Wednesday 24 December 2008

Illusion of windows


Many years ago this wall has been painted with windows to give more homey feel to the house. You can spot it on Gogoļa street in Riga.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Sunday 21 December 2008

Protection of nature


This old mural was devoted for the society for protection of nature and cultural monuments of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. Located in Āgenskalns suburb of Riga the mural has survived all these years. Probably because it was not directly political and also because it's not that appealing area for consumer advertising.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Thursday 18 December 2008

Old milepost



This milepost on Slokas street in Riga holds two traffic lights and a bell that makes you think that they are at least 50 years old and haven't been used for a long while. It is unclear whenever they still work, but the milepost also holds two modern road signs. In fact this milepost is for a fire brigade that is located just next to it.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Wednesday 17 December 2008

Chocolate and juice


The display of chocolate and juice in the window of this Pārdaugava's shop recalls the 1980s.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Tuesday 16 December 2008

Photo service

The old neon sign "photo" (in Russian) signifies that in Soviet times there was a photo service in on Melnsila street in Riga.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Monday 15 December 2008

Stomatological rebus


This indigestible mural decoration can be found at the Institute of stomatology on Dzirdziema street in Riga.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Tuesday 9 December 2008

Kaleju street




In general, the Old town of Riga is straight and tidy and it's not that easy to find something that would stand out, except maybe the ruins of chemistry faculty. I took these images at the end of Kalēju street.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Sunday 7 December 2008

Motherland




The image of mother was explored quite heavily in Soviet Union, especially in Latvia where the society is quite matriarchal. Such sculptural objects and paintings symbolized the wealthy, caring and loving motherland. These two images are from Līvāni and Daugavpils.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Saturday 6 December 2008

Post office is gone


About a couple of months ago I posted photos of the same area where not all of the buildings of main postal office were destroyed. Today there's nothing that remainds that anything ever existed here before.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Tuesday 2 December 2008

Baby for sale


It looks like this shop window in Rēzekne signals that "a baby is for sale".
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus