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!
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...
Mazā Jaunavu iela (Damsel lane) is a short narrow street in Town connecting Skunu and Maza Monetu streets. Usually so quiet and dark streets are being misused by local bums or drunks :( What would you do if you see something like that?
Today is Friday, so why not just take a seat on freedom street right in front of hotel Latvia and have some smoke and drink with old buddy? Sometimes when I see such "free from everything" people, I get really curious - what do they have in their minds?
Not very old, but abandoned house on Kuģu iela (Ship street), which goes next to Daugava river. Along with with abandoned buildings at Kugu iela like this one or Police Dept (Kugu iela 15), here are a lot of fancy building e.g. Kugu iela 26, Radisson Blu (Kugu iela 24), or Kugu iela 11.
Sometimes Yokels are being called as Urlas in Latvia. These three are waiting for trolleybus at stop or just taking a rest. I took this photo at Avotu iela, which is very famous for such daily pictures.
Zilais Dimants (Blue Diamond) is a huge Casino Network in Riga, which takes the last money from rustic sloggers. Sometimes casinos are located in such wooden buildings. Who cares? You know, the most important in this business is to be closer to the people. I am happy that our neighbor-country Russia had forbidden gambling from 1st of July. I am sure that we need do so as well, as we suffer from the same problem when people get lost the whole salary in 2 hours. See also Klondaika's big game.
Just BIG. In fact it is not even a bank, but a company which gives term loans at high interest. Recently BIGBANK became very popular as many Latvian people suffer from lack of money and such banking-house is the only way to get some money quickly. Of course, some people consider such institutions as just another financial trap.
This is a quite typical view for state-owned institutions in Latvia. An evolution of interior can be seen with naked eye. In the beginning it was created building and chairs; and then heating and electricity was added; and then oblique ventilation tube struggled through the wall. And finally a big computer hub was attached to the wall :)
This wooden house is inhabited for many years, but still it is remarkable example of Riga architecture of 19th century. Located just some hundreds meters from Central Market.
This dirty pond is located in Viesturs Garden, just in front of the monument to the elders of the Latvian Song. This park has been hosting the very first Song and Dance Festival, therefore it is also known as Park of Song Festival.
This pink slum dwelling, located not very far from Daugavpils iela, is home for several Gypsy families or clans. There is no secret that one of the major Gypsy businesses is drug dealing. So, what do you think, what this three men street gang is waiting for?
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
One of the less popular areas for living in Riga is Maskachka neighborhood. The name delivers from Maskavas iela (Moscow street), which goes through the whole hood. One more popular nickname for this district is ghetto, because it was the only area in Riga where Jews were allowed to live during Second World War, when Riga was occupied by German Nazis. See also the beginning of the same Moscow street.
Lauksaimniecības mašīnu rūpnīca (Agricultural Machinery Factory) had being closed down since Soviet Union collapse. Now is being demolished part by part, building by building.
This building stands like this for at least 10 years. A great design and location, but nobody is reparing it. It could be a prestigious apartments. It is just next to Swedbank Building.
I don't know what is written on top of this going to ruin building - some1 or somer :) But this someone did a venturesome job :)
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