Ivy on Miera street

Planted in May 2009. Photo taken at the end of September. Status. Has reached the wall.

Riga Airport

Riga Airport is very popular among locals. It is a symbol of hope for better future somewhere else. There is a saying in Latvia:"The last Latvian, please switch off the lights in airport."

TV tower

From a distance pretty far away.

Guest photographer Edgars Lubarts.

Kronvalda park

For those who don't know yet - autumn brings feeling of calmness to Riga.

Fern

Art of mosaic.

Soviet building

Riga has many standard so called commie blocks, however there are some odd exceptions in communism architecture.

Hourglass

It looks like an imitation of hourglass, but I am not sure what it was meant to be. Located on the first main junction when driving towards centre from Salu Bridge (tilts).

Drainage

Along the walls of most apartment buildings there are these holes covered with this "grill".

Butterflies

The autumn takes away most insect including butterflies. You can find some of them wondering about all year round in New Riga Theatre (Jaunais Rīgas Teātris) coffee shop.

Maskavas rajons (neighbourhood)

Even though very run down, Maskavs forštate (area in Riga) can have its interesting distinct features.

not a zoo

Looks like cage for some imprisoned species in zoo. Nop! Just an extension of house serving as shed.

Dzirnavas

The banner of LIDO (means FLY) chain restaurant on Dzirnavu street. The owner Mr Ķirsons announced recently that he will invest in sky tram service along the coast of Daugava river (Daudzava = plenty-fullness) to their main base on Krasta street.

Teikas Nami

This new Lithuanian investment development is again - very empty. Looks good from the outside. My theory is that all these new empty developments were made deliberately - not sure who for. If they wont be used, then it is a LOT of wasted resources.

Olympic Casino

Again, the places that attract attention are the ones that want your money.

Rīgas Kino Studija

Riga Motion Studio is one of the random mid-rises scattered all over Riga. It is the biggest in Europe (joke). To find out more visit their site here.

Different

Or are they? Is this just different decorations?

Terrain of Europe

Latvia (not Riga) as a national unit is a very recent phenomena. Ir is not even 100 years old. The ethnic HiStory of Balts is not well documented. I would call it LowStory.

Jaunums (in Latvian) means NEWS, novelty. The world is linked to Juvenile.

P.S. I recently realised that NEWS = North, East, West and South.

Chauffeur

Where are we going, chief?

Maskačka

A typical example of most run down area of Riga - Latgales priekšpilsēta (region). Look at the windows. Look at the writing - it says GOOD MORNING. To whom?

Silhouette

The drawing on the wall is painted in a way that when driving by it feels (subtly) like there are two little children standing in the darkness holding each other hands.

Rīgas 28. vidusskola

The biology classroom in Riga 28th Secondary school is full of indoor plants. This is Hoya carnosa.

Wheeling

Notice the tire not on the wheel, but on the shoulder.

Rīgas 40. vidusskola

This is Russian language school in the heart of the centre (Secondary school No 40).

Slavu pārvads Dienvidu Tilts

South Bridge extension (despite EVERYTHING - crisis, enormous cost, controversy...) keeps making its way through what used to be an air space.

Dzirnavu street

Dzirnavas means flour-mill. If there was a mill on the Flour-mill street, I don't know. If you know, leave a comment.

In between concrete blocks

Managing through - a new life fighting with the human intervention in nature through city building.

Everything is OK

Nāk rudens apgleznot Latviju,
Bet nepūlies, necenties tā...

I apologise to all English speakers.

Splash

If you look closely behind the walking man you'll notice water drops shooting up in the air.

Berga Bazārs - hotel

Lovely fountain sitting away from the public eye. Still accessible for passers by.

Rimes a bit in a poetic way.

Gaismas Pils bibiliotēka

One mega project that is still being pushed by government despite economic meltdown in Riga is National Library. See the home page here.

Medulla

After eating the apple (which of course is fun) there comes the exciting part - swinging it against the wall.