Birkas / Snow

  • Winter wonderland

    Riga looked beautiful in last winter with thick snow and night's lighting.

  • Winter wonderland

    Riga looked beautiful in last winter with thick snow and night's lighting.

  • Time for coffee

    In the beautiful warm days of spring we can carelessly take some look back to winter... Hot drink is one of the options how to warm up yourself during walk through city's centre in a cold winter day.

  • Winter Vs Spring

    Winter doesn't want to leave yet and such a strong snowfall was in Riga on Friday (with the largest snowflakes I have ever seen). Winter is literally fighting with spring right now, the temperature one day is some degree over zero, the other day - below. Snow has started to melt, and people are nervous about possible floods when the ice in rivers will start to do the same. So much snow and ice as in this winter we haven't had at least some 20 years.

  • Mirage in snowfall

    "Feel the sun!" - an advertisement which promotes vacations in Turkey. The surrounding weather is the best context for an advertiser to create the desired effect, I guess. Just one "little" problem - after the economic breakdown, most of us can't afford to travel anymore.

  • Snowy Beach

    While there is almost now snow in Riga city, rural territories including beaches are still covered by snow.

  • Latvia

    NASA satellite photo of winter in Latvia and neighbour countries Estonia, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Sweden. A short ice free strip in the gulf of Riga is made in order to make possible ferry traffic. Psst, Riga is in the very center :)

  • Rest in Peace

    Pleskodāles Kapi (Pleskodale Cemetery) was established by Martina baznica in 1881 as result of tension with Sveta Jana Baznica for right to perform requiem service. Before 1881 Marina baznica didn't have that right in order to keep high profit of Sveta Jana Baznica. The cemetery is still active and performing burial of Lutheran and Catholic believers. The procedure's price is not less than 1000 EUR per body and may rise up to several thousands.

  • I Love Riga Photos - Monthly Theme

    5 years passed since Eric Tenin started his Paris Daily Photo, the very first City Daily Photo blog. Eric's photo I love PDP inspired me to use the Tenin's Technique. In fact Riga Daily Photo was inspired not only by Paris, but also by Brain's New York, which was started on 17 March 2006. Today's Photo is tribute to celebrate this anniversary. The theme is the Tenin Technique. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

  • Arsenāla iela 3

    Building located in Old Town at Arsenāla iela 3 is another good example of German half-timbered houses. Let this colorful picture will devoted to 8h of March :)

  • Water Leak

    Yesterday almost a half of Riga inhabitants were without water supply, because of a catastrophic pipe leak near Brasa Railway station. Railway tracks were covered with 40cm (1,3 feet) water layer and looked more like a water channel or a small river.

  • Things I Would Love:

    Having lunch with Lou Lou more oftenDecorating apartmentsSleeping inWarm weather OR a snow day!An animal to holdPhotography classes & a bag for my cameraPlanting my garden againTo ride a bicycle Teaching danceA vacationAn inspirational tattoo ideaTo own a swingset.More coffee/tea dates with my lovely girlsFort parties To go back to Namibia with someone I loveCooking with Phoebe more

  • Brīvības gatve

    Brīvības gatve (Freedom Highroad) is the continuation of Brivibas street, which starts at Sport's Academy, runs along Smerla forest, Jugla neighborhood and terminates at Riga's border towards Sigulda town. Before Riga's borders extension in 1935, this road was part of Vidzemes šoseja (Vidzeme Highway)

  • Over the snowdrifts

    6 months passed since I posted the photo of the most interesting on-going building in Latvia. See the all time line of the LNB Building. Due all-winter-long abundant snowfalls, the snowdrifts are more than 1 meter high almost everywhere in Riga

  • Deadheads Hunters

    23th February is Defender of the Fatherland Day (День защитника Отечества) in many ex Soviet countries. Fortunately in Latvia it has not legal status. Otherwise my patriotism would look for answer, who is the defender of Latvia? And from who? The guys on the photo are doing very serious job, they are hunters of deadheads in tramways, aka Controllers. They fight against crime everyday, perhaps they are defenders? :) BTW, the price for single use ticket has grown for almost 50% since last 6 months. Now it is 0,70Ls (1 EUR)

  • Lauvas Nams

    Cozy restaurant Lauvas Nams, which is located on Brivibas iela, is not only a good place to have lunch. Lauvas Names could be considered as well as part of Riga night life. Because it is open 24/7, and it became popular destination to go of many party people after night at clubs.

  • Alfa

    Alfa shopping center is the biggest shopping mall in Riga. It was opened in 2001 and extended in 2006. Today Alfa hosts more than 100 shops, cafes, restaurants and even cinema - Cinamon. It is named after famous electronics factory Alfa, which was located just across the street.

  • Icicles

    Cascade icicles on roof of Agenskalns Market. Some of them are longer than 2 meters (6 feet)

  • Es tevi atkal gaidīšu te

    Es tevi atkal gaidīšu te↓ (I will again wait for you here) - is the content of the massive message written with soil on the snowy track bench, which is next to 13 Janvara street. Check also other lovely messages: "I love you" and "You are not alone"

  • Pils skvērs

    Pils laukums un skvērs (Palace square and garden) is located next to Riga Castle. It was formed in 18th century as prestigious walking place for official parties. In 1928 it was renamed after Janis Cakste, the first president of Latvia. During Soviet times it was named as Pioneru laukums (Pioneer square), since 1987 original name and purpose was placed back. Nowadays it ceremonial place for dear foreign guests, like visits of other countries presidents.

  • Center Police

    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 [..]

  • Krusta Luteriskā baznīca

    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.

  • Salsa Lessons

    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? :)

  • Bruņinieku iela

    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.

  • Aftermath of the Snowstorm

    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)

  • Wood - Monthly Theme

    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

  • And I just bought a scale, too...

    Lately I've been feeling unbalanced. It's probably a combination of the bitterly cold weather (if you do not live in the Northeast, I envy you every time I have to leave the house), the lack of sunlight, recent stressful situations, medications & a lack of sleep.  I'm looking forward to: seeing my family in two weeks & my boyfriend (hopefully soon), traveling next month, and time to sleep. I

  • Bolderajas Pirtiņa

    Piektdiena ir pirts diena (Friday is the Sauna day) I like that favourite expression of my physics teacher Jānis Lapers, because by saying this phrase, he used to let us go on Fridays earlier than any other day :) On the photo - Russian Bath in Bolderaja neighbourhood.

  • Embankment in Snow

    Every place in Riga looks different and more romantic under the snow. Embankment at 11 Novembra krastmala is the best place in Riga for walking and having chat at the bench. Please note, that Municipal police officers are frequent guests here, so keep your drinks hidden :)

  • Winter Fishermen

    These guests from the past are typical ice fishermen. Because of extreme low temperature, winter fisherman usually are very creative with dress code and equipment :)

  • Bastion Hill

    Bastejkalns (Bastion Hill) is snowed under. Photo is taken from Zigfrīda Annas Meierovica boulvard.

  • Zasulauks Station

    Railway station Zasulauks (Sassenhof) is located between Tornakalns and Depo stations on the Riga - Jurmala railroad. Initially Zasulauks was opened in 1873 as part of Riga - Bolderaja railroad, which now is being used only by freight trains.

  • У Васи

    У Васи (Vasya's, could be understood as Basil's) is a shop and cheap bar located on Miglas iela (Foggy street), the most unpleasant street of Bolderaja neighborhood. This place is infamous for often fights, knifing and other crime.

  • Triangula Bastions

    Triangula Bastions (Triangular Bastion) is a shopping center on 11. Novembra mainly occupied by Maxima. The name is delivered from a bastion, which had protected the city walls and obstructing the enemy access to Riga from Daugava river. Medieval bastion ruins still can be observed in the basement of this building made of glass.

  • Super Netto

    Super Netto is a discounter chain and the branch of Rimi. Super Netto shops have the reputation as the cheapest shops in Riga. See also Maxima, the Lithuanian discounter.

  • Sleeping Cars

    Mercedes-Benz is sleeping under snow among other cars at trading yard in Purvciems. They are waiting for a new happy owner...

  • New Colors

    These color buildings are located just next to gray soviet buildings, which were posted yesterday. New real estate projects in Riga are often paint in challenging color, e.g. Kugu iela 26.

  • Gray Reality

    This picture is taken in Purvciems 2 neighbourhood. Actually there is no any difference with Purvciems 3, Zepniekkalns 4 or Imanta 5. Everything is gray, similar, modest and depressing. Riga has inherited these buildings from Soviet past, which are typical for any city within Eastern Bloc.

  • Winter Park in Tears

    Snow-covered trees are in tears over Bastion hill.

  • Origo Ornament

    Origo shopping center's winter decoration made in style of Latvian traditional ornament.