Aptieka 1 is the largest pharmacy chain in Riga and in Latvia.
This particular drug store is located in a interesting eclectic building in Sarkandaudava.
Could anybody tell what does the letters АФ on the top mean? Thanks :)

Labels: autumn, buildings, eclecticism, first, medicine, people, sarkandaugava, writings

Public Transportation is the today's topic of City Daily Photo blogs. Click here to view thumbs for all participants.
For this matter I took photo of First Trolleybus Park, which was opened in 1913, initially as Tramway Depot.
Trolleybus transportation is very rare outside of Eastern Bloc and I consider trolleybuses as one of Riga uniqueness.
Check also another pictures of Second Trolleybus Park, which is located in Tornakalns.

Labels: first, parks, sarkandaugava, themes, transport, trolleybuses

You never know where you will meet the first snow. This time for Zolitude :)
Winter 2010 has been started relatively early and in fact it is mix of snow and hail. Riga become quite dirty now :(

Labels: autumn, buildings, cars, first, snow, soviet, weather, winter, zolitude

Rīgas Centrāla bibliotēka (Riga Central Library) was the first public library in Riga, and get opened in 1905.
Today it is one of few municipal libraries which are still left within Riga borders. Library resides in Soviet-type building at Brivibas iela 49/53, which is historically called Rigas Modes (Riga Fashion)
The building itself was the first structure in Latvia, which had a panoramic elevator. Check the Hoods.

Labels: brivibas, buildings, center, fashion, first, libraries, soviet

Rīgas Valsts 1. ģimnāzija (State Gymnasium No. 1 of Riga) is the oldest school in Latvia and one of the oldest schools in the world, which is still operating. First record of existence is dated by 1211.
During times the school was famous under many names, teaching in several languages and located in different places. Originally it was located next to Riga Dome and moved to current building in 1874.
Nowadays it is the most prestigious educational institution among Latvian and Russian schools in Riga.
Yesterday, on September 1, was the official opening of academic year aka The Knowledge Day and today is the first lessons day of new academic year.

Labels: buildings, center, eclecticism, education, elite, first, latvian, schools

Club First Dacha or simply First Club is one of the most prestigious nightlife places in Riga.
It is located in Andrejsala harbour, which is quite remote area from all other party places in Riga, hence here are no random visitors, if you don't have a yacht, of course :)
I couldn't take a good picture during the night, therefore here is the morning after dark.

Labels: andrejsala, clubs, elite, first, girls, harbours, morning, music, nightlife, people, wealth

Centra Nams (Centre House) is located, obvisously, in the very center of Riga, in historical area of Citadel.
It was built in 2005 as the first premium apartment building in Riga.

Labels: buildings, center, citadel, first, houses, offices

Свято-Владимирский храм в Дубулты or Pareizticīgo Sv. kņaza Vladimira Dubultu baznīca is the first Orthodox Church in Jurmala located in Dubulti and named after Vladimir I of Kiev, the Grand Prince of Rus.
The church was built in 1867 and hence it is the oldest Orthodox Church in Jurmala.

Labels: buildings, churches, dubulti, first, forest, jurmala, orthodox

It is the warehouse #1 of the former freight terminal, located at Skanste area.
The territory of the former largest goods depot is almost cleaned up and ready for new buildings.

Labels: buildings, first, industrial, railway, skanste

Riga 1st Police Department of Central area is sharing the same building with Fire Department.
First department is one of the oldest in Riga. The building itself was built in 1886 on Matisa street.
History of Riga police dates from the beginning of 1880s, when policemen started to patrol busy streets and places like markets, stations, hotels.
Initially policemen were only Germans, who very rarely could speak Latvian or Russian, therefore their efficiency was extremely low. After some years Riga council began to draft into police the retired soldiers, who were able to speak language of the common people.
Nowadays there are 15 Police departments in Riga.

Labels: buildings, cars, center, first, history, jobs, people, police, snow, winter

Kabata (Pocket) is a small underground theater and bar with dance floor at the night time.
This place is favourited by many artistic personalities of Latvian community.
Initially it was opened as the first non-government-controlled Latvian theater in Soviet Union, hence its full official name has prefix Independent theater.

Labels: art, bars, clubs, first, independence, latvian, nightlife, streets, theaters, 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

Bilingual writing Фабрика велосипедовѣ А. Лейтнерѣ (Old Russian orthography) Velociped-Fabrik A. Leutner (German) is a good monument to the first Bicycle Factory in Russian Empire, which was founded in 1886.

Labels: bicycles, buildings, center, first, german, industrial, monuments, russian, streets, writings

Rīgas apgabaltiesa (Riga Regional Court) is the master piece of Latvian architecture located on Brivibas iela.
This building was built by first Latvian architecture Janis Fridrihs Baumanis in 1889. In fact Baumanis was the first Latvian man ever who got higher education.
Interesting fact is that this building was initially designed in shape of Russian Emperor's Crown.

Labels: baroque, buildings, center, first, government, law

This year's first snow was on 17th October, unfortunately I couldn't make any good picture that day.
Low clouds turned Riga into gray today. During such weather Riga looks so pessimistic, I could say even Soviet :)
Улица Кирова (Kirov street, nowadays Elizabetes street) together with blurred Academy of Science at the background tone up this feeling.

Labels: buildings, center, first, roofs, snow, soviet, starred, streets, weather, winter

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.

Labels: buildings, first, ilguciems, independence, military, monuments, projects, wars

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

Labels: blog, famous, first, latvian, media, writings

Did you know that Riga has one of the highest density of blond females?
Last Sunday on 31st of May was the first March of Blondes, which has gathered several hundreds of nice blond girls.
Everyone must see this event for himself, so come to Riga next year and take some blond girl with you as well ;)

Labels: animals, events, first, funny, girls, people, pink, records, wealth

Rīgas Valsts tehnikums (Riga technical school) is on of the first educational institution in the world, where it was possible to study in Latvian language.
RVT was opened in late 1919, just after Latvian University was formed.
During Soviet times the name of this school was Rīgas Industriālais politehnikums or just RIP :)
RVT is located on Krisjana Valdemara iela, next to Old Town.

Labels: buildings, center, citadel, eclecticism, education, first, schools

First proper snow has been falling this night in Riga.
This photo has been taken by Niall Dennehy at Central Railway Station square
Here is the Webcam of this Riga crossing.

Last year first snow was two weeks earlier :)

Labels: autumn, cars, center, first, night, snow, squares, streets, towers, weather, winter