Since a couple of years it is illegal to drive through Dome Square, but many drivers still don't know it and get caught by police, which always is very helpful and show you the right direction, especially if you are sitting behind the wheel of the new expensive car.
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?
A couple months ago, when I discovered that Stone Bridge has lost its massive chandeliers, I thought that Riga mayor will replace them to some more modern lamps. Although chandeliers were just polished before City Festival, which will be held upcoming weekend.
Nightclub Piens (Milk) is famous for its bohemian public and very friendly atmosphere. Although it is quite difficult to get into the club. Bouncer must know you, otherwise there is no way in. Luckily there is next door Kefirs club, which has no such strict rules to enter.
Albert is the name of the bronze monument devoted to Chimney sweepers. The monument was opened less than one month ago on 22 Skolas iela. In Latvia it is considered lucky to see Chimney sweep, so now you know where you can always find one ;)
The best souvenirs from Latvia are amber stuff, flax clothes, black balsam and of course fridge magnets :) What else would you recommend to buy in Latvia?
Annual Parade of Blonde has been held today. A lot of blond girl teams could be found in Old Town this morning. I like this proposal for new airBaltic uniform :) Photo has been taken from delfi.lv.
A lot of Emergency trucks by night at Aspazijas Bulvaris. I guess the crew is performing some repair works to make possibility for new Trams could run here. Photo has been taken in the beginning of April.
Ryanair Boeing is being refueled by an aviation fuel truck Mercedes-Benz while passengers are boarding. No time to waste. 89% of Ryanair's flights are on-time! I guess the rest 11% are simply canceled flights :)
I have never thought that removing icicles and cleaning roofs from the snow is so important procedure. This year my flat on the last floor get flooded because of the rapidly melted ice and snow. And the insurance company says it's not their case . P.S. Check the angry guy on the most-left photo ;)
23th February is Defender of the Fatherland Day (День защитника Отечества) in many ex Soviet countries. Fortunately in Latvia it has not legal status. Otherwise my patriotism would look for answer, who is the defender of Latvia? And from who? The guys on the photo are doing very serious job, they are hunters of deadheads in tramways, aka Controllers. They fight against crime everyday, perhaps they are defenders? :) BTW, the price for single use ticket has grown for almost 50% since last 6 months. Now it is 0,70Ls (1 EUR)
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.
Despite such a freezing weather (-17°C or 2°F) since several weeks these people are living in tents in order to protest against current government's actions or more precisely inactions. The camp of more than 10 tents is based right in front of Council of Ministers. In the very beginning it was just one small tent, but the community of desperate people is growing very fast. They don't care about us...
Piparkūkas (German: Pfefferkuchen) is a variation of gingerbread, which very popular in Latvia and especially during Christmas period. Some people find that the taste of pepper sweets is strange, but I personally like piparkukas and its taste always reminds me about Christmas time. Picture is taken at one of Christmas markets by guest photographer is A. Garbuzar.
This CoffeeTime vehicle is located next to entrance into Vermanes Park. Such food vans started to appear in Riga quite recently, but I doubt very much that it is profitable business for now. People in Riga still are not used to buy food on the streets.
The people in the hoist are neither window cleaners nor poster hangers :) Their job is to put plastic foam into cracks of the building, which is so old, so that hardly can see that it was originally built from shining yellow brick. Photo is taken at Ernesta Birznieka-Upisa iela.
Military parade of Latvian Army at Riga embankment in honor of 91st Independence Day. It seems that recently Latvia has visibly improved its armed forces with new equipment. I wonder why... Also I always wonder why forested country has army wearing desert camouflage uniform :)
Few hundreds meters from Riga Central Market, in the area of old warehouses, there is a real Latvian farmer's market. It opens at sunset, and, I guess, works all night long. Here you can buy healthy products grown in Latvia.
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