Art Noveau building at the Alberta street in Riga

Autumn feelings at the Riga Canal Vecaki beach in wintertime Christmas Market at the Livu Square in Old Riga, 26.12.2010 Christmas Market at the Doma Square in Old Riga, 21.12.2010 Winter Solstice ritual in Old Riga, 21.12.2010 Yule Log Night, a traditional Latvian event celebrating the winter solstice and the re-birth of the Sun, took place in Old Town on the 21st December. The ritual started at the Dome Square, the heart of Old Riga. Ķekatas – people dressed in beast costumes – get together singing songs that are aimed to send away evil spirits.They drag the log across the town to collect all bad and evil that has accumulated here throughout the year. Later they return to the square and set the log afire, celebrating the new solar year with good spirits. Roots of this tradition go back to pagan times, when winter and summer solstice were the most essential dates in the agricultural calendar of our ancestors. Watch this panorama with sound here – http://www.virtuallatvia.lv/Tours/WinterSolstice/Tour.html View from the 150 m high platform of the Riga TV tower Ice fishing on the Lielupe River Christmas Candle bridge at the Roses Square in Liepaja Snow machine at work, Riekstukalns skiing resort Christmas spice-cake houses in the centre of Liepaja Natural ice sculpture at Bolderaja beach in Riga At the speakers place of plenary chamber of the Latvian parliament in Riga Street performers in Old Riga Autumn in Kronvalda Park, Riga Take-off at the International Air-balloon competition “Valmiera Cup” Bird’s-eye view from the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Riga Residents of the Museum of Foreign Art in Riga Castle Fire engine “Ford Vairogs” (1939) at the antique car show during Riga Days 2010 Soviet heavy transport helicopter Mi-6 at the Riga Aviation Museum Cabin of helicopter Mi-6, Riga Aviation Museum Following the sun at “Shamanistan” in Lilaste At the camp of Russian, French and Prussian armies getting ready for a reconstruction battle during the historic war festival Dunamunde 2010 in Bolderaja, Riga Ancient Latgalians at Araisi lake dwelling site Dancing with birds at the 10th Latvian Youth Song and Dance Festival in Riga At the stage during the 24th Latvian Song and Dance Festival, Riga, 2008 Last instructions before the performance of wind bands Reconstruction of the 18th century Duchess’ dress at Rundale Palace Last moments before the 18th century opera performance at Rundale Palace Baroque opera performance at Rundale Palace Clowns David & Vlad at Riga Circus Horses meet you at the entrance to the ancient world of the “Semigallian days” in Tervete “Compagnie with balls” at the Fishermen feast in Liepaja Vasiliy Boryayev’s photographic studio in Karosta, Liepaja Latvian band Gaujarts playing at the Fontaine Fire Bar in Liepaja. Watch this panorama with sound here – http://www.virtuallatvia.lv/Tours/Gaujarts-Fontaine/tour.html Inside the Karosta prison in Liepaja