Many years ago a new company emerged in Latvia: Stenders Soap Factory. Today they produce natural soap, bath salt and bubbles and many more interesting cosmetics products.

Perhaps you have seen soap from Stenders in Latvian shopping malls or even in one of its franchises worldwide. If not, check out website www.stenders.lv – with lots of soap production images and descriptions.

Thanks to author of this image: Helmuts

European Winter Windsurf Cup 2009 takes place in Latvia, town of Aluksne.

The events begin on Friday, 2nd January, and continues until January 4th, Sunday.

Visit www.winterwindsurf.com for more winter windsurfing news.

Thanks to author of this image: Murat Vardar

Good news for all the sky watchers and stargazers – from December 2008 a new observatory is now available to the public. It’s a private one, and it doesn’t host a giant telescope, but a pretty good one too: 16 inch Meade, a little monster ideal for hunting depths of Space!

Observatory is open to public observations and related stuff, you will find it on a way from Riga to Sigulda, search for a place “Rāmkalni”. Also check out their website www.ramkalni.lv, there’s lots more to discover!

This one in picture is our “professional” observatory at mount Riekstukalns, in town Baldone. It features Schmidt telescope built in Germany in late 1966, it’s a biggest telescope in Latvia – a whopping 1.2 meters in diameter!

Thanks to author of this image: sandra@rk.lv

Well, yes, there are still remote places on planet Earth where you fall in horror opening the doors of “WC”. One of the places is Latvia – we still have too many “shit holes” and “dumpsters” around our country. That’s a shame, a shame to country and our government (local municipalities).

Because if you’re a self loving tourist, you wouldn’t want to mess up in a place like this. So called public toilets are in embarrasing state – yes, they’re ok in Riga, but out on rural areas or small towns, or train stations along beloved sites by tourists, hell yeah, don’t use public toilets if nature calls, instead search for one in a cafe or shopping mall.

Thanks to author of this image: rrreeegggeeerrr

How much for tobacco products in Riga? There was a rumor that prices on cigarettes will go up 70% from 1st December, 2008. But it’s not true, prices are still as they were – about 1.40 Lats for Marlboro, and other brands between 1 and 2 Lats (around 2 British pounds / 2 to 3 Euros).

So feel free and give your lung cancer more to feed on, Latvia has plenty of it!

Note: this picture shows prices two years ago.

Thanks to author of this image: simonyfrontsjones

This is our famous cat, a “Black Cat” (Melnais Kaķis) – on the roof of building in Riga Old Town on Meistaru street 10/12.

There’s a pub right now, where you can also watch sports channels, play some arcade games, snooker, darts, etc.

Thanks to author of this image: Chimborazo

Today you can pay with your credit card in almost all shops located in Latvia. Riga for sure, and almost in every village now too.

Shops accept all types of credit and debit cars: VISA, MasterCard, Maestro, American Express. But anyway, it’s wise to always have some cash with you too.

Thanks to author of this image: tm_lv

Where have all the sexy Latvian girls gone? They’re still here! Only it’s that cold and rainy weather, and women now dress more according to needs than looks. Yes, if you were lucky enough to visit Riga in summer or spring, you must have fallen in love with almost every pretty woman that passed you by on street. This is true, here we have one of the most beautiful women in world, due to mixture of many nationalities (Latvians, Russians, Polish, Lithuanians, German, etc).

And it’s no secret, there’s a great deal of tourists who come to Riga just because looking for sexual adventures. But not all find them, except the ones who visit “titty bars” and other shady places. You need to know one thing – Latvian girls aren’t stupid or even sluts – they are just like any other woman in world, only nature has blessed us with more beauty and cursed with tons of sex-tourists or ugly staggers.

So next time you visit Riga, please be polite with our women and don’t look for a quicky – and you will see how beautiful and intelligent they really are :)

Author of this image: alekseyz

How does the frozen Gulf of Riga look like? Pretty cold and windy! This image is a perfect example how Baltic Sea used look during cold winters. Yes, i said “used” – nova days nobody can’t remember when was the last time the Baltic Sea or just the Gulf of Riga was frozen. A global warming to blame? Perhaps, or it’s just another cycle of “small ice ages” occurring here and there in Europe. At the moment temperature in Riga is around +3 degrees Celsius during daytime. Not much of a winter..

Anyway, I hope that atleast our Gulf will freeze this winter and I will get the change to make pictures like this and even try to skate on real Baltic ice!

Author of this image: PhillC

Here’s a quick list of countries that don’t need visa to enter Latvia:

Andorra, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Bulgaria,
Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark,
Estonia,
Finland, France,
Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Hong Kong SAR,
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan,
Korea,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, Monaco,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway,
Poland, Portugal,
Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
United Kingdom, United States of America,
Vatican.

And here’s the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, in case you need more info: www.am.gov.lv

Author of this image: Temperance