Post-Christmas Riga

After having lost the article last night, after 'accidental' page refresh, got a bit smarter and installed 2 firefox plug-ins to auto save everything I write into text fields. So if 1 of them fails, I'll have the other one. Though I hope, that I won't experience such major losses anymore.

Last article before the year round-up article, which I've been slowly starting to think about. While taking walks around the city. Though being dressed like a snowman is inconvenient, and after a while I become like a snowman myself(in sense of becoming frozen). Though this week with -5°C during daytime is not as bad as previous week.

Starting off with this large decoration. When first saw from a far, I thought it was a large chocolate cake ^^; Wouldn't mind eating such though ^^; It is going to be around until few days after New Years celebration, that's usually when all the Christmas decorations are being removed.

Realized there is a couple in front of the decoration, only after I had taken the picture. But I guess, they won't mind ^^; It adds a little bit more to the Christmas feeling.

I think I wouldn't lie, if I told that for all Western society, Christmas is a family celebration, not really sure about Asian society, but as far as I know it's couple oriented holidays. And as for New Year's celebration, then it's usually done with friends, doing all the fireworks and stuff, really exciting.

A retro bar on the corner. Looks like as if it was taken from an old American movie.. And there is snow everywhere, even on the streets. It was also a holiday for cleaners I guess. ^^; This made me realize how much we depend on all the 'dirty' work doers. Without them, leading daily routines would be impossible.

Some more Christmas decorations and snow.

For those who wonder what this 'steam' is, then it's the air I breathed out. Usually it would be blown away by the wind, but there was no wind at all :O which is rare. I'm not complaining though, because without wind it's warmer, especially when it's freezing temperatures outside.

Some Christmas set-up outside the restaurant.

A man waiting for salvation to come from the sky. Or did he see an NLO? :O

Some more 'steam' ^^;

Sushi restaurant "Planet Sushi" on the right. Tastes worst than some other Japanese restaurants around the city though.

That sign on the gate says "Christmas fair". There are 3 big over the city, but each year they sell the same things, so recently less and less people have been shopping there. They have a serious lack of imagination in my humble opinion.

Decided to take Christmas trees around the center and old city. This is inside the Christmas fair.

And this is in front of government office. The largest obviously ^^;

Had taken pictures of 2 more, in front of town hall and in front of St. Peter's church. But having walked for too long, my hands had become somewhat frozen and the images came out to be completely blurred. That's when I decided to go inside to warm up a bit. ^^

This is supposed to be a waterfall ^^; Though no water can be seen flowing down. Actually, there is a small pool at the bottom of it, but there was no place to get further from this thing, so couldn't take the whole picture of it.

A nice set-up. Thought the text on the paintings was written in kanji, but then changed my mind. Traditional Chinese? Anyone can read it? ^^;

If not mistaken, this is Blackheads house built during Hansa trading union period. 17th or 18th century? Not sure though.

A snow pyramid ^^; Actually, it's built from metal and glass, and serves as an entry to underground parking.

I think this is an embassy, not sure which one though. From the looks, it's not US embassy, because it's heavily guarded, while here there are no guards patrolling. Though maybe they are having late lunch or dinner?

Some more 'road action' by cars ^^; and some street decorations for the round-up.

All in all, I think people are a bit more busy now than they are in pre-Christmas period. Now, they're not busy with shopping and such. But many want to finish all the work before New Year, and all the general cleanings and such. To freshly start the new year.