Temporary Riga photos are being published not in a regular manner due to blog author has moved to Vilnius.

This Is It

This Is It
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!

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Recycling Containers

Recycling Containers
No one sorts waste in Latvia, hence public dumps look terrible and have a dreadful stench kilometers around.
I was quite surprised founding these 2 containers for waste recycling in a small village called Lapmezciems
In fact almost nobody use them, because the required public education program simply doesn't exist.

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Foxy Lounge


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.

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Protesters

Protest in Riga
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...

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Garden Palace

Wrong German Flag
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 hotel Garden Palace can miss such a mistake?

See also a fountain inside of Garden Palace hotel.
BTW, this is not the first time, when I post photos of wrong set flags in Riga.

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Enigma

Enigma Club in Riga
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.

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Zilais Dimants

Zilais Dimants
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.

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Saxon

Saxon night bar
Night bar Saxon located in a narrow street called Laipu iela in Riga Old Town.

This bar is blacklisted by American Embassy in Latvia. Here below the full list of dangerous places in Riga.
Be aware! Source.

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Roxy club

Roxy nightclub in Riga
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.

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Just Picket

Riot in Riga
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.

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How much for South Osetia?


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.

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Russian Library - Monthly theme

Full Library of books
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.

Русская библиотека has website, library is located at Gertrudes iela 45.

This photo is for Monthly Theme Day, which is "Books".
All other city blogs participating in this theme day: American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bali, Indonesia by Anak Dokan, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bangkok, Thailand by UberSand, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziege, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Boulder (CO), USA by A Sterling World, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by PattheAZRealtor, Chapel Hill (NC), USA by missleah, Chateau-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gliwice, Poland by prado&fio, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Herne Bay, Great Britain by Han, Lil n Caz, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by Susie of Arabia, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by hope, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria Joao, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by wikiyu, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by snapshutter, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montreal, Canada by My Life in Montreal, Moscow (ID), USA by Sherry, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Murcia, Spain by usuahia, Napa (CA), USA by katester, 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 Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Elsa, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stiffa, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Virgill, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrucken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by pearls, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, Korea South by SeoulSnapper, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Szekesfehervar, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tauranga, New Zealand by Lisa Sarsfield, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trieste, Italy by Rob&Piero, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Verona, Italy by Valeria in Verona, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, 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, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Woerden, Netherlands by Marcel, Yakima (WA), USA by katney, Yellowknife, Canada by Arctic Dreamer, York, UK by Ruby in York.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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Riga Wall


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.

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Bloody Bum


- 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.

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Strip Bar - Monthly theme

Riga Strip Bars
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.

This photo is for Monthly Theme Day, which is "When people think of my city, they think of..."
All other blogs participating in this theme day:
Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvorosvar, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziege, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setubal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wroclaw, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Torun, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montreal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrucken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia

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Riga City Tour

City tour bus 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.

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Ramshackle Street


Can you believe, that this is heart of european capital Riga?
Just 3 minutes walking from main sightseeings and you are in time of war :(

See also another photo of Kaleju iela.

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It's a sad truth...


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.

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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