[FREKI]

Hi guys ( and gals )... as some of you might know we're a bunch happy chaps at the Scandinavian and Baltic section of the SSC forum who have an anual tradition with a meet up.. and this year Riga was the lucky city - or actually us chaps were the lucky ones - 'cuz Riga is one lovely city!

This was my first trip to eastern Europe and I wasn't really sure what to expect... but I was very pleasently surprised!

You do see poverty and you do see places in dire need of renovation and investments - but you also see some of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen and some very nice streetscapes too!

The trip has been a real eyeopener for me and now I can't wait to explore more of the lands of our friends in the east!

And now it's time for the pics...

http://i17.tinypic.com/61l8nxj.jpg

http://i12.tinypic.com/4vhm5aw.jpg

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[anm]

Great pics, and I glad Riga is in good shape.

[stefansk]

Amazing picturea. Riga sure does look beautiful!!

[Jonas]

Thaks for the fresh pics, D... I was in Riga a few weeks ago, even though that was only in technical terms since I only used the airport to get to Lithuania bypassing the beautiful Latvian capital (it seems that most Lithuanians in the northern part of the country are using Riga's airport rather that Vilnius or Kaunas since it's closer to them :D). Anyway, I guess I should pay a proper visit to Riga some day again and have a beer in the Skyline restaurant of Reval Hotel Latvija :cheers:

[RafflesCity]

In my opinion, the city is very rich in architecture. Truly delightful.

Some of those buildings appear larger than life!

How old is the city?

[Gatis]

Hello (as SSC is down, some move over here :D)

Thanks to Mr. D for popularisation of Riga!!!

@John - when you happen to be in Riga - give a message to me - there is slight possibility that I will have time - would be very glad to pay some beer ;) I owe a lot to you! But I can't promise anything - sorry for this.


@RafflesCity: Tehcnically Riga is old. Established in 1198. But city has been destroyed several times, only the small Old City has got buildings older than 300 years (with some exceptions). But enormous areas outside the Old City are covered with thousands of beautiful 19th century and early 20th century buildings. Yes, and city is very very rich with architecture.

Mr. D during his short visit and with the shameful absence of local guides (shame on me!!!) could not see and take pictures of many aspects of this city. There is a lot more to see.

[RafflesCity]

Well, the pictures are incredibly beautiful and the architecture is so rich I'm simply drooling.

One day I must pay a visit!

[Wizzard]

Sorry for off-topic, but I cannot help myself, cause the cable-stayed bridge reminds me the bridge in Bratislava and also a high-rise that is u/c.

Just compare. Look at that high-rise next to the bridge in Riga and the similar building in Bratislava. How did people accept that building in Riga? In Bratislava, many people did not want that high-rise on that place, cause it will devaluate the panorama of the city.

Note that the picture of Bratislava is a little older so the building is not at the final height yet, but the final height is 96 m, while the bridge pylon is 95 m.

Riga:
http://i12.tinypic.com/4tr0eo1.jpg

Bratislava:
http://blog.sme.sk/blog/3880/77662/04.JPG

Bratislava update:
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/9707/img9626im0.jpg

[Gatis]

Yes, when Vansu bridge was built in Riga in early 1980ies, Bratislava bridge was recently completed. At that time there were few such bridges in the world. Bratislava bridge was often mentioned in our mass media as excellent example.

"Saules akmens" (sun stone - unofficial name, 121 m high, 28 floors technically, 26 - inhabited) is located just some 800 m from Old City. It was very much criticised initially - even by high officials like prime minister at that time. Happily the architecture of the tower was good and public in general is happy about it.

But this case lead to serious replanning of the planned Kipsala highrise district behind this tower - it continues up to this day. Lots of money, time etc. has been spent on this comprehensive analysis of "visual impact" and just few highrises have been allowed so far. Three more are under construction now. But we hope that one day more will come - there are some beautiful projects waiting - up to 50 floors high.

[Wizzard]

Well, so it means that Nový most in Bratislava was something like initial model for Vansu bridge? I did not know that and I think that many of Slovaks dont know that either. But it is very nice to hear that! Seems that our cities are very similar in many ways, we have also very close Old Town and a few buildings are also planned next to the new Aupark Tower.

But, I guess that in Riga, they did not demolish almost a half of Old Town to build that bridge like in Bratislava :(

[Bergenser]

Cool city, I like the combination of old and new! :D

[Swede]

I'm invading your thread! Ha! Mr D gets invaded :D
A very few choice pics (taken by me) from the same trip...

http://hem.bredband.net/torkel120/Riga/5727.jpg

http://hem.bredband.net/torkel120/Riga/5970.jpg

http://hem.bredband.net/torkel120/Riga/5935.jpg

http://hem.bredband.net/torkel120/Riga/5940.jpg

http://hem.bredband.net/torkel120/Riga/5998.jpg

[arbeiter]

I'm in love! Must visit Riga.