Yellow submarine in... sorry... tram in Riga.

Over the bridge

Saules akmens, swedabanka, railway, train and a side of tram.

Barona street

Two already earlier reported new low floor trams.

New trams

This summer new trams started to rotate in certain routes. I have not tried them out yet.

From Stockmann

Aspazijas Boulevard - the Opera House is the last building on the right side of the street.

Transport

Tram network in Riga is well developed and possibly will be expanding to distant Bergi area that is still with in the boundary of Riga.

Central Market

You can see the access ramp to the Central Market underground storage. When Riga receives Northern winds and the water of Daugava river is blown back from Baltic see, the water is up to where you can see those vans.

Green tram

The last passenger with a beutiful scarf.

Barona street

A view from the edge of the Riga Old Town - its is at the back. Barona street is almost like a straight line - there is a small bend at the end of it. Large part of the street is set up for shopping... at least it was before financial paralisis hit it.

Tram depot

Tram depot is still lightened with decorations. It is so strange still very pleasant to see such a remote corner tuned up for cheerful atmosphere.

If traffic in Riga would be similar to the one in Cairo.

Its not the easiest job, is it? You get so much abuse for doing what you are being paid to do. And you have to do it because otherwise the city traffic would be very much like in Cairo:) Not that there is anything wrong with Cairo traffic...In fact urban legend tells, that Japanese were hired to evaluate how traffic in Cairo could be optimised. Studies concluded that the traffic in Cairo can not be made more efficient than it is now. Here you go.

Movement in the street

Everything is in motion on Kr. Barona str, even the old tram that keeps rolling and carrying passengers. It is in perfect condition - keeps the speed up with the new models and has never been overtaken by any of them :)

Abandoned

The cobblestone street named Kungu enters the Old Riga to the right. The street is wide enough, but it is closed for driving mainly because of the tram line.

The house I grew up in

The house on the corner is where I grew up and lived first 8 years of my life. Not changed much since then - see that soviet time clock - it was there since I can remember myself:)

Tram

Public transport is organized quite well in Riga. Buses, minibuses, trolleybuses and trams connect city centre with all remote living areas. The ticket costs 30 santimes, which is fare enough, so lot of people use this service. After six o'clock many people need to return from work, so the car is full.

Looking at this known landscape from this perspective felt like having new eyes.

Straight out from the Old Town goes Akmens (Stone) Bridge. It is the oldest car bridge crossing river Daugava in Riga - very likely for practical reasons all city tram lines commuting with both banks of Daugava just love crossing the river right here:)