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

This is not April Fools' Day Joke, but a screenshot from Indian movie called Agent Vinod, which was released last year.
Few parts of the movie were filmed in Riga in the 2011 summer and it is worth to see just because of that.
Hot pursuits through Riga streets, epic explosion of Riga Hotel and many other scenes involving Riga sights.

Labels: art, cafes, center, fire, hotels, indian, movies, theaters

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

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

Sad news reached me today :( This night fire in Riga zoo has killed many animals including 3 zebras and antelope.

Photo was taken from news portal delfi.lv

Labels: animals, fire, incidents, mezaparks, parks

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

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

First time ever Riga city hall have thought about people who are going to celebrate Ligo in Riga.
Several stages, stalls, fires were built on 11. Novembra krastmala, although not so many people came as was initially expected.

Labels: center, fire, holidays, lights, traditions

Rammstein concert is being held today in Arena Riga.
An unique show was performed by world famous Band originally coming from East Germany.
Rammstein become successful for its sharp and aggressive lyrics. Despite Rammstein is mainstream now, it still could be considered as alternative music.

Labels: alternative, arena, events, famous, fire, german, music, show

Traditional Lāpu gājiens (Torchlight Procession) took place yesterday late evening in Riga and was devoted to the 91st anniversary of independence of Latvia.
Usually it begins next to Karlis Ulmanis, then heads to Occupation museum and ends at Freedom monument.
Hundreds of patriots carrying a torch are led by Latvian nationalists' party.

Labels: events, fire, independence, lights, people, red, traditions

Today on 11th of November is Lāčplēša diena.
Many people on this day come to Castle walls to put a candle in order to honour heroes of war for Liberation of Latvia from German army in 1919.

P.S. Unfortunately I haven't such a good camera, so the picture was taken from some news website :)

Labels: castles, events, fire, holidays, independence, lights, people, traditions, walls

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

Last night was one of the most significant holidays in Latvia - Līgo.
The tradition is to make as big as possible fire and then go into forest to look for fern flower ;)

Labels: black, fire, holidays, night, summer, traditions

This is the cause of trains fire in Ventspils.
Head-on collision of two trains consists was the reason of huge fire.

Labels: fire, incidents, railway, trains, ventspils

Happy New Year 2009, folks.
View is taken from top of Hotel Latvia and it reflects the New Year fireworks over Riga skies.

Labels: center, events, fire, night, traditions, winter

Now the most breaking news in Latvia is the fire of several tank cars near Ventspils town.
The incident caused by collision of oil car and benzine car. It is said that 2 dead bodies already found.
The flame of is as big as it can be seen from far distance.

Labels: fire, incidents, jobs, railway, towns, trains, ventspils

One of the last week top news, is the fire in Domina shopping center.
It is the second fire in Domina for the last couple of weeks.
Hopefully I managed to buy new shoes before the fire :)

Labels: cars, fire, incidents, jobs, purvciems, shopping

Today is a big date in Latvia. 90 years since our country became independent from Russia and Germany.
At that time, in 1918 there was no such word Latvia at all. The country was formed from the lands belonging to two big neighbours, but the people was speaking in one Latvian language.
During that time Russia wanted to recover their authority on their former land.
And Germany wanted to create The United Baltic Duchy from territories where Latvia and Estonia are now. This Baltic Duchy would be under the German rule.
All their plans fell to the ground, because of people like Karlis Ulmanis, which made dreams about the country for Latvian people came true.

See last year fireworks on November 18.

Labels: daugava, events, fire, german, history, holidays, independence, latvian, lights, night, people, rivers, russian

On 11 of November people fire candles and put them on the front wall of Riga Castle, from the side of 11th November str.
This tradition is to remember people died to liberate Riga in 1919.

Photo made by poppy.

Labels: castles, children, events, fire, holidays, independence, latvian, lights, people, walls

Gaismas tilti (Bridges of Light) is the country wide event devoted to 90 days left before the Independence Day of Latvia.
All bridges in Latvia were illuminated all night long by candle flames.

Labels: bridges, churches, culture, daugava, events, fire, independence, lights, night, rivers, vecriga