According to my own tradition, every August, when Riga celebrates its birthday, I do collect stats about Riga's population to see how well the city lives.
In my understanding, the population is the main factor of economic and cultural activity of the cities.
So, please check below the statistics for the recent 3 years and the most recent change:

Region	2013	2012	2011	Diff from 12 to 13
Riga City	696,618	699,203	706,413	-0.37%
Riga Metro	1,018,295	1,081,137	1,098,523	-5.81%
Latvia	2,041,763	2,217,053	2,245,357	-7.91%

As long as I publish those stats I see decrease in Riga's population and it seems that there are no plans or support by government to inverse that trend.

Photo of Fireworks at Riga Festival in 2013 by Andris Jenerts
Check also photos of Riga 2012, Riga Festival in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Labels: birthdays, daugava, events, fire, lights, night, people, records, riga, rivers, skyscrapers

Sad news, Riga became 1 year older and since today Riga is 811 years old officially.
Although this year City Festival was celebrating 730 years since Riga joined Hanseatic League.
Why this is sad news? 1 year ago I've been forecasting that Riga's population will go under 700,000 in a few years, but it happened earlier.
Here below are statistics and changes:

Region	2012	2011	Change
Riga	699,203	706,413	-1.02%
Riga Metro	1,081,137	1,098,523	-1.58%
Latvia	2,217,053	2,245,357	-1.26%

Check also photos of Riga Festival in 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008. Statistics of Riga in 2005.

Labels: birthdays, daugava, events, fire, lights, night, people, records, riga, rivers, skyscrapers

Olaine celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. Usually town's festival takes place in the last weekend of Spring.
On the picture: The town council of Olaine with a huge banner Olainei 45 hanging on it.

Labels: ads, birthdays, government, offices, olaine, spring, towns

Few days after December 13, 1985 I was brought to this house.
Here, on Jauna iela in Jurmala, I have spent first 2 years of my life before my family moved to Riga Center.

Labels: birthdays, houses, jurmala, snow, winter, wooden

Last weekend Riga officially became 1 year older, and its technical age is 810 years!
A massive celebration was held around the city 3 days in a row. Many subevents, like medieval fights, air show and of course fireworks could be observed in Riga these days.

I would like to continue my tradition and provide here some numbers to describe Riga's "growth".
The city mayor is still Nil Ushakov, but according current tendency, soon there will be no city, but just a settlement.
During the last year Riga population went down from 709,145 to 706,413 residents (-2,732); simple calculation still proves that after a couple of years Riga will have less than 700,000 residents.

Riga region population (including other cities) is 1,098,523. No changes because of new expanded borders.

I really don't understand how, but the picture of Latvia population is getting better. The growth is +27,388 or +1,23% of people (from 2,217,969 to 2,245,357)

Labels: birthdays, boats, bridges, daugava, events, fire, holidays, lights, night, riga

I can't believe, it is already 3 years since my first Riga Daily Photo. Kinda success! :)
This year I took not just 365 photos more, but also got new camera with the help of my readers, started to use twitter for instant updates, got interviewed and many other interesting things happened to me because of RDP.
Thank you, my dear visitors for watching this blog and making me keep exploring Riga and surroundings.

Labels: autumn, birthdays, blog, buildings, churches, daugava, rivers, ships, sunset, towers

Rīgas svētki (Riga Festival) is always being held in the end of August each year. Tens of locations, hundreds of events and thousands of people are taking part in this huge celebration of Riga birthday.
In order to continue my own tradition, here below are some figures to describe Riga's growth.
During the last year Riga population went down from 713,016 to 709,145 people (-3,871); simple calculation proves that after 3 years Riga will have less than 700,000 residents :(
Riga district population (including cities inside) has decreased from 942,002 to 937,864 (-4,138)
And the picture of Latvia population is even worse. The huge drop is -43,325 or -1,92% of people (from 2,261,294 to 2,217,969)

Check also fireworks photos of Riga Festival 2008 and 2009.

As usually, good night photo is provided by F64.

Labels: birthdays, churches, events, fire, holidays, lights, night, riga, trees, water

2,5 years ago Riga Daily Photo was started with the picture of Vana Tallinn ferry departing from Riga Harbour. 500th post was marked with photo of another ferry - Regina Baltica.
I didn't want to break the tradition, so the second anniversary was with photo of Festival taking the Sea.
Now it's time to expose Rīgas pasažieru osta (Riga Passenger Terminal) itself and the reason is that this picture is the 1000th photo!

Just imagine, 1000 photos of Riga! Riga Daily Photo is my longest hobby ever, which is still making me happy :)
Although difficult times came and I don't have a good camera anymore, hence I have to take pictures with a low-end old digital camera. So if you like this blog, please support it by making a small donation for a new camera.
Thanks anyway, my beloved visitors and readers :)

Labels: andrejsala, birthdays, blog, buildings, harbours, hobby, ships, transport

Just few Rigans know that word Riga stands not only for the capital of Latvia, but it is also name for some cities, towns and other places around the world.
Today it is exactly 201 year since Riga town was formed in the state of New York in United States of America. Nowadays Riga, NY is a small town with population of 6,000 people.
I hope one day I will take a plane to New York and take these pictures by myself, but for now I am sending big thanks for photos to Art and Jim from Riga, NY

Labels: american, birthdays, cities, outside latvia, riga, towns, writings

5 years passed since monsieur Eric Tenin started his Paris Daily Photo, the very first City Daily Photo blog.
In fact I was inspired not only by Paris, but also by Brain's New York, which was started on 17 March 2006.
Today's Photo is a tribute to celebrate 5 years anniversary and the theme is the Tenin Technique.
Eric's photo I love PDP inspired me to use the Tenin's Technique. Do not forget to view all participants.

Labels: birthdays, blog, cars, cities, riga, roofs, snow, themes, winter, writings

Just before dinner. Girls are placing dishes in restaurant called Neiburgs (Neighbour)
Preparation for big guests coming :)

Labels: birthdays, girls, jobs, people, restaurants, vecriga

15 years ago first Riga McDonald's was officially opened. At that time it was one of the prestigious places to eat. Since then I am regular client of that fast food place. I simply enjoy these always warm and tasty burgers :)
Being teenager I used to work in McDonald's as well, luckily not for a long time. Actually, after that I couldn't eat in McDonald's several months because I just got knew how and from what food is being prepared.

Labels: american, birthdays, brivibas, first, food, lights, night, restaurants, vecriga

Today is a birthday of riga.in :) 2 years have passed since Riga Daily Photo was started. Wow, we are taking the sea! :)
A lot of work has been done - about 750 photos were published, first appearance in press, transfer to new domain.
And there are still many ideas and things to do in order to improve riga.in and get this photoblog to even higher level.
For example, I will tell you a little secret, in a few days riga.in will have a brand new stylish smart design :)

Of course all of this take tons of resources. In fact riga.in is not created to make any money hence it is nonprofit project, but on this very special day if you want to help to riga.in, then you are very welcome to make a small gift :)

Prieka and Будем! (Cheers!)

Labels: birthdays, blog, boats, daugavgriva, nature, people, sea, ships, towers, transport, water

Today is the 60th birthday of Zebra Crossing. Can you imagine? :)
Not many Rigans knows that zebra on Aspazijas blvd between Kalku and Brivibas is unique because of its width.
On the photos is depicted a kind of flash mob. People gathered next to our famous zebra to chalk some greeting writings.

Guest photographer is Zigurds Zakis.

Labels: art, birthdays, center, children, events, funny, girls, people, traffic

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.

Labels: birthdays, bridges, daugava, events, fire, holidays, lights, night, riga, rivers, water

Kaļķu vārti is one of my favourite night clubs in Riga. Sometimes there is a spontaneous performance by regular visitors.
Obviously the club is located on Kalku iela, just next to Mad House ;)

Labels: bars, birthdays, clubs, girls, nightlife

I nearly forgot about first anniversary of Riga Daily Photo blog :)
One year ago I revived already dead blog about Riga from scratch. And till now I am keeping it in a good order ;)
A lot of pictures were published here, and even more were taken. And it is impossible to calculate how many man-hours were spent for this brainchild :)
But only because of running this blog, I get know much better my city, have discovered hundreds of small and big facts about Riga. Finally, I've improved my English :)

This picture was taken during Riga City Festival 2008, when Riga has celebrated its 810th birthday ;)

Labels: birthdays, blog, events, holidays, kipsala, life, night, skyscrapers

Rīgas svētki (Riga City Festival) is a big cultural festival for three days. City Festival has been taking place annually since 2001, basically to celebrate Riga Birthday.
It is organised by different Riga residents as a massive entertainment venue.
Rigas Svetki takes place in the middle of august at numerous areas and streets across the whole City.
Usually it ends with a huge fireworks shaking whole Riga region :)

Guest photographer: Stepanov A
Check also photo devoted to Rigas Svetki 2009 and 2010.

Labels: birthdays, bridges, daugava, events, fire, holidays, night, pardaugava, rivers, skyscrapers, sunset

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.

Labels: birthdays, blog, boats, daugava, harbours, rivers, ships, transport