Havana Club Lounge is the name of the first successful private beach in Latvia, located in Dzintari, Jurmala.
Single time entry costs 20 LVL (which is around 30 EUR), prices for drinks and other extras are above average, which makes this place affordable for elite people only.
Although this is the only good place in the whole Jurmala, where you can have a glass of wine watching at sunset.

Labels: bars, beaches, cafes, dzintari, elite, jurmala, prices

Zirdzene is a small lake in Kleisti named after a wild plane Angelica, which is very common in Latvia.
The sign warns that walking dogs is forbidden and the fine is 250 LVL (500 USD), which is very high for Latvia.

Labels: animals, kleisti, lakes, prices, signs

Limbažu lidlauks is a small operating airfield located 40km NNE from Riga with 400m long asphalt runway.
Take-offs and landings for private planes here is for free.

Labels: airplanes, airports, limbazi, prices, vidzeme

One of popular topics in Latvia is that gasoline price is constantly growing and now it almost reached 1 LVL per 1l.
Because of such number, Statoil price looks like discounted, but it is not :)

Labels: industrial, morning, prices, roads, snow, streets, transport, winter, ziepniekkalns

Car Parking in Old Town is quite expensive. First hour is 5Ls (~8 EUR), the every next hour 8Ls (~11 EUR)
Is there anywhere in the world even more expensive parking? :)

Labels: buildings, cars, prices, vecriga

BalticBike is another service of AirBaltic. 11 bicycle dock-stations were opened last week in Riga and Jurmala.
although the price to rent a bike is quite high comparing to other European cities. Price per hour is 1Ls.
For example Velib in France offers first 30 minutes for free.

Labels: bicycles, center, prices, transport

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

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.

Labels: cemeteries, nature, pleskodale, prices, religious, snow, trees, winter

23th February is Defender of the Fatherland Day (День защитника Отечества) in many ex Soviet countries.
Fortunately in Latvia it has not legal status. Otherwise my patriotism would look for answer, who is the defender of Latvia? And from who?
The guys on the photo are doing very serious job, they are hunters of deadheads in tramways, aka Controllers.
They fight against crime everyday, perhaps they are defenders? :)
BTW, the price for single use ticket has grown for almost 50% since last 6 months. Now it is 0,70Ls (1 EUR)

Labels: funny, holidays, jobs, military, pardaugava, people, prices, snow, tramways, transport, winter

Full car wash in Riga usually costs around 15 ls (20 EUR).
When it is said full, it means exterior and interior cleaning. Usually after washing, car looks for a couple of thousands more expensive :)

Labels: cars, industrial, interior, prices

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

Antonov An-2 or Kukuruznik (Кукурузник) is the most popular airplane in the former USSR countries and beyond.
This one is parked at neglected Spilve airfield. Price of such aircraft is less than 100,000 USD.
See also photo of Rumbula airfield fleet.

Labels: airplanes, airports, ilguciems, prices, soviet, spilve

Parachutist Camp at Griva airfield near Daugavpils city, 230 km from Riga.
Since Riga skydiving club had moved its dropzone, everyone who would like to jump from a plane has to go to Daugavpils.
A price to get dropped out of the aircraft is 35 Ls (45) EUR, training included :)
BTW, maybe some of you are interested to make Riga city air tour.

Labels: airports, camps, clubs, daugavpils, entertainment, extreme, people, prices, sports

One of the most disrespected jobs is ticket controller in public transport.
A lot of people have no money to pay a ticket, some don't want to spend money or simply forget to buy one.
Very often controllers used to get beaten or humiliated.
So now they work in groups not less than 4 people and sometimes even with police together.
This helps to prevent savage conflicts and makes people to pay fine, which is 5Ls (7EUR)
The price of regular ticket is 0,50Ls (0,70 EUR)
See also photo of Tramways Controllers.

Labels: jobs, people, prices, transport, trolleybuses

Some ESKOM just got parking ticket from police on Gertrudes street.
Besides 30Ls (45 EUR) money fine, driver also gets 3 penalty points on his account for illegal parking.
If driver collects more than 10 points in one year, he get lost driving license for 6 months with obligatory repeat of examination.

Labels: cars, center, criminal, police, prices, streets

Mobile Aerodium in Riga next to Olympia Center in Kipsala.
The price of a short two minute flight is 18 Ls (25 EUR) which, I guess, is slightly expensive.
Have you tried Aerudium? How good it is? :)
check another Aerodium in Sigulda.

Labels: airplanes, entertainment, kipsala, pardaugava, prices, sports, toys

Recently built high rise apartment buildings in Imanta are still scarcely populated.
Because of economic crisis in Latvia only few who can afford to buy luxury apartments in Riga
Solaris with orange front sells flats for 900 EUR per square meter and higher.
A little bit further standing Metropolia complex is in two times more expensive, the prices in Metropolia start from 2000 EUR per square meter.

Labels: buildings, houses, imanta, prices, projects, skyscrapers

Few years before the price of custom car license plate in Latvia was just 500 Ls (700 EUR) and every self-respecting driver had bought one or even two :)
Now they made it 2000 Ls (~2800 EUR) and such extra became the sign of wealth again. Otherwise every second car would have some random text instead of serial number.

This photo is participating in City Daily Theme Day, which is "Shadows" today.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.
Also, please see some more nice custom license plate.

Guest Driver is Attenzione.

Labels: black, cars, prices, themes, wealth

The tallest structure in European Union is Riga TV Tower. Its height is almost 370 meters.
Observation deck is 97 meters above ground level or 104 meters above sea level, so if the weather is fair enough you can easily see the Baltic Sea and the cargo ships sailing in it.
The express elevators Otis bring you on top in less than one minute just for 2,50 Latvian Lats (3 EUR)

Another picture of Riga tower.

Labels: buildings, industrial, prices, sights, soviet, towers, tv

You may ask, what is the point to sell Christmas trees after 24th of December? :)
Basically half of people living in Riga celebrate Christmas on 7th of January and then an Russian New Year on 14 of January.
Terefore, to make Christmas tree stay fresh until middle of January, you have to buy it just before 31 of December :)
On the picture hidden Lada in firs. It is mobile office of Christmas trees vendor :)

Labels: cars, holidays, markets, prices, russian, shopping, traditions, trees, vecriga