WC in 1995

In 1995 I took quite a few photos of private and public toilets in Latvia, mainly Riga and Liepāja. I wonder how many toilets can be found in the same state fifteen years later...
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

The fight

This memorial plate on A.Briana street in Riga says that "here in this house an illegal printing house was publishing the communist party's newspaper Cīņa (The Fight)". The plate dates back to Soviet times as in context of today's political conjuncture such fact is of no significance. All political parties, including the communist party, were banned during the president's K.Ulmanis dictatorship between 1934 and 1940.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Glass bottle recycling on Daugavpils street

This is an old glass bottle recycling point on Daugavpils street in Riga. Perhaps it still functions but then the work hours timetable is lying as it was closed during the day. Interestingly, the point is on the basement floor and the window is so low, thus you would need to stand on the knees to pass your bottles to the collector.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Hoarfrost in Riga

For the last few days the weather in Riga has been cold (around -15C) and sunny, so hoarfrost can bee seen on trees and bushes.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Ambulance garage

The Soviet times neon lights on Tallinas street in Riga indicates that there's a base for ambulance cars. I don't know whenever the base is still operational as the most of the former base area has been rented out as garages.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus

Vai

This old mural can be found on A.Briana street in Riga. In the screen that has been painted over you can still notice three big letters VAI. It's not only "oh" in Latvian, but is also short for Soviet times state vehicle inspection (Valsts autoinspekcija).
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus