Rīgas Valsts 1. ģimnāzija (State Gymnasium No. 1 of Riga) is the oldest school in Latvia and one of the oldest schools in the world, which is still operating. First record of existence is dated by 1211.
During times the school was famous under many names, teaching in several languages and located in different places. Originally it was located next to Riga Dome and moved to current building in 1874.
Nowadays it is the most prestigious educational institution among Latvian and Russian schools in Riga.
Yesterday, on September 1, was the official opening of academic year aka The Knowledge Day and today is the first lessons day of new academic year.

Labels: buildings, center, eclecticism, education, elite, latvian, schools

Night Market is located between Maskavas iela and Krasta iela next to Central Market.
It is famous because of extremely low wholesale prices and the most freshest vegetables and fruits in Riga.
This picture is devoted to Open Air Market theme. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Labels: center, cheap, markets, maskachka, night, people, themes

Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka (National Library of Latvia) was founded in 1919.
It was opened in the former bank's building at Krisjana Barona and Elizabetes crossroads, which was built in 1910
Nowadays the premises and not enough and the library will be moved to the new building in Autumn of 2012. Check here for the latest photos of construction works and live webcam.

Night pictures are not so great with my old camera. Please help me to collect money for a newer one. Click here.

Labels: buildings, center, classicism, libraries, lights, lnb, night, streets

Riga canal and Riga water transport, which route was extended this year, so now everybody can travel around the Old town and Central Market by boat.

Labels: boats, canal, center, parks, rivers, ships, summer, transport, trees, vecriga

A bit depressing feeling because of the last weekend of Summer 2010 is about to finish.
No more swimming in sea, short nights, First club, yachting and other stuff which is possible only in summer.
The photo of Riga TV Tower was taken from South Bridge.

Labels: daugava, islands, panoramas, rivers, summer, sunset, towers, water

Le Paon Bleu (Indian Peafowl) is the name of recently opened bohemian French restaurant in Old Town.
I don't know what new restaurant owners have in mind, but the closed down restaurant Hospitalis, which was located here, went bankruptcy several months ago.
Despite being very well promoted Hospitalis couldn't compete with cheaper restaurants and cafes in Old Town.
Have you ever tried frogs legs? How does it taste like? :)

Labels: animals, blue, buildings, cafes, elite, food, french, jugendstil, restaurants, vecriga

Drinking at friday evening must start at work.. oops.. I mean in the bar :)
One of the best bar in old town for shot drinking is Shot Cafe. Here in menu you can find any shot you know :)
Although I must admit that this Shot bar is not the cheapest in town.

By the way, a huge thanks go to Petteri, who donated some dollars for a new camera. Click here for details.

Labels: bars, cafes, summer, vecriga

Metropolia is a complex of 5 elite apartment building located in Imanta 3 across Solaris complex.
It was finished in 2007, just before crisis started and hence could be considered as successful :)

Labels: benches, elite, houses, imanta, modernism, skyscrapers, tramways

Dole was built in 1987 and it is the last shopping center built in Soviet times in Riga.
This Kengarags' sight was the hugest shopping complex in Latvia until Alfa Shopping mall get opened in 2001.
It is named in honour of the small village Dole, which was completely flooded during building of Riga hydroplant.

Labels: buildings, kengarags, shopping, soviet

Siemens office and the brick water tower next to one of the parking lots in Riga Airport.
The biggest invention of Siemens was the telegraph and in the mid of 19th century Werner von Siemens got an order from Petersburg to commute cities around Russian Empire. It was the first international order of Siemens.

Labels: airports, german, industrial, offices, towers

iki is another cheap Lithuanian retail shop, like Maxima. The legend says that iki in Lithuanian means bye :)
This shop is located next to tramway 4 terminal station, a very strategic point of Imanta neighbourhood, hence it has changed many owners and names during past 20 years.
For example the area around shop is still nicknamed after former shop name Nelda.

Labels: cars, cheap, imanta, lithuanian, shopping, suburbs

Rīgas svētki (Riga Festival) is always being held in the end of August each year. Tens of locations, hundreds of events and thousands of people are taking part in this huge celebration of Riga birthday.
In order to continue my own tradition, here below are some figures to describe Riga's growth.
During the last year Riga population went down from 713,016 to 709,145 people (-3,871); simple calculation proves that after 3 years Riga will have less than 700,000 residents :(
Riga district population (including cities inside) has decreased from 942,002 to 937,864 (-4,138)
And the picture of Latvia population is even worse. The huge drop is -43,325 or -1,92% of people (from 2,261,294 to 2,217,969)

Check also fireworks photos of Riga Festival 2008 and 2009.

As usually, good night photo is provided by F64. Help me please to buy a good camera for night shots.
Details are here...

Labels: birthdays, churches, events, fire, holidays, lights, night, riga, trees, water

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.

Labels: events, holidays, night, people, sports, traditions

A couple months ago, when I discovered that Stone Bridge has lost its massive chandeliers, I thought that Riga mayor will replace them to some more modern lamps. Although chandeliers were just polished before City Festival, which will be held upcoming weekend.

Labels: bridges, design, industrial, jobs, lights, night

Jānis Pliekšāns aka Rainis used to be a big figure in Latvian literature and national movement.
In fact Rainis is the only ethnic Latvian who was candidate for Nobel Prize, although unavailing.
His wife, Aspasia was also prominent public figure; and both of them were several times in exile because of political views against the regime of Imperial Russia.

Labels: culture, lights, monuments, night, parks, persons, politics, statues, writings