Riga 1st Police Department of Central area is sharing the same building with Fire Department.
First department is one of the oldest in Riga. The building itself was built in 1886 on Matisa street.
History of Riga police dates from the beginning of 1880s, when policemen started to patrol busy streets and places like markets, stations, hotels.
Initially policemen were only Germans, who very rarely could speak Latvian or Russian, therefore their efficiency was extremely low. After some years Riga council began to draft into police the retired soldiers, who were able to speak language of the common people.
Nowadays there are 15 Police departments in Riga.

Labels: buildings, cars, center, history, jobs, people, police, snow, winter

Rīgas Krusta Evaņģēliski Luteriskā baznīca (Riga Cross Evangelic Lutheran Church) is located in Teika.
The building was completed in 1909 and the first worship service was held one year later.

Labels: churches, gothic, religious, snow, teika, towers, winter

I have never been a big fan of blues, jazz music nor live music in general. Before I visited Bites Blues Club.
I was invited by Lynne Jordan, who were not just performing here tonight, but also brought me a souvenir magnet from Chicago :)
Her stage performance turned me into a new fan of live music, where an artist controls and interact with the public, making jokes, etc. Basically she behaves like an absolute leader and makes fun even with relatively quiet and passive crowd. So you can easy feel the energy exchange :)
The club itself has a great atmosphere, nice design, it is without high prices and with enormous collection of blues artists' photos performed here, in Bites blūza klubs.

Labels: american, center, clubs, culture, famous, music, nightlife, people

Salsa became an ultra-popular leisure activity worldwide and particularly in Latvia.
Tens of clubs and study groups offer relatively cheap and qualitative salsa classes in Riga.
I guess nearly everyone in Riga dances or had danced Salsa, Mambo, Bachata or Reggaeton. Do you dance? :)

Labels: clubs, culture, education, hobby, music, people, snow, windows

This beautiful building built in 1910 in Art Nouveau architecture style is located on Smilsu iela 3.
It was headquarter of Parex Bank, the bank which was bought by Latvian government for 2 LVL (3€) 1 year ago.
Now the building is empty. The bank is still operating, but in another place.

Labels: banks, buildings, jugendstil, night, streets, vecriga, winter

Bruņinieku iela (Knight street) looks like rural road in winter, but it is one of the most important streets.
It starts next from Krisjana Valdemara iela, flows through the whole center and ends next to railway station Vagonu Parks.
During Soviet times it held another name - Sarkanarmijas iela (Red Army Street)
It has many wooden buildings, Riga First Hospital is also located on Bruninieku iela.

Labels: cars, night, snow, streets, winter

A huge traffic jams this morning made thousands of people delay their work.
Snowstorm last night brought additional 20 centimeters of snow. Some snowdrifts are higher than 1,5 meters (5 feet)

Labels: incidents, snow, streets, teika, traffic, tramways, transport, vef, weather, winter

This fairy tale picture was taken today in Šmerļa forest, which is between Teika and Jugla neighborhoods.
Recent and frequent snow storms brought to Riga unseen amount of snow for many years.
This photo is made for City Daily Monthly Theme, which is Wood. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Labels: forest, jugla, roads, snow, teika, themes, trees, weather, winter, wooden

A view of street called Bīskapa gāte (Bishop gutter) towards Lutheran Cathedral, better known as Riga Dom.
The church's tower was built in 1776, at the time when Herder have been working here.
The Cathedral tower is 90 meters high and it is one of the most famous Riga sights.

Labels: churches, gothic, sights, streets, towers, vecriga, winter

Alus Sēta (Beer yard) is another small version of restaurant Lido, which is located inside of the Old Town.
Although it is more focused to serve beer and other alcoholic drinks, a tasty meal can be ordered here as well.

Labels: bars, food, night, restaurants, winter, yards

Melnais Kaķis (Black Cat) is a restaurant by day and a bar by night. It is named after famous Kaķu nams.
It is a good place to have some drinks with friends before going clubbing or to play billiards.

Labels: animals, bars, cafes, nightlife, people, restaurants, vecriga, winter

Fridge magnet is a popular souvenir from any destination of the world, including Riga, Latvia
I collect fridge magnets as well, just because they are good elements to create the unique vision of the world or kind of geographical atlas in the most visible place at home.
So, if are coming to Riga, I kindly ask you to bring some nice magnet for me. In exchange for magnet, I can show you Riga around in the most interesting way.
I mean a city tour in real, not just photos :)

Thanks for souvenirs to Lynne Jordan from Chicago :)

Labels: latvija, riga, shopping, sights, traditions

Phoenix (also known as Fenix, Fenikss or Феникс) was the original name of RVR, the largest machine-building plant in Latvia. The factory produced electric and diesel trains, tramcars and even tanks.
The first tank in the world has been assembled and tested just behind this building in 1915.
The main office building is in the eclectic style and was built on Alexander Blvd in 1895.
Nowadays it is the main office of Elkor company.

Labels: buildings, eclecticism, industrial, offices, railway, teika, vef

A smog layer over Riga was caused by very low temperature and windless weather.
This picture has been taken yesterday from Swedbank building 23th floor.

Labels: churches, panoramas, skyscrapers, towers, weather, winter

This night in some Riga suburbs like Airport the temperature was -27°C (-17°F), but in the center it was only -19°C (-2°F). At 9 o'clock in the morning in Teika I took this picture and it still was -21°C (-6°F). It is absolute record this winter.
When it is lower than -15, the children are allowed not to go to school, so all tramways are half empty today ;)
You can check weather in Riga at riga.in :)

Labels: buildings, holidays, morning, people, teika, towers, tramways, transport, vef, weather, winter