The sun in the winter is like a miracle, even if you notice it for a couple of minutes before sunset.

Labels: cars, imanta, neighbourhoods, roads, roofs, snow, streets, sunset, weather, winter

Vecdaugava is one of Riga neighbourhoods, located close to the Sea. It is named after old bed of Daugava river.

Labels: children, daugava, entertainment, neighbourhoods, people, rivers, water

Pļavnieki (Fields) is the most densely populated neighbourhood in Riga. The territory of future Plavnieki was incorporated into Riga in 1974, and formed its South-East city border.
Nowadays around 50,000 people call this ultra-Soviet area as their home.

Labels: cars, neighbourhoods, plavnieki, snow, soviet, streets, winter

Purvciems (Marsh Ville) aka Purchik is the most populous neighborhood in Riga. 62,000 people live in Purvciems, which became part of Riga only in 1935. Although sovietization began in early 1970s.
Minsk and Mebelu Nams are the best known reference points in Purvciems.
Picture has been taken during Airplane Tour over Riga.

Labels: aerial, buildings, neighbourhoods, panoramas, purvciems, roads, soviet, streets

Krasta masīvs (Krasta Area) is a district around Krasta street, in fact part of Maskavas Forstate.
A lot of Soviet apartment buildings, shopping malls are located here.

Labels: bridges, buildings, houses, kengarags, maskachka, neighbourhoods, panoramas, roofs, soviet

Scheme of Riga Map, on the wall next to Microbus' terminal, is painted since I remember myself.

Labels: ads, maps, neighbourhoods, riga, roads, traffic, transport

These color buildings are located just next to gray soviet buildings, which were presented yesterday.
New real estate in Riga is often painted in challenging, and sometimes even ridiculous colors, e.g. Kugu iela 26.

Labels: buildings, neighbourhoods, projects, purvciems, snow, winter

Bolderājas Sv. Marijas katoļu baznīca (St. Maria Catholic Church in Bolderaja) is one of the few churches located in the Northern part of Riga.
It was built in 1909 at the time when Bolderaja suburb became heavy industrialized area and population was rapidly increasing.
The original wooden tower was blown off during autumn storm in 1969. Tower was rebuilt from metal 2 years later.
Interesting fact is that this Christian church was built on money of Jewish manufacturer.

Labels: bolderaja, buildings, churches, jewish, neighbourhoods, religious, snow, towers, winter

Ozolciema iela (literally Eichendorfstrasse or Oakville street) during freezing but sunny winter morning.
Last days the temperature in Riga is around -15 °C (5 °F)
Ozolciema iela is the border of Zepniekkalns area and Riga city at the same time.

Labels: buildings, neighbourhoods, snow, streets, suburbs, weather, winter, ziepniekkalns

A great photograph exhibition is being held now in Rigas Makslas Telpa (Riga Art Space)
The exposition is related to criticism of Soviet architecture. Lots of interesting materials, photos and quotes in one place.
I couldn't imagine that more than 2/3 of Riga population are living in standardized apartment buildings, which are almost the same. And only 3,6% of Rigans are living in center.
I highly recommend this art exhibition to all native people to visit it. The entry fee is 1-3 EUR only.

Labels: art, neighbourhoods, prices, riga, soviet, suburbs, writings

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.

Labels: bolderaja, buildings, green, houses, nature, neighbourhoods, soviet, streets, suburbs

Šķirotava (Classification yard) is a freight train station found at Kengarags, used to separate railroad cars on to one of several tracks.
An areal photo of huge industrial facility was found at Central Station photo exhibition.
Latvian Railway celebrates 90 years anniversary this year.
See such views on your own during Riga aircraft tours

Labels: aerial, industrial, kengarags, neighbourhoods, panoramas, railway, stations, suburbs

The part of Riga, where Daugava river flows into Baltic Sea, is heavily industrialized by ship yards, silos and warehouses.
One of such neighborhoods is called Voleri. The Southern part of Voleri, the peninsula Krievu Sala (Russian Island) is depicted on this picture.

Guest aerophotographer: leegenda
Take similar pictures during Riga airplane tours

Labels: aerial, daugava, industrial, islands, neighbourhoods, panoramas, rivers, voleri, water

Pētersala (Peter's Island) is one of the neighborhoods adjoining with Riga Center, making it quite prestigious to live in.
The name is in honor of the Tsar Peter the Great, who expanded the city in 18th century including this territories.
In the past this area was full of small rivers and canals, but in the 19 century all of them were dried.
Petersala together with Andrejsala are forming one of the 59 Riga subdivisions

Guest aerophotographer: leegenda.
Take the same photos - Riga trip by airplane

Labels: aerial, bridges, buildings, daugava, harbours, neighbourhoods, panoramas, petersala, rivers, ships, skyscrapers, streets

Zaķusala (Hare Island) is the land strip washed by Daugava river in the middle of Riga.
In the past Zakusala island was split into two smaller islands, which both were densely populated. Here were a lot living houses, shops, warehouses and even an hotel.
Nowadays Zakusala is home for Radio and TV facilities like TV Tower and TV Center (at the background).
The name of the island comes from population of hares which can be found here. By the way, foxes can be found as well :)

Labels: bridges, daugava, islands, neighbourhoods, panoramas, rivers, sea, spring, tv, zakusala

There is no such term as Riga Lower Center, but I guess it is quite good nickname for the area between Caka iela and Railway line Riga - Saulkrasti.
Geographically this area is in the center of Riga, but

• Real estate prices here are much lower, than is other center parts of Riga
  
• Buildings here are quite low, not higher than 5-6 storeys
• The area is populated mostly by lower class

Labels: buildings, center, neighbourhoods, panoramas, railway

Maskavas forštate is one of the biggest areas in Riga covering several neighborhoods under one name.
Soviet Kengarags is in the far end. And poor Maskachka is at the foreground of this panorama taken from Science academy

Newly built Daugava South Bridge and TV Tower can be seen at the background right corner.

Labels: buildings, daugava, maskachka, neighbourhoods, panoramas, poverty, rivers

Beginning of one of the most prestigious neighborhoods within Riga borders - Teika.
Podium - is one of the most expensive shopping malls in Riga, selling exclusive products only.
VEF Culture Center and LMT Central office could be found on background.
Also Jauna Teika building is on background left corner. Far chimneys are TEC I.

Labels: brivibas, buildings, neighbourhoods, panoramas, roofs, shopping, suburbs, teika

Picture of last week Flood in Riga and followed up transport problems in Plavnieki neighbourhood.
Thankfully floods and other nature disasters are not common in Riga, so this photo could be considered as really rare shot.

Guest photographer: yopt

Labels: cars, incidents, nature, neighbourhoods, panoramas, roofs, suburbs, traffic, transport, water

One of the oldest living areas situated on Riga West Side is Iļģuciems
Iļģuciems takes its name from the Old German Hilgen geest have (Farmstead of the Holy Spirit)
That was the name of the local village and surroundings since 15 century.
Iļģuciems was joined to Riga in 1785, after big Riga expanding towards the West.
The major street is Daugavgrivas street and Dzirciema street, which run parallel across the whole Iļģuciems.
This photo was taken from small airplane over Lilijas iela (Lily street)

Author is unknown.

Labels: aerial, ilguciems, nature, neighbourhoods, panoramas, pardaugava, streets, suburbs