

Daugavgrīva is a small industrial town at the Daugava’s mouth [location].


Dzegužkalns is the highest natural point in Riga at twenty-three metres [location].






[location].


[location].

Steve has arrived for a weekend visit. It was decided to cross the, snow covered, frozen river. The old men are still fishing. [location]



Vanšu tilts


Snow sweeper on Akmens tilts


Monument for “The Revolution of The Fifth Year” [location]; sits across road from The House of Artist’s Union (background), which houses the RIXC offices, my studio and accomodation. See how it looked on the 12 February

Railway bridge over Daugava

view towards Vanšu tilts, which holds the title of 47th of the world’s largest cable-stayed bridge with a span of 312 metres [location].

Railway station




New dwellings built around lake to south-east of neighbourhood

“Zolitūde is a neighbourhood located on the city’s western edge consisting mostly of prefabricated Soviet-built apartments; built in the early 1980s. The population is mostly Russian-speaking. The proximity to the international airport, the seaside resorts of Jurmala, and the new architecture have made it attractive for young families. Most residents commute to the central business district by the electric railway; with two stations in the area” [editted quote] [location].

Centre distance is man with child walking along the frozen river [location].


Domina “the largest shopping centre in the Baltic states” [location].
I am disappointed, in the macro sense, that humanity keeps making the same mistakes; allowing developers, with only five year projections, to construct such utter sheds of inhuman banality.

The morning was spent on Zaķusala (a long island in the middle of the river Daugava; “Hares’ Island”) [location].


The Tower’s shadow reaches about 1.5km; to Salu tilts

This included a visit to, and up, Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis (Riga Radio and TV Tower).The tallest structure in the Baltic countries. It was built between 1979 and 1986. Its highest point reaches 368.5 m (1209 ft), which makes it the second tallest tower in Europe and eleventh in the world. The tower is said to be able to withstand even extreme wind, at speeds of up to 44 m/s (98 mph), without any noticeable vibration amplitude. There are two Otis elevators, one in the north-east pillar and one in south-west pillar; They travel inside the curved pillars while maintaining a constant level. The third pillar contains stairs.



Coffee was had at Latvijas televīzija centre (Latvian Television Centre) at the north end of island.


Apart from these two large structures, the island remains empty. There are plans afoot to change that and create a huge set of buildings offering all kinds of entertainment. There will be a beach for sun bathing. There are feral wolf-dogs loose on the island. Two barked at, and followed, me.

[image photographed from billboard on the island]

The Freedom Monument seen with Guard of Honour. The monument is a symbol of Latvian unity and sovereignty. It was intended as a memorial to honour soldiers killed in action during the Latvian War of Independence. Today, the Freedom Monument is one of the most important national symbols of Latvia. The monument is featured on the proposed Latvian 2 Euro coin [location].

Lunch was had in the worker’s canteen of Riga Town Council [location].

Lunch was had in the worker’s canteen of Latvia’s Ministry of Agriculture [location].


Torņakalns [location]

The city collects fallen show to create a flat skiing course [location].



The monument for “Soviet troops, who liberated Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascists” (which is its official name), Uzvaras parks. Constructed in 1985, 79 meters tall. [location] [news story from Jan 2007]. This is one of the few public locations in Riga covered by CCTV.

Monument for “The Revolution of The Fifth Year” [location]; sits across road from The House of Artist’s Union (background), which houses the RIXC offices, my studio and accomodation.

View from accommodation (sunset). The frozen river with railway bridge in foreground [location], The second tallest European structure – Rīgas radio un televīzijas tornis (Riga Radio and TV Tower) – in far background [location]. The temperature inside is sweltering, despite the maximum daytime temperature today only reaching minus ten degrees Celsius. Spent the day becoming reacquainted with the city. Luggage finally arrives 28 hours after me; at last I have a hat to wear.
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This blog was originally created with support from At Home in Europe, to document residency time at Riga Centre for New Media Culture RIXC, Latvia. Full details here.
© 2007-08 Martin John Callanan, All Rights Reserved.




