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

Tall Ships in Riga are busy all day... and all night

Labels: events, harbours, lights, night, people, ships, sports, writings

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

A decorated horse-drawn carriage for bride and groom in Mālpils, one of the best towns for wedding ceremonies.
Photo is taken by wedding photographer Mārtiņš Plūme.
Maybe some of you know and can recommend other good wedding photographers in Latvia?

Labels: animals, events, jobs, malpils, people, transport

A regular wedding photo session turned into something chaotic when the huge ship appeared on the background.
It was the largest cruise ship ever visited Riga Harbour - Aurora with almost 3000 people on board.

Labels: boats, events, mangalsala, people, records, ships

More than 18,000 runners and even more supporters have participated Riga Nordea Marathon this Sunday, which is absolute record for Riga.

Labels: events, people, records, sports

Today is the last chance to see Latvian (yes, they exist!) and other EU warships anchored in Passenger Port.
Military ships arrived to Riga because of training exercises happening in Irbe strait.

Labels: daugava, events, military, morning, rivers, ships

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

Taking photos at world famous exhibition Bodies Revealed is strongly prohibited.

Labels: art, entertainment, events, medicine, museums, pleskodale

Yesterday, on Saturday morning I was a witness to unknown procession in Old Town on Kalku iela.
People were carrying flag of Latvia and another one similar to Italy or Hungary, but flag holders were not looking like Italians nor Hungarians :)
Does anybody know what kind of parade it was?

Labels: brivibas, events, flags, people, vecriga

Main office building of recently formed Bank Citadele during Staro Riga event.
As usually the best shots are taken by guest photographers from Delfi :)

Labels: banks, buildings, center, events, lights, modernism, offices, staro

Staro in Latvian means Shine. Staro Riga is the name of annual light festival which was held 18-22 November.
This photo of Alexander Bridge was taken by Delfi's photographer.

Labels: blue, bridges, brivibas, canal, events, lights, night, rivers, staro, vecriga

November 11th and its the day of Lacplesis.
Traditionally today Latvians come President's castle wall and put a candle.

Labels: events, fire, girls, holidays, independence, traditions, walls

Yesterday in all Riga Clubs was a costume party devoted to Halloween.
Just (to feel) is a new club in Old Town in the place of the former Zebra club, just across Coyote Fly.
It is like a drain club of Coyote Fly. Almost all the people who couldn't get into Coyote go to Just Club :)

Labels: clubs, events, holidays, lights, nightlife, people

Today is the day of Latvian Parliamentary election 2010. Latvian people are choosing their servants for the next 4 years, who will work in Saeima, the Latvian parliament.
The biggest problem of Latvia is the absence of the strong and powerful leader and a lot of small parties were always scattered the power among themselves.
I must admit that Latvia is going in a right direction now, this year we have only 5 parties to choose between.

Labels: events, flags, people, politics

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

Night Marathon is one of the most remarkable events during Riga Festival, which is taking place this weekend.
The distance is only 5km (3.1 miles) and the track route was made through many sights in Riga, which were illuminated and blazing at night.
The photo was taken by F64 Agency few seconds before marathon start.

Labels: events, holidays, night, people, sports, traditions

Bright Colours is the topic of regular Monthly theme and I was too late to take a good photo on time :)
For a couple of days I couldn't find in Riga anything brighter than Piena Svetki (Milk Fest), which was held on 1st of August in area next to Piens club.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Labels: alternative, art, center, clubs, design, events, people, themes

Whitehouse Party at Vernissage Cafe is kinda Latvian replica of Sensation White.
Electronic music, many DJs and the most important that everybody dressed in white (except shoes)

Labels: cafes, clubs, events, girls, music, night, nightlife, people, white

The protesters' camp which was pitched in front of Council of Ministers has been demolished this weekend.
The winter photo of people living on the street was starred in my blog because visitors were shocked about brave unemployed who decided to live in tent until they will find a job.
The record was reached in February when 12 tents were setup. Last weeks there were only 2 guys who still were living on Brivibas alley.
At the some point, one of them went to swim in a river, but another left camp to toilet for a couple of minutes. Almost immediately police gabbed all their unattended stuff.
Juris, the guy smocking cigarillo, told me: Police actions were illegal and this is not the end!

Labels: camps, center, events, government, people, persons, politics, poverty, shame