Saturday 28 February 2009

Hull nr. 25






Stradini hospital in Riga is spread over several buildings within a quite large territory. The age and condition varies from hull to hull. For instance, the oculist department in the hull nr 25 looks just like in 1970s.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Thursday 26 February 2009

Movie props




The Cinema studio of Riga in Šmerlis owns quite a lot of movie props. This is a place where things rise memories of our own past, from childhood toys to forgotten books.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Monday 23 February 2009

Public phone


Such public telephones were used all over the Soviet Union in the past but nowadays you won't find them even in Russia. However, I have seen them still operating in Transnistria (Moldova) before and now, surprisingly, also in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Friday 20 February 2009

Dry-cleaning

It takes an effort to spot this old mural on Tērbatas street in Riga. It advertises dry-cleaning services in Latvian and Russian. Its old font suggests the ad probably dates back to 1920s.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Tuesday 17 February 2009

Radiotehnika









The factory Rīgas Radio Rūpnīca (RRR), also know as Radiotehnika, was a major radio and vinyl record player producer in Soviet Latvia. The original factory disappeared together with the Soviet Union and today its name has been used for a company that produces acoustic systems only. However old RRR's radios, vinyl and cassette players can still be found in quite a lot of homes in ex-USSR countries. The photos above are of Radiotehnika's product lines in 1970ies.
Photos - Latinform

Monday 9 February 2009

Icarus


The guy who looks like Icarus hasn't flew off the house on Pērses street in Riga for last 20 years at least.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Thursday 5 February 2009

Pelmeni


This sign on the wall on Marijas street in Riga invites passers-by to visit canteen "Pelmeni" and currency exchange. However, none of the places operate anymore.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus