Saturday 18 February 2012

Friday 17 February 2012

Second language







On 18 February citizens of Latvia will vote in a referendum whether the Russian language should have an official status in Latvia. In reality Russian is already a second language in Latvia as it is commonly used all around.
Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Friday 3 February 2012

Inflation 2


In the photo above you see prices for cigarettes today. Below - what the smokes used to cost two years ago. As you see, prices have gone up, for instance, a pack of Winston was 1,52 LVL, now - 1,80 LVL. Some cigarettes have also been discontinued in Latvia, such as Elita and Prince.


Photos by (c) Arnis Balcus

Thursday 2 February 2012

Cheap perfume


Sakta, Sasha, Russian wood, Red Moscow - these are brands of perfumes at a market in Riga. Price starts at 1 EUR. I believe most of it is consumed internally by homeless alcoholics to whom this liquid is cheaper (but stronger) than, for instance, vodka. Thanks to alcoholics the cheap perfume industry has survived the Soviet Union, European Union and economical crisis, and might live forever.
Photo by (c) Arnis Balcus