1st of May here was silent, sunny, a bit lazy day. Streets were almost empty and there were not too many tourists. Perfect day for photography in historical centre.
Today there was the fifth time when I mapped architecture in the northern part of Old Riga. Some 10 times still needed for Old Riga, then I will move to Boulevards.
- - -
Today walked the part of Old Riga around Jekaba church. I really love this part of city because it is very pleasant, silent and rich with architecture. Even in grey weather it looks bright. 75 pictures were too less for this picturesque area – should come more times.

Sunday look to Vansu bridge
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/7267/vansutilts1mai058fg.jpg

Riga skyline from Vansu bridge
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/4390/vecrigastorni21mai051gf.jpg

Caste of Riga – seat of president
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/5179/rigaspils1mai054wa.jpg
View in inner garden of Castle
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/9247/rigaspilsdarzsieeja1mai055fy.jpg
Smaller building of castle complex – just renovated:
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/3189/rigaspilspaligek1mai056cp.jpg

Detail of banking highschool on K. Valdemara Street 1b
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/6049/kvaldemara1bdzega1mai059lg.jpg

Bank of Latvia – entrance
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/435/latvijasbankaieeja1mai054wo.jpg

Courtyard near Jekaba Church. Everything looks ancient.
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/724/mpils6pagalms1mai056rs.jpg
Front side of this building
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/7875/mpils6augs1mai053xb.jpg

Goethe Institut buildings
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/3593/klosteraielagetesinst11mai051q.jpg

Some Catholic institution
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/4337/mpils2a1mai052dr.jpg

Klostera Street
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/5669/klostera17otr1mai057mt.jpg

Entrance on St. Jekaba Church with two older ladies
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/8070/jekababaznieeja1mai053vc.jpg
Bell of St Jekaba Church high up in the air
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/5439/jekababaznzvans1mai058ka.jpg
Gothic details
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/223/jekababazntuvu1mai058yh.jpg

Jekaba Street:
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/547/jekabaiela1mai054va.jpg
Jekaba square
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/2615/jekaba20221mai056xs.jpg
Parliament building on Jekaba Street 11
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/4544/jekaba111mai054xf.jpg
Here work parliamentary commissions – Jekaba Street 10/12
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/36/jekaba10121mai052rx.jpg
Stone detail of neighbouring building on Jekaba Street
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/9158/jekaba68tuv1mai053xx.jpg
This building stands on corner of Jekaba and Smilsu Streets
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/3703/jekaba241mai056mo.jpg

Jugendstil on Smilsu Street 2
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/8418/smilsu2augs1mai056np.jpg
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/5265/smilsu2balk1mai052ki.jpg
Smilsu Street
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/4503/smilsuiela1mai056la.jpg

Arsenal – one of best Ampire style samples in Riga. Nowadays – exhibition hall
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/9558/torna11mai050kt.jpg
Arsenala Street
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/9749/arsenalaiela1mai050ba.jpg

http://img52.echo.cx/img52/9158/jekaba68tuv1mai053xx.jpg
is it some sort of a hospital or anything like that?

Lots of art nouveau. Love it. Jekaba street looks truly beautiful.

Riga skyline from Vansu bridge

An awesome skyline that is!

@Ringil - that is library. There are lots of different symbolics - I am sure it all has some meaning for library. In general lots of Art Nouveau symbolics are with some meaning.
There are also lots of Freemasonry symbolics in Art Nouveau buildings around Riga - some people are investigating these things now. F.e. look at the middle part of this building:
http://img52.echo.cx/img52/5265/smilsu2balk1mai052ki.jpg

I just love the urbanity of this city :okay:

Riga is a beautiful city, no other Baltic city looks so urban, I'm impressed

Very beautiful indeed. Thanks Gatis! :okay:

Nice. I like pictures of smaller buildings, I don`t know, they just look cuter to me. But anyway old town of Riga is really great place.

Thank you, Gatis! :)

I just can't over how many large areas of coherent architecture there are in Riga. That is SO enviable, and SO impressive! :eek:

I really like your style of "reporting." :master:

Riga is so beautiful !!!!!!!!! Lovely pics !! The view from Vansu bridge is unbelievable ! The Goethe Institut buildings and the presidents castle are very pretty !!!

Gosh! Riga is so OH MY GOD'ish!!!! Wonderful pics, thank you VERY much! You know, Riga didn't call much of my attention, maybe cuz it was a bit underrated over here when I used to visit S&B more often. But now, with this pics, it's absolutely gorgeous for me! When I go to Helsinki and Tallinn, Riga will definetly be in my route too! :)

Thanks! :) Riga is really worth visiting, may be I even can find time for guiding

You CAN???!!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

I'll send you a PM. :)

Amazing as always Gatis! Riga really look's fabulous. :cheers:

ver very nice riga is

so damn amazing pics!!!!!!

Beautiful photos, thanks

http://img52.echo.cx/img52/4390/vecrigastorni21mai051gf.jpg

^my favorite

I agree. BTW, do the Latvians call that one church "Dom"?

@Kampflamm, how did you dig up this thread?!?

Yeah the leftmost is Dom - the most important church here, with extremely interesting stories around it: 1) the escape of many Tampliers from France to here (where otherwise Teutonic Order would get bucks for building >100 fortresses simultaneously here?). Tampliers stayed with Dom cloister, have made here huge influence over centuries.
2) In 2001 in the garden of the church there was found the only known stone idol statue. It was lying here for many centuries, stolen from its initial site near Riga.

I was just searching for some Riga pics and since you're known for making the best... :D

It looks like a truly awesome city. Is there still a Russian speaking majority in Riga or did Tallinn have one?

yes Kampy... Riga has a large russian "minority", latvians are a minority in Riga :(
In Tallinn the situation is better, Estonians are still the majority

Riga had. Still has ;) Now we have got 43% Latvians in the city and 43% Russians. Latvians are taking over.
Btw recent opinion poll shows that in Latvia 94% people know Russian language and only 91% - Latvian. 93% of Latvians know Russian language while only 80% of Russians know Latvian. They (Russians) always feel that their human rights are oppressed when somebody speaks to them in Latvian on the streets or in the offices. But we try to do, although this is often a scandal.

I knew one Latvian who returned home from Australia and did knot know Russian. He was attacked over this very often, Russians just thought that he is a nerd.

Damn, it's gotta be weird to feel like a foreigner in your own country sometimes.

Usaully there're no problems (and never were) in comunicating because most of the people can speak (some better some worse) both languages.

Yesterday, when I was in a bank, one man went in, looked around at the instructions on the wall (all in Latvian) and said very loud: "Everything here is in that dog language, normal human being can't understand anything..."
This is insulting and it is not that simple to survive with it in daily life.

/\ i would have kicked his ass in deep...

Yesterday, when I was in a bank, one man went in, looked around at the instructions on the wall (all in Latvian) and said very loud: "Everything here is in that dog language, normal human being can't understand anything..."
This is insulting and it is not that simple to survive with it in daily life.

I bet there're not many bastards like this, however as they say "a teaspoon of sh*t screws a barrel of honey".

Very nice - can't wait for the meet! :happy:

Looks great, you guys enjoy your meet!