This year I was participating in parliament election by visiting Embassy of Latvia in Minsk.

Labels: belarus, embassies, outside latvia, politics

Try to guess, which airport this photo was taken in? :)
I would advice to not check comments, otherwise you will spoil this quiz for yourself :)

Labels: airports, devices, outside latvia, writings

فندق ريغا (Hotel Riga) is the name of the hotel in the oldest city of the world - Aleppo, Syria.
I wish it would be 5* :) And does anybody know what letter L means?
@Valeria, thank you for an interesting photo of Riga signs outside Latvia :)

Labels: arabic, buildings, hotels, outside latvia, riga, writings

Cafe Старая Рига (Staraya Riga means Old Riga) is another sign of Riga's spirit outside Latvia.
It is located in Moscow, in a quite prestigious Basmanny District.

Labels: buildings, cafes, food, outside latvia, restaurants, russian, traditions, vecriga, writings

Рижский вокзал (Riga Railway Terminal) is one of 9 railway stations in Moscow.
It is terminal station of Train Riga - Moscow, and hence it is directly connected with Riga Central Station :)
There are not too many objects outside of Latvia, which contain word Riga in its name, so I guess I have good chances to cover them all in this blog as well :)

Labels: cars, outside latvia, railway, riga, russian, stations, streets

Enjoy the Symphony of Riga for 87 EUR.
I love airBaltic, because it is nearly the only thing that reminds of Riga outside of Latvia.
I found this ad in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Labels: ads, airplanes, airports, music, outside latvia, people, prices, riga, writings

Just few Rigans know that word Riga stands not only for the capital of Latvia, but it is also name for some cities, towns and other places around the world.
Today it is exactly 201 year since Riga town was formed in the state of New York in United States of America. Nowadays Riga, NY is a small town with population of 6,000 people.
I hope one day I will take a plane to New York and take these pictures by myself, but for now I am sending big thanks for photos to Art and Jim from Riga, NY

Labels: american, birthdays, cities, outside latvia, riga, towns, writings

Since the 1st of May 2004, when Latvia joined EU, all entrances to Latvia has European Union symbolic.
But I couldn't find any Latvian flag at this checkpoint. We are loosing our identity and we are happy about it.

Photo has been taken at Latvia - Lithuania border next to Tervete town.

Labels: blue, country, european, flags, latvian, outside latvia, roads, tervete

Last week Riga Stock Exchange has been renamed to NASDAQ OMX Riga, therefore became more reliable part of NASDAQ.
Warm advertisement welcomed Riga all day long at Times Square in my favorite city New York.
Author of this picture is unknown.

Labels: ads, american, banks, buildings, cities, companies, outside latvia, squares, streets

This photo was taken in Saint Petersburg, which is one of my most favourite cities.
It is an advertisement of the Latvian National Airline - airBaltic.
The writing in Russian language means:
Riga is the gate to Europe.
I was very proud of Riga, when I saw this expression in a height of a 6 story building.
The flight diagram shows very tight connection between Riga and St Petersburg :)
This photo is for Monthly Theme Day, which is "Sister Cities". Riga is sister city to Saint Petersburg since 1997.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chateau-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Edmonton (AL), Canada by , Evry, France by Olivier, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gothenburg, Sweden by Lo/David, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jerome, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Istanbul, Turkey by mustafa34, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jerusalem, Israel by Esther, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Anthony, Mashhad, Iran by Meead, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Muizenberg, South Africa by Pentaxjunkie, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Nice, France by Angelaj, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Andrew Foderaro, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvorosvar, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Rancho Palos Verdes (CA), USA by Sarah Adams, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrucken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setubal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Turin, Italy by Livio, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Villigen, Switzerland by z, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn

Labels: ads, airplanes, cities, latvian, outside latvia, russian, themes, writings

Detailed model of Riga Freedom Monument can be found in Brussels Mini Europe park.
People walking in this park can see all European sightseeings.
For me it was pleasant surprise to see something from my home city Riga.
This photo is for Monthly Theme Day, which is The Best Photo of the Year 2007.
All other blogs participating in this theme day:
Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Torun, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziege, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Evry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvorosvar, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montreal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wroclaw, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India - Terrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USA - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USA

See also the best picture of 2008.

Labels: children, monuments, outside latvia, parks, sights, starred, themes