Birkas / Writings

  • Staraya Riga

    Cafe Старая Рига (Staraya Riga means Old Riga) is another sign of Riga's spirit outside Latvia. It is located in Moscow, in a quite prestigious Basmanny District.

  • Staraya Riga

    Cafe Старая Рига (Staraya Riga means Old Riga) is another sign of Riga's spirit outside Latvia. It is located in Moscow, in a quite prestigious Basmanny District.

  • Lielupe Beach

    Lielupe Beach is the most east beach in Jurmala, basically it is where the resort town starts. It is quite remote from Jurmala central part, and hence quite empty.

  • Lielupe Beach

    Lielupe Beach is the most east beach in Jurmala, basically it is where the resort town starts. It is quite remote from Jurmala central part, and hence quite empty.

  • Enjoy Tea

    Baudiet Nesteidzoties (Enjoy sipping) is the name of another Apsara Tea House, located in old town. Tea drinking is extremely popular in Riga, but the drinkers' preference is changing constantly. Nowadays the person who drinks black tea with white sugar (as everybody did several years before) is a rarity.

  • Monument - Monthly Theme

    Milda is the statue's name on the top of Brīvības piemineklis (Liberty Monument), which is erected on Brivibas bulvaris, in the very center of Riga. The woman is holding three stars symbolizing freedom and three historical regions of Latvia - Kurzeme (including Zemgale), Latgale and Vidzeme. Writing Tēvzemei un Brīvībai means For the Fatherland and the Freedom. The monument is 42 meters high and was built in 1935 in the place of monument to Peter I the Great. This photo is devoted to the Monthly Theme day, which is Statues. On photo there are two statues more at the bottom of monument. [..]

  • Swedbank Cashpoint

    Swedbank Cashpoint on Balozu street was built in a wrong place :)

  • Enjoy the Symphony

    Enjoy the Symphony of Riga for 87 EUR. I love airBaltic, because it is nearly the only thing that reminds of Riga outside of Latvia. I found this ad in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

  • Riga, New York

    Just few Rigans know that word Riga stands not only for the capital of Latvia, but it is also name for some cities, towns and other places around the world. Today it is exactly 201 year since Riga town was formed in the state of New York in United States of America. Nowadays Riga, NY is a small town with population of 6,000 people. I hope one day I will take a plane to New York and take these pictures by myself, but for now I am sending big thanks for photos to Art and Jim from Riga, NY

  • Salve

    Salve in Latin means Welcome or simply Hello ;) The building itself was built in 1910 and located at 27, Ernesta Birznieka-Upisa street.

  • Entrance to Mārupe

    Mārupe (Mara's river) is one of the Riga's satellite towns, located at the south-west border, next to Airport. Town was founded in 1925 and named after river of almost the same name Nowadays Marupe has reputation as an area for families with mid-high income. Total population is 5,500 people. Also it is one of the most fast growing towns in Latvia, total population has been increased more than in 3 times for the last 10 years.

  • 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.

  • 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"

  • Roodey

    Roodey or Roadey, whatever. I hate this photo because it was taken during freezing evening when I was on Kalnciema bridge with already frozen hands, so I couldn't properly hold a camera lens cover and dropped it down there :( Now I'm shocked that such a little piece of plastic costs more than 20 EUR.

  • Velociped-Fabrik

    Bilingual writing Фабрика велосипедовѣ А. Лейтнерѣ (Old Russian orthography) Velociped-Fabrik A. Leutner (German) is a good monument to the first Bicycle Factory in Russian Empire, which was founded in 1886.

  • Mosque

    It is hard to believe that this red-brick cube-shape accessory building located in one of the city's yards is Riga Mosque, therefore I have attached a writing in Arabic ligature. It was difficult for me to find it, because mosque is hidden from the public eye and there is no any sign or mark of this place of worship. I wish to hear again the muezzin calling the faithful to prayer and remember my incredible trip to Istanbul.

  • Jaunais Rīgas Teātris

    Jaunais Rīgas Teātris (New Riga theater) is the most newest theater in Riga, opened just in 1992. It is located in a seemingly regular building on Lacplesa iela, in fact this building was used as a residence of many theaters since far year 1902. P.S. On the side wall is the portrait of famous Latvian theatre director Eduards Smiļģis.

  • Disko 21

    Disko 21 is certainly a night club on Raina boulevard in the very center of Riga. It is not a posh place like Studio 69 or recently opened blazing Push, Disko 21 is more for people around 30 or older who know what the scene is. BTW, I guess this is the only night club in Riga where you can sing Karaoke :)

  • German Romanticism

    The wooden building, located on Skolas iela 3, was built in 1905 using German Romanticism and Jugendstil styles. The German writing on top Arbeit ist des Burgers Zierde (The work is citizen's adornment) is one of still living evidences that at some time Riga was German city. See also another photo of German Architecture in Riga.

  • Push

    Push is not just a simple writing on the door, Push is the most recently opened night club in Riga on Merkela iela. People without invitation are waiting in line for some new feelings and inexperienced emotions. The building, which Push is sharing with Fashion club, is still famous under another former club's name Vernissage.

  • Metro

    Entrance to Riga Underground also known as Metro Bārs.

  • Ты не одна

    Ты не одна (You are not alone) was recently written on the roof of almost collapsed building in Kliversala area. I guess this phrase is continue of AB Dambis writings, which are just few hundreds meters from this building. The same color, font, style and the way to express feelings of love. I want to love somebody like he does.

  • Residents Habitation

    A great photograph exhibition is being held now in Rigas Makslas Telpa (Riga Art Space) The exposition is related to criticism of Soviet architecture. Lots of interesting materials, photos and quotes in one place. I couldn't imagine that more than 2/3 of Riga population are living in standardized apartment buildings, which are almost the same. And only 3,6% of Rigans are living in center. I highly recommend this art exhibition to all native people to visit it. The entry fee is 1-3 EUR only.

  • Varšava

    Varšavas iela, (Warsaw street or Warszawska) is a small street in Maskachka area, which delivers its name from Riga's sister city Warsaw, the capital of almost neighbor country Poland, and which is only 561 km (349 miles) away. I am interested, are there many regular readers from Poland? Please sign :) See also other destinations from Riga.

  • I love you

    Most probably these lovely romantic writings on AB Dambis are devoted to person living at Kugu iela 26. In the beginning there was only You are my #1, then I can't live without you appeared, and only then banal I love you was written. These lyrics are being updated approximately each 4-6 months. What do you think, who is more able to do such things: a man or a woman? :)

  • Ne dienu bez Rīgas

    Ne dienu bez Rīgas - is the title of an article about my blog in local magazine Rīgas Laiks (Riga Times) This is the first review of my blog by offline media known to me. Despite very short article, I feel very proud because of it. Here below is the full text of article: Rūpīgi uzturēts un aizraujošs fotoblogs, kas katru dienu piedāvā jaunu fotogrāfiju un nelielu komentāru par tajā attēloto Rīgas vai tuvējās apkārtnes skatu. Ne vienmēr šie komentāri vai objektu izvēle ir Latvijai glaimojoša, taču autoram (kurš savu personu pārlieku neafišē) nevar pārmest arī [..]

  • Hyper MAXIMA XXX

    I guess such name fits better to some adult movie or might be even used as subject in spam email. Maxima is Lithuanian supermarket chain with the worst brand naming strategy.

  • Diving

    Every summer children jumping off the train bridge at Daugavgriva. The writing in Estonian on the left pier means "A night with you is worth of the whole life"

  • Dzērieni / Napitki

    Every language is being developed and extended every day, especially by not native speakers. Transliteration of Russian is quite controversial point, but I guess it is unavoidable future and this writing is a good example of that. Dzērieni or Napitki (Напитки) means Drinks in Latvian and Russian respectively.

  • Brüno

    Yesterday in Latvia, just one week after the world, was the premier of the new shocking film Brüno. The movie is from producer of Borat and they are quite similar. Bruno is Austrian gay who wants to became world class celebrity and goes to USA. Of course it is forbidden to make any photos in cinema, but I wanted to show subtitles in two languages. Every movie in Latvia is being subtitled in two languages: Latvian and Russian. This movie itself is also in two languages: English and German. Unglaublich!

  • Where to escape

    This sign post located at Perses iela shows distance between Riga and world cities. Moscow (Maskava) 841 kilometers Brussels (Brisele) 1455 km London (Londona) 1674 km (1040 miles) New York (Ņujorka) 6751 km (4195 miles) Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) is much closer, just 10 meters, but lately more and more people leave the country for developing and investing in somewhere else. Such ideas are visiting me quite often as well. What about you, my Latvian friends?