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

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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July Flowers

Flowers on the Riga Market
Riga Centre Market has the whole street, where people sell and buy flowers.
Prices here are much lower than at Sakta Flower Market or any other flower shop in Riga.

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Deportation Wagon

Deportacijas vagons
During early Soviet times more than 50 000 people living in Latvia were deported to Siberia and Central Asia in such wagons. It was about 2% of country population and all of them were classified as enemies of workers.
Deportation of Latvian people was just a little part of something much bigger. Total more than 3 millions of people were transferred in USSR for 8 years between 1941 and 1949.
It was a big crime against freedom and human being in general.

This wagon is forever parked at Tornakalns station, which is infamous because of such events.
See also another memorial to deported children.
BTW, Ozols has a great rap song about this events called Deportacija.

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Pauls Stradiņš

Pauls Stradins statue
A granite monument in the garden in Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital, which is located in Agenskalns area.
It is a bust of Pauls Stradiņš (1896 - 1958), the most famous Latvian doctor, surgeon and oncologist.
He had founded Medicine University, was head of Major Hospital in Latvia and many other medicine institutions.
The importance of his works and contribution to the science can scarcely be overestimated.

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Rhododendron Mania

Rhododendron in Riga Botanical garden
In Botanical Garden people gone crazy because of beautiful blossoming Rhododendron.
The spring and especially May is the most perfect time to visit Riga Botanic garden.

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С Днём Победы

Flowers at victory monument in Riga
Today the Russophones of the world commemorate the victory over German Nazi in the Second World War.
It is the greatest day for most of Russian-speakers in Latvia too and tens of thousands of people come to Victory Monument to lay flowers.
This is the day which unites national minorities of Latvia and being intensively used by left wing parties as well.

С Днём Победы! (S Dnem Pobedy means Happy Victory Day)

See also nice photo of 2008 Victory Day.

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8th of March


March 8 is International woman Day. Although it is not official holiday in Latvia, it is being celebrated by many Latvians.
Traditions are quite simple - to favour women with good wishes and by giving flowers.
The giving an official status to this holiday is being discussed each year.
Usually the right-wing parties are against acceptance, and the left-wing ones are for.
This "colorful" advertisement is sponsored by left-wing party Центр согласия / Saskaņas Centrs (Center of consensus)
Last year the 8 March greetings that I found were anonymous.

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Flower Bridge


Recently all central park bridges get decorated by flowers.
Pictured: Tilts 8. Pasaules Brīnums (8th Wonder of the world bridge) is one of the small pedestrian bridges over Riga Canal.

See also Winter bridge decoration.

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Latvian Legion Day


16 March is a kind of Patriots' Day in Latvia.
This Day few Nazi veterans, who still alive, lay wreaths on Freedom Monument in Riga.
It is not an official holiday anymore (it was till 2000).
Worldwide Nazism is convicted, but not in Latvia. 16 March is used by the Right political parties as Hate Speech Day between Latvian and Russian communities in Latvia.
This is a big waste of time and money. Just imagine how much cost to protect those 50 old dudes from furious contraries.
Everybody should understand that there is nothing about the freedom.

Please, see Latvian Legion Day in 2009 photos as well.

Guest Photographer: Dezidor

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Valentine's Day


St. Valentine's Day is being celebrated in Riga just for the last 10-15 years, since Latvia became Western-influenced country.
A lot of lovers express their feeling by gifting flowers or some other other gifts like those Plush toys photographed in Olympia.
I was told a legend, that this holiday was invented by French flower traders especially to increase their sales :)
See also Valentine's Day in 2009.

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Ancient Cemetry


This is Mārtiņa kapi (Cemetery of Martin) in Riga.
Most of tombs here were buried more than one hundred years ago. Some of them even 250 years ago.
Interesting that writings on tombstones are in German, English, Russian, Hebrew and Latvian language. It shows that Riga was very multicultural city all its history.
See also Lutheran Church, which is just next to this cemetery.

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Advent


4 sundays till Christmas are left, hence all flowers shops start to sell wreaths with 4 candles :)
On photograph is decpited a flower-shop working 24/7 on the busiest street of Vecriga.
Sometimes passing it in the night, I just wondering how those grannies can stand on street whole night, even during cold times, like -25 C (-13 F)

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Flower Market

Flower Market in Riga
This is one of several flower marketplaces in Riga. This is the most famous one, located at where Terbatas iela (street) begins. This area called as Sakta among people.

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