Kipsala Beach was opened for swimming this year. It's located between Cable Bridge and newly created yacht park.
The summer is ending, so don't miss the last chance to enjoy the most urban beach in Latvia :)
According to my own tradition, every August, when Riga celebrates its birthday, I do collect stats about Riga's population to see how well the city lives.
In my understanding, the population is the main factor of economic and cultural activity of the cities.
So, please check below the statistics for the recent 3 years and the most recent change:
Region
2013
2012
2011
Diff from
12 to 13
Riga City
696,618
699,203
706,413
-0.37%
Riga Metro
1,018,295
1,081,137
1,098,523
-5.81%
Latvia
2,041,763
2,217,053
2,245,357
-7.91%
As long as I publish those stats I see decrease in Riga's population and it seems that there are no plans or support by government to inverse that trend.
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 lovely sunny day in the winter is the perfect opportunity to improve your cross-skiing skills in Victory Park. Hundreds of semi-pro, amateurs and children are skiing for fun from dawn till dusk.
Sad news, Riga became 1 year older and since today Riga is 811 years old officially.
Although this year City Festival was celebrating 730 years since Riga joined Hanseatic League.
Why this is sad news? 1 year ago I've been forecasting that Riga's population will go under 700,000 in a few years, but it happened earlier.
Here below are statistics and changes:
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 regular wedding photo session turned into something chaotic when the huge ship appeared on the background.
It was the largest cruise ship ever visited Riga Harbour - Aurora with almost 3000 people on board.
Last weekend walking in Galerija Centrs shopping mall, I was a witness of the real TV show recording. Maybe they got kicked out from their studio because of extremely beardly guest? :)
I suppose here is no need for translation or explanation what kind of service you can get by visiting this shop.
A stylish yellow boot, hanging next to this wooden building on Tallinas iela, speaks for itself :)
Shoemaker is quite rare profession in developed world, although in Latvia it is still quite common to bring your old shoes to cobbler in order to repair.
Recent years Poker is gaining a massive popularity in all parts of the world, including Riga. In some countries Poker has been recognized as sport, but in Latvia it is still gambling. Photo has been taken legally in Olympic Voodoo Casino in Hotel Latvia.
New Year after-party in the brand new Riga nightclub RAЙ (Rai), which name could be translated as Paradise. Rai was open few weeks ago in place of the former ultra-popular club La Rocca, which is connected to Studio 69 Apparently Rai is an affiliate of Moscow club with the same name.
Riga is getting prepared to New Year parties around the town. The mass celebration will be held in Old Town. By the way, Riga Ferris wheel will work tonight all night long! I wish you all the positive and successful New Year 2011!
Ice Skating is a traditional winter entertainment for Riga. A lot of Ice skating rinks are placed in town. For example this one is located at Strelnieku laukums.
Do you remember summer photo titled 152 Days? It was counting days left to the first Advent Sunday. This counter was also promoting celelbration of the First Christmas Tree. It was believed that Riga had hosted the very first Christmas Tree 500 years ago next to Blackheads house. In fact recently, some more old sources revealed that the First Christmas tree was erected in Tallinn. Sad.
Nightclub The Club is located in Old town. To be precise it is in the same premises on Kungu iela as former Steam Club and even more former Nautilus club :) It was open in June 2010.
Yesterday, on Saturday morning I was a witness to unknown procession in Old Town on Kalku iela. People were carrying flag of Latvia and another one similar to Italy or Hungary, but flag holders were not looking like Italians nor Hungarians :) Does anybody know what kind of parade it was?
Aptieka 1 is the largest pharmacy chain in Riga and in Latvia. This particular drug store is located in a interesting eclectic building in Sarkandaudava. Could anybody tell what does the letters АФ on the top mean? Thanks :)
Recent years all the Riga media talks and writes so much about ugly Soviet architecture in city and that it all must be refurbished or demolished at all. And what we see?
A newest pedestrian tunnel under crossroads of 13 Janavara and Gogola iela, which was built in late 2009.
Yesterday in all Riga Clubs was a costume party devoted to Halloween. Just (to feel) is a new club in Old Town in the place of the former Zebra club, just across Coyote Fly. It is like a drain club of Coyote Fly. Almost all the people who couldn't get into Coyote go to Just Club :)
Galleria Riga is the name of the newest Shopping center in Riga, which opened its doors just 2 days ago.
It seems that stakeholders and/or designers has very narrow imagination to name it like that, because
1: the name says absolutely nothing;
2: it is very easy to confuse Galleria Riga with Galerija Centrs;
3: name Riga is already taken by another shopping mall Riga Plaza;
4. it's stupid to name some place with the same name as the city it is located in. E.g. I can't imagine New York Mall in New York, or Café de Paris in Paris.
Although interior designers had done their job perfectly, the mall looks great, especially the terrace on top. Fresh photos of Riga roofs are coming!
Galeria is located in a very center of Riga, on Dzirnavu iela 67, which is between Terbatas and Brivibas streets.
Check also Terrace on Galleria's roof.
Running blog Riga Photos for almost 3 years I didn't make any money, but I have met a lot of interesting people :)
Recently I was invited by some Baltic Japan magazine for interview, which was held this week in panoramic bar. The main discussion topic with Uldis (pictured) were my Riga Daily Photos and the reasons of taking them :)
Today is the day of Latvian Parliamentary election 2010. Latvian people are choosing their servants for the next 4 years, who will work in Saeima, the Latvian parliament. The biggest problem of Latvia is the absence of the strong and powerful leader and a lot of small parties were always scattered the power among themselves. I must admit that Latvia is going in a right direction now, this year we have only 5 parties to choose between.
Dobroe Utro Katja (Good Morning Katja) is a very old graffiti in Maskachka neighborhood. It is written in Russian using Latin letters. Such way of writing Cyrillic letters is sometimes called Crazy Russian. Interesting is that in every country Cyrillic letters are mapped to different Latin letters or numbers, for example letter Ш could be written as sch, sh, s, 6 or w
Night Marathon is one of the most remarkable events during Riga Festival, which is taking place this weekend. The distance is only 5km (3.1 miles) and the track route was made through many sights in Riga, which were illuminated and blazing at night. The photo was taken by F64 Agency few seconds before marathon start.
Living statues is something that I have never seen in Riga before. In fact, I'm sure that this piece of gold is foreigner, coz he had chosen really not the best place for performance. Photo has been taken in street cafe which is in place of former RTU building.
Another interesting name belongs to a nightclub located in Old Town on Aspazijas blvd next to Riga Gallery. Although Opium Dance Club is much more popular and reputable than Capsule After Party Club. Opium is a regular night club for both locals and tourists where regular visitors are between 18 and 22 years old. 2 stages with regular R&B and Dance music. Regular prices and no entry fee.
Club First Dacha or simply First Club is one of the most prestigious nightlife places in Riga. It is located in Andrejsala harbour, which is quite remote area from all other party places in Riga, hence here are no random visitors, if you don't have a yacht, of course :) I couldn't take a good picture during the night, therefore here is the morning after dark.
Rigans spend most of the summer weekends at the Baltic sea. There is even an expression, that for people who live too long in Riga the phrase "Go to sea" means driving only 20 minutes by car.
Bright Colours is the topic of regular Monthly theme and I was too late to take a good photo on time :) For a couple of days I couldn't find in Riga anything brighter than Piena Svetki (Milk Fest), which was held on 1st of August in area next to Piens club. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
Despite the full name of Naktsklubs Kapsula (Capsule Nightclub) it is a true morning club. The club was opened few months ago and it is located on Audeju iela across the night drugstore. Most of the visitors come here after 4 o'clock in the morning from regular clubs for after party. Rare case for places in old town, but this bar has entry fee.
Whitehouse Party at Vernissage Cafe is kinda Latvian replica of Sensation White. Electronic music, many DJs and the most important that everybody dressed in white (except shoes)
The protesters' camp which was pitched in front of Council of Ministers has been demolished this weekend. The winter photo of people living on the street was starred in my blog because visitors were shocked about brave unemployed who decided to live in tent until they will find a job. The record was reached in February when 12 tents were setup. Last weeks there were only 2 guys who still were living on Brivibas alley. At the some point, one of them went to swim in a river, but another left camp to toilet for a couple of minutes. Almost immediately police gabbed all their unattended stuff. Juris, the guy smocking cigarillo, told me: Police actions were illegal and this is not the end!
Vakarbuļļu peldvieta (Vakarbulli Bathing site) is the only premium beach within Riga borders.
Beach has got green flag status, which signify of clean water. Also here is a secure car parking, special places for disabled people and children. It is located in one of the most remote Riga parts called Buļļi (Bulls)
This morning I was quite surprised to see so many people next to Nightclub Godvil. In fact it was one of the final rehearsals before New Wave song contest.
Riga Photos, Top Stories, Wonderful Sights, Remarkable Places, Typical & Famous People, Travel Guides & Official Information, Shopping, Party & Nightlife, Glamour & Fashion Clubs, Sport & Crowdy Bars, Alternative & Underground Pubs, Luxurious & Cheap Hotels, Live Webcams, News, Vague Rumors & Wild Facts about the biggest City in Baltic States
