Expatriates Forums in Latvia

Tour Riga, Latvia On Line (Video + Stills)

IntrepidBerkeleyExplorer — Thu May 28, 2009 8:09 pm

Author: IntrepidBerkeleyExplorer

Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 8:09 pm

My film "Tsar Trek” features the grand palaces, fountains and churches of St. Petersburg; a fantastic dance troupe; Moscow (with the Kremlin & McDonald’s); plus the medieval capitals of the once again independent Baltic States: Vilnius, Lithuania; Riga, Latvia; and Tallinn, Estonia.

Marvelous Riga is in the second half of this film, but worth waiting for, since fast forwarding does not work.

“Tsar Trek” can be seen on the web, if you have a high speed internet connection.

This is a free, non-commercial streaming video on the Windows Media Player. No ads and no strings attached. I sell absolutely nothing.

For my video page, go to:

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidberkeleyexplorer/Video.html

With any modem you can view the new still pictures gallery of Russia and the Baltic States at:

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidberkeleyexplorer/Page11.html

There are over 30 of my other amateur travel videos on-line covering all seven continents, including trips to Italy, China, Antarctica, Bali, Hawaii, the UK, Australia, Peru, Africa, Greece, and Turkey; see lions, whales, elephants, or penguins.

The planet is yours, including my Home Page giant galaxy of still pictures at:

http://www.geocities.com/intrepidberkeleyexplorer/

The Intrepid Berkeley Explorer

latvia joined with two students

sveki21 — Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:48 am

Author: sveki21

Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:48 am

Turkish Olympics
The Fifth International Turkish Olympics brought us children from countries whose names we barely even know and displayed the children’s success in using the Turkish language -- almost the only common thing in this nation -- in reading poetry and singing.
The fifth International Turkish Language Olympics ended with a splendid finale last Saturday in İstanbul.

Today there is an interest throughout the world in Turkish due to the efforts and performance displayed by Turkish schools around the globe. There is no doubt that the staff working in these high-quality schools have created a vision that couldn’t be created by the state’s means in Turkey alone. I know very well that public education institutions in Turkey, with all their equipment and accomplishments, cannot manage to educate the staff working in these schools. Unfortunately there is no way to teach children in public schools values such as love, motivation, sacrifice and altruism, which are necessary for this work that requires great sacrifice at every phase. It seems that these people think Turkey is a language worth learning by looking at the great sacrifice made by all these people who work in the schools abroad.
LATVIA JOINED WIT TWO STUDENTS FROM BALTIC EDUCATION Brivibas 95-3 , Riga , 7296157 ,

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN LATVIA / EMBASSIES IN LATVIA

Latvia Info — Tue May 15, 2007 7:45 am

Author: Latvia Info

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 7:45 am

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN LATVIA

AUSTRIA
Embassy of Austria
Elizabetes iela 21a,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 721-6125
Fax: (+371) 721-6126
Email: riga-ob@bmaa.gv.at

BELARUS
Embassy of Belarus
Jezusbaznicas iela 12,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 722-2560
Fax: (+371) 732-2891
Email: latvia@belembassy.org

BELGIUM
Embassy of Belgium
Alberta iela 13,
5. stāvs,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 703-9321

CANADA
Embassy of Canada
Baznicas iela 20/22,
6th Floor,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 781-3945
Fax: (+371) 781-3960
Email: riga@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Website: www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/canadaeuropa/baltics

CHINA
Embassy of China
Ganibu Dambis 5,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 735-7023/ 4
Fax: (+371) 735-7025
Email: chinaemb_lv@mfa.gov.cn

CZECH REPUBLIC
Embassy of the Czech Republic
Elizabetes iela 29a,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 721-7814/ 728-7306/ 733-8181
Fax: (+371) 721-7821
Email: riga@embassy.mzv.cz
Website: www.mzv.cz/riga

ESTONIA
Embassy of Estonia
Skolas iela 13,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 781-2020
Fax: (+371) 781-2029
Email: embassy.Riga@mfa.ee
Website: www.estemb.lv

FINALND
Embassy of Finland
Kalpaka bulvaris 1,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 707-8800
Fax: (+371) 707-8814
Email: sanomat.rii@formin.fi
Website: www.finland.lv

FRANCE
Embassy of France
Raina bulvaris 9,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 703-6600
Fax: (+371) 703-6615
Email: webmestre.ambafrance-lv@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Website: www.ambafrance-lv.org

GERMANY
Embassy of Germany
Raina bulvaris 13,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 708-5100
Fax: (+371) 708-5148
Email: mailbox@deutschebotschaft-riga.lv
Website: www.deutschebotschaft-riga.lv

ISRAEL
Embassy of Israel
Elizabetes iela 2,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 732-0739
Fax: (+371) 783-0170
Email: info@rig.mfa.gov.il
Website: www.riga.mfa.gov.il

ITALY
Embassy of Italy
Teatra iela 9,
3rd & 4th Floor,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 721-6069/ 1507/ 1517
Fax: (+371) 721-6084
Email: ambitalia.riga@apollo.lv
Website: www.ambitalia.apollo.lv

JAPAN
Embassy of Japan
Kr. Valdemāra iela 21,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 781-2001

LITHUANIA
Embassy of Lithuania
Rupniecibas iela 24,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 732-1519
Fax: (+371) 732-1589
Email: lt@apollo.lv
Website: www.lv.urm.lt

NETHERLANDS
Embassy of the Netherlands
Torņu iela 4,
Jēkaba Kazarmas 1a,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 732-6147
Fax: (+371) 7326151
Email: info@netherlandsembassy.lv , nlgovrig@mailbox.riga.lv
Website: www.netherlandsembassy.lv

POLAND
Embassy of Poland
Mednieku iela 6B,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 703-1500
Fax: (+371) 703-1549
Email: ambpol@apollo.lv
Website: www.ambpolriga.lv

RUSSIA
Embassy of the Russian Federation
Antonijas iela 2,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 721-2579/ 0123
Fax: (+371) 783-0209/ 721-0123
Email: rusembas@delfi.lv , ruskons@delfi.lv
Website: www.latvia.mid.ru

SLOVAKIA
Embassy of Slovakia
Smilšu iela 8,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 781-4280
Fax: (+371) 781-4290
Email: embassy@slovakia.lv

SPAIN
Embassy of Spain
Elizabetes 11,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 732-0281

SWEDEN
Royal Embassy of Sweden
Andreja Pumpura iela 8,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 768-6600
Fax: (+371) 768-6601
Email: ambassaden.riga@foreign.ministry.se
Website: www.swedenabroad.com/riga

SWITZERLAND
Embassy of Switzerland
Elizabetes iela 2,
World Trade Centre,
3rd Floor,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 733-8351
Fax: (+371) 733-8354
Email: vertretung@rig.rep.admin.ch
Website: www.eda.admin.ch/riga

UKRAINE
Embassy of Ukraine
Kalpaka bulvaris 3,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 724-3082
Fax: (+371) 732-5583
Email: emb_lv@mfa.gov.ua , uaemb@mail.neonet.lv
Website: www.ukrainaemb.lv

UK
British Embassy
J. Alunāna iela 5,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 777-4700
Fax: (+371) 777-4707/ 24
Email: british.embassy@apollo.lv , british.embassy@delfi.lv
Website: www.britain.lv

USA
Embassy of the United States
Raiņa bulvāris 7,
Riga
Phone: (+371) 703-6200
Fax: (+371) 782-0047
Email: ambassador-riga@state.gov , pas@usembassy.lv
Website: www.usembassy.lv

HOTELS DIRECTORY IN LATVIA / LATVIA HOTEL GUIDE

Latvia Info — Tue May 15, 2007 5:31 am

Author: Latvia Info

Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 5:31 am

HOTELS DIRECTORY IN LATVIA

RIGA

Ainavas Boutique Hotel
Peldu 23,
Riga
Tel: +371 6781-4316
Fax: +371 781-4317
Email: reservations@ainavas.lv
Website: www.ainavas.lv

Albert Hotel
Dzirnavu 33,
Riga
Tel: +371 6733-1717
Fax: +371 733-1718
Email: info@alberthotel.lv
Website: www.alberthotel.lv

Centra
Audēju 1,
Riga
Tel: +371 6722-6441
Fax: +371 750-3281
Email: hotel@centra.lv
Website: www.centra.lv

Domina Inn Riga
Pulkveža Brieža 11/13,
Riga
Tel: +371 6763-1800
Fax: +371 763-1801
Email: info@dominahotels.lv
Website: www.dominahotels.com

Europa Royale Riga
Barona 12,
Riga
Tel: +371 6707-9444
Fax: +371 707-9449
Email: riga@europaroyale.com
Website: www.europaroyale.com

Garden Palace Hotel
Grēcinieku 28,
Riga
Tel: +371 6722-4650
Fax: +371 735-9749
Email: info@hotelgardenpalace.lv
Website: www.hotelgardenpalace.lv

Grand Palace Hotel
Pils 12,
Riga
Tel: +371 6704-4000
Fax: +371 704-4001
Email: grandpalace@schlossle-hotels.com
Website: www.grandpalaceriga.com

Hotel Bergs
Elizabetes 83/85 (Berga bazārs),
Riga
Tel: +371 6777-0900
Fax: +371 777-0940
Email: reservation@hotelbergs.lv
Website: www.hotelbergs.lv

Hotel de Rome
Kaļķu 28,
Riga
Tel: +371 6708-7600
Fax: +371 708-7606
Email: reservation@derome.lv
Website: www.derome.lv

Hotel Gutenbergs
Doma laukums 1,
Riga
Tel: +371 6781-4090
Fax: +371 750-3326
Email: hotel@gutenbergs.lv
Website: www.gutenbergs.lv

Hotel Rīga
Aspazijas bulv. 22,
Riga
Tel: +371 6704-4222
Fax: +371 704-4241
Email: info@hotelriga.lv
Website: www.hotelriga.lv

Islande
Ķīpsalas 20,
Riga
Tel: +371 6760-8000
Fax: +371 760-8001
Email: reception@islandehotel.lv
Website: www.islandehotel.lv

Konventa Sēta
Kalēju 9/11,
Riga
Tel: +371 6708-7501
Fax: +371 708-7515
Email: reservation@konventa.lv
Website: www.konventa.lv

Maritim Park Hotel Riga
Slokas 1,
Riga
Tel: +371 6706-9000
Fax: +371 706-9001
Email: info.rig@maritim.lv
Website: www.maritim.lv

Metropole
Aspazijas bulv. 36/38,
Riga
Tel: +371 6722-5411
Fax: +371 721-6140
Email: metropole@metropole.lv
Website: www.metropole.lv

Monika
Elizabetes 21,
Riga
Tel: +371 6703-1900
Fax: +371 703-1901
Email: monika@centrumhotels.com
Website: www.centrumhotels.com

Radisson SAS Daugava
Kuģu 24,
Riga
Tel: +371 6706-1111
Fax: +371 706-1100
Email: info.riga@radissonsas.com
Website: www.riga.radissonsas.com

Reval Hotel Latvija
Elizabetes 55,
Riga
Tel: +371 6777-2345
Fax: +371 777-2332
Email: latvija.sales@revalhotels.com
Website: www.revalhotels.com

Reval Hotel Rīdzene
Reimersa 1,
Riga
Tel: +371 6732-4433
Fax: +371 732-2600
Email: latvija.sales@revalhotels.com
Website: www.revalhotels.com

GETTING AROUND IN LATVIA / LATVIA TRANSPORTATION GUIDE

Latvia Info — Mon May 14, 2007 5:54 am

Author: Latvia Info

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 5:54 am

GETTING AROUND IN LATVIA

BY AIR

Air Baltic flies from Riga to Liepaja International Airport in the summer (May-September). It costs 18.60 lats from Riga to Liepaja and 10 lats from Liepaja to Riga. There are everal small airports across Latvia, two in Riga - Spilves airport and Rumbulas airport.

BY RAIL

Latvia’s reasonably well-developed rail network includes routes from Riga to all other major towns in the country. The railway terminal is at Stacijas laukums. For information about trains, contact LDZ (tel: 723 4940 or 4208; website: www.ldz.lv).

Gulbene and Aluksne is connected by narrow gauge railway. There are several tourist spots along the route.

BY ROAD

There are reasonable connections to all parts of the country from Riga. Traffic drives on the right.

Bus

Buses are a better form of transport than trains in Latvia. The Central Bus Station is at Pragas iela 1.

Car rental

Available through hotels and directly from car hire companies, reservations are recommended. Drivers can also be hired. Seat belts must be worn. Speed limits on highways are 90kph (56mph) and 50kph (32mph) in cities. It is compulsory to drive with headlights on 24 hours a day all year round. The consumption of alcohol by drivers is strictly forbidden as is the use of mobile telephones while driving.

Documentation: European nationals should be in possession of an EU pink format licence, otherwise an International Driving Permit is required.

URBAN TRANSPORTATION

Public transport in Riga runs from 0530-0000. Taxis in Riga are cheap, but prices are rising. All taxis are now privately run and all have meters. There is a 50 per cent surcharge at night. All parts of the city can also be reached by bus, tram and trolleybus. Tickets should be bought on board from the conductor and retained for inspection. Share-taxis (taksobussi) also operate but are slightly more expensive than ordinary buses. Fines for fare dodging are common.

LATVIA TOURISM GUIDE / TOURISM IN LATVIA

Latvia Info — Mon May 14, 2007 5:40 am

Author: Latvia Info

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 5:40 am

LATVIA TOURISM GUIDE

RIGA

Situated on a sandy plain 15km (9 miles) from the mouth of the River Daugava, Riga is the capital of Latvia and is one of the most beautiful of the Baltic cities. According to legend, once every 100 years the devil rears his head from the waters of the River Daugava and asks whether Riga is ‘ready’ yet. If the answer were ‘yes’, the now nearly 900-year-old city would be doomed to sink into the Daugava. The Latvian capital is a major tourist attraction, and has excellent air, train and road connections. It is rich in history and culture with remarkable Gothic, Baroque, Classical and Art Nouveau buildings.

The centre of the city is considered to contain the finest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Riga contains a remarkable diversity of architectural styles, perhaps best epitomised by the Dome Cathedral. Begun in 1211, the building has been added to throughout the centuries, resulting in a fascinating blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical styles. The cathedral’s organ, with nearly 7000 pipes, is recognised as one of the world’s greatest musical instruments and concerts are regularly performed here. The numerous other historical buildings in Riga bear witness to Latvia’s chequered history. Since its restoration after World War I, the old quarter of the city has been a protected area. The one surviving town gate is the so-called Sweden Gate, whilst the symbol of Riga, the 137m- (450ft-) high tower of St Peter’s Church, rises above the city. The St John’s Church of the former Dominican monastery was built in the 14th century and is one of several interesting churches in this former Episcopal seat. Most of the structure dates back to the 15th century and was constructed in a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The Catholic St Jacob’s Church was built in 1226 and is a fine example of Gothic architecture.

The delightful Viestura Garden is ideal for relaxation. Its foundations were laid by Peter the Great who planted the first tree, an event commemorated by a flagstone in the park. Alexander Gate, the entrance to the park, was erected to mark the Russian victory over Napoleon’s army. It was in this park that the first Latvian Song Festival was held in 1873. At the end of the 18th century, Katharina II built the Peter and Paul Church north of the castle. Merchants’ houses from the Middle Ages such as the Three Brothers and the 24 warehouses in the old quarter are also picturesque examples of Latvian architecture. The residence of Peter I near the Cathedral has been dramatically altered and rebuilt.

Riga has several museums including the Historical Museum of Latvia (founded in 1896), housed in the castle, and the Latvian Museum of Medicine, as well as two art galleries – the Museum of Foreign Art, which contains Flemish masterpieces, and the state Art Gallery of Latvia. The Riga Motor Museum displays the history of motor-car engineering, with veteran cars including rarities such as Stalin’s and Brezhnev’s private cars.

In central Riga, the Freedom Monument (Brivibas Piemineklis) is a very significant site for Latvians. Built in 1935, the monument is a striking obelisk crowned by a female figure with upstretched arms holding three stars which represent the three historic regions of Latvia: Kurzeme, Latgale and Vidzeme. Reminiscent of the famous Statue of Liberty in New York, though much smaller at 42m (138ft), the statue ranks among the most distinguished monuments in Europe. Another place of interest is the Warriors’ Cemetery which was designed by the sculptor Zale, the architect Birznieks and the landscape gardener Zeidaks. Approximately 2000 graves from World War I are divided into three sections.

Not far from the city is the open-air Latvian Ethnographic Museum. With buildings from all over the country, ranging from wooden churches to windmills, it covers traditional rural architecture from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

OTHER PLACES

Some 17km (11 miles) from the Latvian capital, the Baltic resort of Jurmala – consisting of 12 small villages – extends over 30km (19 miles) along the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the River Lielupe. Fresh pine forest-scented air, sun and endless sandy beaches make this stretch of coast a particularly attractive holiday destination for all age groups. Drivers entering Jurmala need to purchase a special ticket; the fee is used to sponsor ecological programs in the area. The area is connected by roads and the commuter railway, which takes about 15 minutes from Riga.

Another Latvian health resort is Sigulda, about 53km (33 miles) from Riga. Situated on the picturesque banks of the River Gauja, the town has been established since the 13th century and attractions here include the ruins of the castle and local caves. In the National Park that is situated here, Turaida Castle (13th century) and its museum can be visited, as well as a sculpture park where Latvian folk poetry has been captured in stone. There is good downhill skiing in winter, and Sigulda is a popular boating spot in summer.

The most important Baroque building is the Palace in Pilsrundale, about 77km (48 miles) south of Riga, near the Lithuanian border. This fine summer residence of the Dukes of Courland was designed by the Italian architect Rastrelli, who also designed the Winter Palace in St Petersburg – an outstanding blend of Baroque architecture and Rococo decorative art, with gardens modeled on those of Versailles. The surrounding park is excellent for long walks.

Nature enthusiasts will enjoy the rich flora and fauna in the regions of Kurzeme, Latgale and Vidzeme, which are also favourites with hikers. Throughout the country, the landscape is dotted with picturesque villages such as Bauska, Cesis, Kolka and Talsi, where life generally follows a very relaxed pace amidst beautiful countryside. Nearby Kuldiga, situated on the banks of the River Venta, is Latvia’s highest waterfall and a favourite picnic spot.

LATVIA TRAVEL INFORMATION / LATVIA TRAVEL GUIDE

Latvia Info — Mon May 14, 2007 5:35 am

Author: Latvia Info

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 5:35 am

LATVIA TRAVEL INFORMATION

Full Name

Republic of Latvia

Capital City

Rīga

Area

64,589 sq km
24,938 sq miles

Population

2,348,784

Time Zone

GMT/UTC +2

Languages

Latvian (official)

Latvian is one of the two languages of the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family.

Russian (other)

Religion

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Currency

Lat (Ls)

Electricity

220V 50HzHz

Electric Plug Details

European plug with two circular metal pins

Country Dialing Code

371