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!
Foxy Lounge is located in the same building as Fashion club, Vegas Casino and Push Club. Despite trustworthy neighbours Foxy Lounge is blacklisted bar in Riga. When I was taking this photo I almost get in troubles with angry security, therefore there is definitely something wrong in this business.
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...
It is quite possible that people who hoist flags might don't have any education and therefore there is no wonder that German flag was set in a wrong upside-down way. But how the management of 4 star hotelGarden Palace can miss such a mistake?
Enigma is one more blacklisted club in Riga. This place change name so often, that you can't track all of them. The most recent former names of this place were Puzzle and Pink Panther.
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.
Unfortunately there is no many places to go out in Riga during the working days. Roxy nightclub is one of the places, which operates every day, but I wouldn't never advice to go there. Despite that Roxy has very good location, in the very center of old town, on Kalku street, it is blacklisted place. Roxy is widely known for ripping off the foreigners and even locals. Keep clear of this "night club". Be aware that since July 2009 Roxy has a new name - Babylon club.
Crisis in Latvia triggered people to go out on the streets of Old Town in Riga. The beginning was quite okay, most of people asked to create a new parliament, change economical policy in country. Then protest turned into typical vandalism riot. P.S. "Nothing Special" is the recent answer of Finance Minister to journalist about what is happened to Latvian economy.
In addition to How much for Georgia. This banner was overwritten with South Osetia (South Ossetia in English sources) This Riga life scene is next to Central Station.
Русская Библиотека (Russian Library) is the only place in Riga where books in Russian language are in plenty. Due the lack of room the books had been placed in organized piles. These book columns are so tall as to reach the ceiling. No space for Bookworms, no space for new books, even no space to put my camera to take a good shot ;) Unfortunately Russian books will not have any place in currently building National Library, because it will be Latvian one.
This ruins can be found just next to Microbuses hive, on Elizabetes street. Such picture can be observed more than a couple of years and the sickening thing is that wall is being used as public toilet. It is difficult to pass by, not masking your nose because of terrible stink around this "Riga Wall" Now this wall transformed into part of a building hotel.
- Don't hit, I am already beaten.. I found this bomzh or bomj (bum) (with Rolex on his left hand) in a stairway of my house late night. He was sleeping on the floor and has bled all beneath him. When it is cold outside, Riga bums often get into basements or garrets of apartment buildings, but I really dislike when they stink next to me.
About 2-3 Years ago Riga was still very famous for its beautiful and cheap girls. Many foreigners came to Riga just for sex, so Riga became like a big strip bar, where you could take any girl. Since that time government made a lot of social programs to extirpate that. Now Riga girls are afraid to hang out with foreigners, because everybody other will think that they are whores. Success. So strip bars are empty like this one in Old Riga. Even chair for invite-master girl is empty :) BTW, this strip bar is one of the blacklisted places in Riga.
As in many European cities, in Riga are sightseeing double-decker tour buses too. They depart every hour from Museum of Occupation. You can listen to audio-guided tour in several languages, including Russian. But, have look at the flags, especially at the Russian one. It turned it is upside down.
Updated: answer to anonymous in comments: Yes, it is such a negligence to fix flags wrong.
There is a lot of beautiful and original buildings in Riga, generally in centre. And a lot of them are in really poor condition or even abandoned. For example, this house located in center is real work of art, but nobody is living here since a long time.
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