bez Rigas - Rigas Laiks
Ne dienu bez Rīgas - is the title of an article about my blog in local magazine Rīgas Laiks (Riga Times)
This is the first review of my blog by offline media known to me. Despite very short article, I feel very proud because of it.

Here below is the full text of article:
Rūpīgi uzturēts un aizraujošs fotoblogs, kas katru dienu piedāvā jaunu fotogrāfiju un nelielu komentāru par tajā attēloto Rīgas vai tuvējās apkārtnes skatu.
Ne vienmēr šie komentāri vai objektu izvēle ir Latvijai glaimojoša, taču autoram (kurš savu personu pārlieku neafišē) nevar pārmest arī apzinātu nomelnošanu.
Mērķauditorija ir ārzemnieki, kas ir nolēmuši apciemot Latvijas galvaspilsētu vai domā par to, attēlos redzamā pilsēta ir skaista, dīvaina, biedējoša vai bīstama - tieši tāda, kāda tā ari patiesībā ir.
Dažkārt autors lasītājus izprovocē uz komentāriem - pajautājot, vai kāds igaunis nezina, ko igauniski nozīmē Pērses ielas nosaukums, vai izsakot minējumu, ka nez vai vēl kur pasaulē ir pilsētas ar dubultiem māju numuriem (Barona iela 59/61).
Tepat var atrast saites uz citām ar Rīgu saistītām vietnēm un vebkamerām, kas rāda pilsētu reālajā laikā.
® Sagatavoja Ilmārs Šlāpins un Pauls Bankovskis

The literal translation in more popular language:

Let no day without Riga

It is carefully maintained exciting photoblog, which get updated every day with a new photograph of Riga or surrounding and a small comment about it.
Photos and comments are not always flattering for Latvia, but the author (who doesn’t publish his identity) can’t be accused of intentional defamation.
The target audience is foreigners who have decided to visit the capital of Latvia or still are thinking about it. The image of the city is made to be beautiful, strange, intimidating or even threatening - exactly like it is in real life.
Sometimes the author provoke readers to comment by asking if anyone does know Estonian language and the meaning of Perses street in it, or expressing guess that somewhere else in the world are houses with double house numbers (Barona Street 59/61).
Also here are the links to Riga related sites and webcams, which show the city in real time.
® Prepared by Ilmars Slapins and Pauls Bankovskis

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Fabrikas Restorans

Fabrikas Restorans
Fabrikas restorāns (Factory Restaurant) is a fancy place to spend candle evening.
Restaurant delivers its name from the former gypsum factory located in the same building before.
Now everyday live music, calm atmosphere makes this place unique for Riga.

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Jelgavas iela

Jelgavas iela
Jelgavas iela (Jelgava street) is an alley street in Pardaugava. It is named after Jelgava city, which is located 40 km from Riga.
Trolleybus park is located at Jelgavas street.

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Green Bolderaja

Green houses in Bolderaja
Soviet apartment buildings painted in green in Bolderaja neighborhood.
Basically this is the first view you see when enter Bolderaja area, which is one of the most closest to the Sea.

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Parachutist Camp

Skydivers
Parachutist Camp at Griva airfield near Daugavpils city, 230 km from Riga.
Since Riga skydiving club had moved its dropzone, everyone who would like to jump from a plane has to go to Daugavpils.
A price to get dropped out of the aircraft is 35 Ls (45) EUR, training included :)
BTW, maybe some of you are interested to make Riga city air tour.

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Summer New Year

New Year Party in Godvil Club
Today is really snowing in Riga, especially it is heavy at Brivibas 214b.
Godvil club is having a Summer New Year Party.
Cool :)

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Hen Party

Hen night in Riga
Old town in Riga is very popular place for stag and hen parties.
During hen night girls are making some performance in public places to collect trousseau or just for fun.
This blond girl is allowing to touch her for a little amount of money :)

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Dzelzavas iela 70

Blue modern building in Purvicems
Residence building located at Dzelzavas street 70 has long and dramatic history.
Started to be built in very late 80s, then just after Soviet Union collapse, in 1993, the construction got frozen for 11 years.
In 2004 the building was finally built without planned 2 floors. Now it is quite prestigious place to live in.

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Stradiņi

Stradini
Stradiņa slimnīca (Stradins' Hospital) was named in honor of Pauls Stradins.
Despite quite old interior, this hospital has the best reputation among Latvian medicine facilities. It is prestigious place (if it is possible to say like that) to stay while you have health problems.

See also First Riga Hospital, which is going to be closed soon because of financial crisis in Latvia.

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Hyper MAXIMA XXX

Maxima in Riga
I guess such name fits better to some adult movie or might be even used as subject in spam email.
Maxima is Lithuanian supermarket chain with the worst brand naming strategy.

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Watch Tower

Daugavgriva Tower
Tower inside of forgotten military Daugavgriva Fortress.
In fact it is water tower, which had been supplying closest areas with water.
See also Agenskalns Water tower, Ciekurkalns tower and Center towers.

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Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall in Riga
Jehovas liecinieku valstības zāle or Зал Царства Свидетелей Иеговы (Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall) is another alternative Christian movement, which reached Latvia last years. Despite that this religion is banned in many countries and given as sect, there are more than 2000 members in Latvia.
Interesting that Michael Jackson was born a Jehovah's Witness, but they force him to leave church after his profane art. This fact proves that "publishers" have very strong morals and principles.
Check also other alternative and minor religious movements seen in Riga.

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Babylon

Babylon club in Riga
Babylon is a recently opened club in Old Riga at Kalku street. In fact it is the same infamous former club Roxy.
Everything is kept changeless, e.g. design of arenas, gloomy stuff, overpriced drinks and even the atmosphere.
I guess "splendid" club's owners decided to make rebranding because of many accuses of cheating.
Also please check full list of blacklisted places in Riga.

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Mazā Monētu iela

Maza Monetu iela
Mazā Monētu iela (Little Coin street) is one of the most famous streets among students in Riga.
Two the most cheapest places are located here - La Belle Epoque (aka French Bar) and recently opened Celsijs.
Ultra low prices in both places make the street wet from the spilled beer (literally :)). During rush hours (the middle of the night) it is impossible to get through the street. Hundreds of students, alternative people, bums and foreigners gather here.
It is unique place because it is not forbidden to travel with the same glass of beer from one place to another one.

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Growing Up

LNB Building
Finally some part of the building could be seen. Can you see the red frames above the grey fence? :)
Comparing to the last photos of LNB Building, this one depicts a big step forward.

BTW, do not forget to check Webcam of National Library's building, which updates almost every second.

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Šķirotava

Skirotava Station
Šķirotava (Classification yard) is a freight train station found at Kengarags, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks.
An areal photo of huge industrial facility was found at Central Station photo exhibition.
Latvian Railway celebrates 90 years anniversary this year.
See such views on your own during Riga aircraft tours

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Marijas iela

Marijas street
Marijas iela (Maria street) formerly Pleskavas iela (Pskov Street) is one of the main streets in Riga.
Marijas iela starts at Central station, runs several blocks and then turns into Caka iela.
It is not an unique case in Riga, when the same street has two names, one at the beginning and another one at the end.
At the foreground a pink Art Nouveau building is newly opened Nordic Hotel Bellevue.

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Controllers

Transport controllers
One of the most disrespected jobs is ticket controller in public transport.
A lot of people have no money to pay a ticket, some don't want to spend money or simply forget to buy one.
Very often controllers used to get beaten or humiliated.
So now they work in groups not less than 4 people and sometimes even with police together.
This helps to prevent savage conflicts and makes people to pay fine, which is 5Ls (7EUR)
The price of regular ticket is 0,50Ls (0,70 EUR)
See also photo of Tramways Controllers.

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Diving

Jumping off a bridge
Children jumping off the train bridge at Daugavgriva every summer
The writing in Estonian on the left pier means "A night with you is worth of the whole life"

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Riga Nights - Monthly theme

Riga Night
Never forget Riga nights, shining lights
Playing music and dancing so free
You and me making love is like raw ecstasy
Let me be...
(Riga Nights Lyrics)

This is the lyrics from the new überpopular song Riga Nights.
Today is theme day of the city daily photo blogs, and the topic is Night. Click here to view all participants

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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