Roja, a small fisherman town in Kurzeme, has the entrance road sign very similar to the one, which is in Riga.
This photo was made right after photo of mole and before Kolka.
Travelling around the world I understand that beaches in Latvia are ones of the most beautiful in the world.
White sand, blue skies and almost no annoying insects. Unfortunately they are like this only few months per year :(
This is the next photo after my stop in Jaunkemeri. The next is Kupla priede Tower.
You will never find any other advertisement in the world written in both Latvian and Lithuanian languages except this one, which is located 500 meters away from Latvian-Lithuanian border on Lithuania's side of Via Baltica road.
For a while I couldn't decide where to publish this photo on Riga blog or on Vilnius Photos blog.
I saw this unique tree at the Zoo's coast of Kisezers lake this weekend.
Why meta-tree? because I don't know how to call a tree which is growing out from another tree :)
Zirņu sala (Pea Island) is located in Salaspils county, next to Riga Hydroelectric Power Plant and Darzini area.
It is infamous construction site of a little town, which has started in late 2000s, but never been finished.
Today it is an uninhabited zone with illuminated streets and even some built houses just next to Riga's border.
Photo of ghost town was taken by guest photographer Viktores.
Velnezers (Devil's Lake) is a small lake between apartment blocks in Jugla.
Lake is infamous for being very dangerous for swimming due its double (or even tripple) bottom.
Cape Kolka is extreme geographical point of Latvia and one of Lativan nature monumenets.
It marks the border between Baltic Sea and Riga Gulf, unfortunately every year Cape Kolka is getting smaller and smaller because of being eaten by the Baltic Sea.
November 18th is the National Day of Latvia. Today is 92 years since Latvia got independent first time. During my absence in Latvia, the role of Riga photographer was taken by Mike.
Spilve Field is being used not only as airfield, but also for agricultural production. I am not sure how these haystacks are going to be used, because there is almost no farmers in Latvia.
Heavy shower flooded Riga today; the storm torn branches off the trees, so many streets, roads became blocked. Thankfully it was very short rain, hence the traffic was limited just for some hours. The picture was taken this Sunday afternoon on the exit from Riga Airport.
Three lakes located in Saurieši are former quarry pits, which were used for the extraction of clay. A Knauf factory, the the biggest consumer of extract, is also located next to this former clay pit. In summer Sauriešu karjers (Saurieši Querry) is a famous resort because of very clean water. It is also favourite place of Latvian Scuba divers.
An optical effect called Sun Dog or Parhelion was taken on the road to the Airport. Sundog is rather commonly encountered atmospheric phenomenon, which creates two mock suns beside the real one. In Riga 3 suns can be observed in the summer evenings, when the sun is going low and slowly above the horizon. Today is Ligo, a national holiday of the Sun and devoted to the longest day and shortest night in the year.
Thousands of flights are cancelled because of Volcanic ash over Nordic countries, including Latvia. More than 20,000 passengers get stuck in Riga airport, which is closed for all flights since yesterday evening.
Vulcan hazard experts say that ash clouds may block all flights for few weeks and will continue to affect some flights for at least several months.
Although airport officials say that air traffic will be resumed tomorrow morning, on 17th of April.
UPDATED on 17th of April afternoon: All flights are still cancelled (see date on picture)
NASA satellite photo of winter in Latvia and neighbour countries Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Sweden. A short ice free strip in the gulf of Riga is made in order to make possible ferry traffic. Psst, Riga is in the very center :)
Pleskodāles Kapi (Pleskodale Cemetery) was established by Martina baznica in 1881 as result of tension with Sveta Jana Baznica for the right to perform requiem service. Before 1881 Marina baznica didn't have that right in order to keep high profit of Sveta Jana Baznica. The cemetery is still active and performing burial of Lutheran and Catholic believers. The procedure's price is not less than 1000 EUR per body and may rise up to several thousands. The picture was taken today after heavy snowfall this morning. It is still winter in Riga.
This composite picture is the result of one of the craziest thing I have ever done. In the summer 2008 a couple of crows had a nest at the left tree (at the level of third floor), so I've been thinking that they will return to their former house this year again.
Initially I wanted to take series of shots how bird is nesting. I started my photo session of the former nest in the early February 2009. I've been taking pictures from the same position and almost at the same time of day - in the morning. Approximately in May I realized that crows have cheated me by making their nest on another tree, which is not in the picture at all :(
But I have continued to take shots, just to depict the view out of my bedroom during the whole year. I guess it is a good contribution to today City Daily Monthly Theme day - Changes Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Biķernieku mežs (Bikernieku woods) consists mostly of famous Baltic Pine. This oasis of nature is located within city borders, in Mezciems neighborhood to be more precisely.
Today is a birthday of riga.in :) 2 years have passed since Riga Daily Photo was started. Wow, we are taking the sea! :) A lot of work has been done - about 750 photos were published, first appearance in press, transfer to new domain. And there are still many ideas and things to do in order to improve riga.in and get this photoblog to even higher level. For example, I will tell you a little secret, in a few days riga.in will have a brand new stylish smart design :)
Of course all of this take tons of resources. In fact riga.in is not created to make any money hence it is nonprofit project, but on this very special day if you want to help to riga.in, then you are very welcome to make a small gift :)
For the past couple days everybody in Latvia was speaking about Meteorite smashed Latvia country near Mazsalaca, which is about 140km north from Riga. Recently it was revealed that Meteorite is a hoax made up to attract world attention to Latvia :) Yes, we have a good sense of humor :) Check also other attention getting actions: Parade of Blonde women Longest Dance Longest Run Cola and Mentos record
September - October is the annual flood season in Riga. Sometimes floods are quite heavy like flood in 2008. But more often Riga gets lucky and only areas next to the sea get flooded for a couple of days.
Do you remember photo of Mobile Aerodium facility next to Olympia? This is another one. Fixed Aerodium in Sigulda. Finally I have tried Aerodium aka Wind tunnel myself. That was not that easy as I supposed to. Now I understood that Aerodium is real sport and a lot of things depends on your skill only. If you don't know what Aerodium is, check this video from Winter Olympic Games.
I didn't know before that Riga Pine is famous even outside of Europe. I knew that Latvian Pine tree was always exported for ship masts, but couldn't imagine that to Latin America too. Thanks to Antonio from Brazil, who commented my blog and exposured me this fact.
Soviet apartment buildings painted in green in Bolderaja neighborhood. Basically this is the first view you see when enter Bolderaja area, which is one of the most closest to the Sea.
Cemeteries are very often overgrown with weed. Cannabis cultivation is forbidden in Latvia, but who is going to be responsible if it is growing on somebody's tomb? Picture has been taken at Bolderaja's cemetery.
Arkādijas parks (Park of Arcadia) is located in Pardagauva between Monument of Victory and Tornakalns station. Small river Marupite purling and twisting among stone hills, lake and a couple of waterfalls make Arcadia one of the most beautiful spots in Riga.
Greenhouse in Riga Botanic garden. Tropic palms, cactuses and other plants, including noxious, are growing inside. Did you know that in Latvian and Russian greenhouse is oranžērija and оранжерея, respectively. These words literally mean Orange House :) Different cultures and therefore different meaning what color should be plants in such facility :)
Apsīšu rūnakmens (Apsites rune stone) located just several kilometers from Rūjiena town. It is one of the oldest memorials in Latvia and dated circa 9th century AD. Runestone is left by Scandinavian vikings visiting these lands for trading with Latvian ancestors.
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.
Empty & ugly road from Riga towards Saint-Petersburg and Tallinn, called Vidzemes šoseja (Vidzeme Highway)
This picture is taken in the beginning of April, during the early spring the nature has no make up at all :)
On the background you can see another one Riga sign, but mirrored one.
I always wonder how storks are making their nests. The stork nests are always so strong and well-balanced, so they are able to withstand any storm. Usually white storks come back to Latvia after winter migration in April and leave the country in late August. Interesting, in how many cultures the White stork is responsible for bringing babies into human family? :)
Ski track in the Park of Victory is still operating despite last day's warm and sunny weather. Latvia has strong skiing traditions, but nowadays we are a little bit behind in world championships ;)
Swedbank main office building in Riga is the tallest skyscraper in Latvia. Actually, the building name is Saules Akmens, which literally means Stone of the Sun. Saules Akmens had been built in 2004, and at that time it was residence of Hansabanka, which had been bought to and renamed to Swedbank in the end of 2008.
Sometimes in Riga, there is little or no good sledding during the winter, but not this year! Today is again giant snowfall, as many times during last several months.
Riga cable bridge is connecting Riga center to the beautiful island Kipsala, which is nice place for airing. Also, check another photo of Cable bridge.
As today is the first day of spring, this could be the last weekend of current ice hockey season. The games are being hold each weekend on Agenskalna licis, Pardaugava. Check another picture of ice hockey on river and the night shot.
Recently I've met one German guy, who is traveling around Eurasia on his 4-wheel bicycle. Interesting that he is going to cover 40,000km in 2 years treadling days and nights, sleeping in the forest despite freezing weather. His route is from Berlin to Hanoi making several circles around Europe. And now he is just left Latvia. Riga Guest was Marco.
1st day of each month all City Daily Photo bloggers post monthly theme photo. Today the topic is Paths and Passages. I have chosen the road in the snow, which is very common for Riga and surroundings during February. Check the road to Gaizinkalns as well. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
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