lat an eye on london maris strombergs riga/gatewayriga_1_201… · 100% fluent english. ... in 1922...
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Business hours: +371 6721 4272
A�er business hours: +371 2839 0346 +371 2613 8791
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Address:Teatra iela 2,Old TownRiga, LV-1050Latvia
Take your free copy! w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
Maris Strombergs: Latvia's golden boyMaris Strombergs: Latvia's golden boy
The mighty lat
An eye on London
Fighting for your rights
The mighty lat
An eye on London
Fighting for your rights
Co
nT
en
Ts
4 TrADITIons The mighty lat
10 TrAvel people Maris strombergs:
latvia's golden boy
16 eConoMY fighting for your rights
18 BUsIness feATUre Innovative latvians
20 fAMoUs ToWn The city that thinks and creates
26 DIsCoverY Maskačka
32 AIrlIne In foCUs follow the leader
34 DesTInATIon An eye on london
40 rIGA InTernATIonAl AIrporT
passenger numbers using
riga International Airport
are now sky high
A W
or
D f
ro
M T
He
CH
AI
rM
An
The ultimate goal for us at
RIGA International Airport
is to continue our growth
and become one of the
leading air traffic hubs in
Northern Europe. For 2010,
however, we will keep our growth steady; we plan to wel-
come more than 4.5 million passengers this year, strengthen-
ing our position in the North European air traffic market.
For almost two years now, the results of European airports
have generally been negative with a total decline of almost
13 percent. Yet RIGA International Airport has managed to
improve its performance, its turnover growing by 10 percent
in 2009. This demonstrates that the crisis brings new oppor-
tunities and we have managed to put these to good use.
Riga is one of very few capital cities in Europe with an
airport that reported growth in 2009. Those in neighbouring
capitals closed the year with falling passenger traffic, 27 per-
cent down in Tallinn and 36 percent down in Vilnius. In
July 2009, for the first time in the history of its operations,
RIGA International Airport exceeded 400,000 passengers in a
single month.
Over the last five years, we have increased passenger traffic
fourfold to over four million. This is partly because we are
one of the lowest-cost airports in the North European region.
RIGA International Airport has also achieved excellent
results in ground handling. One of the most important quali-
ty indicators of an airport’s work anywhere in the world is
punctuality of service. We reached 98 percent in this indica-
tor in 2009, which is close to perfection and demonstrates
the high quality of the airport’s services.
It has certainly been an eventful 12 months. In May 2009,
the airport won the prestigious Routes and OAG (Official
Airline Guide) Airport Marketing Award in Europe as the best
airport in Scandinavia and the Baltic, leaving those in
Copenhagen and Stockholm behind. And, at the 19th ACI
Europe General Assembly in 2009, I had the pleasure of
being elected to the Board of ACI Europe.
Enjoy your time at RIGA International Airport!
Krisjanis Peters
Chairman of the Board
of RIGA International Airport
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 G A T E W A Y r I G A 3
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The mighty latlatvia's national currency has become big news all over the world
T r A D I T I o n s
Phot
os c
ourt
esy
of th
e Ba
nk o
f Lat
via
Latvia was immediately swallowed up
by the Latvia Republican Office of the
State Bank of the USSR. The exchange
rate of the Latvian lats to the Russian
ruble was set at a rather convenient
1:1 with both currencies operating in
tandem until, without warning, the
lats was withdrawn from circulation
just four months later. As if this
wasn't bad enough for Latvian citi-
zens, German occupation in June
1941 lead to the forced introduction
of more grossly unfair monetary poli-
cy. Reichsmarks came into circulation
with an absurd exchange rate of 10
rubles to just one reichsmarks. The
German government of occupation
effectively bagged most of the money
in Latvia for themselves.
nised as legal tender until, in March
of the following year, the Latvian
ruble was born. Using denominations
of rubles and kopecks, the Latvian
ruble existed alongside Russian and
German currencies as legal tender.
In 1922 the Latvian lats was intro-
duced, although the Latvian ruble
remained in circulation alongside
the new currency. The lats remained
the national currency until 1940
although one interesting fact is that
all Latvian bank notes were actually
printed in the United Kingdom dur-
ing the period 1924 to 1938.
lat-itude east and westWhen Latvia was occupied by the
Red Army in 1940, the Bank of
With ongoing talk of a possible
devaluation of the lats and the con-
sequences this sudden shock might
have on other currencies, many of
the world's top financiers and finan-
cial publications have become rather
obsessive about Latvia's national cur-
rency of late. But how did the lats
get to this point in history?
Historical perspectiveWith the end of the First World
War and the proclamation of the
Republic of Latvia this young fledg-
ling country had to make some very
rapid and big decisions. One of
these was about money. Initially,
three foreign currencies were recog-
All latvian bank notes were actu-ally printed in the United Kingdom during the period 1924 to 1938.
6 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
as the State Treasury, thus control-
ling every aspect of the Latvian
monetary system.
For more than forty years things
continued pretty much as they were
until in 1987, with the onset of
glasnost, the Latvia Republican
Office of the State Bank of the
USSR was renamed the Latvia
Republican Bank of the State Bank
of the USSR. This was not as major
a change as it seemed, however,
as the new entity did not become
a 'real' central bank overnight.
Instead, it was in March 1990
that the Bank of Latvia once again
same same but differentWhen the Germans left and the
Soviets returned Latvia was once
again incorporated into the Soviet
financial system. The State Bank of
the USSR, known as the Gosbank,
both issued money and functioned
German occupation in June 1941 lead to the forced intro-duction of more gross-ly unfair monetary policy
Whatever happens, these will cer-
tainly continue to be interesting times
for the Latvian national currency. And
in the context of what went before in
the 1920s, '40s and '80s the Latvian
lats' problems of the current day
remain relatively tame for now.
more and more links with the EU
countries. Limiting the lats exchange
rate volatility against the euro will
reduce currency risks and costs in
business with those countries and
contribute to achieving the goal of
price stability.”
rate since December 30, 2004 has
been: 1 euro = 0.702804 lats
While some currencies such as
the British pound have devalued
overall against a basket of currencies
during the global economic crisis,
the lats has remained strong thanks
to its peg to the euro. Many ana-
lysts argue that this has been cata-
strophic for Latvia, but others warn
than taking away the current
lats:euro peg would cause financial
meltdown in the Baltics. The Bank
of Latvia's position is as follows:
“Pegging the lats to the euro is
also a logical step as the Latvian
trade and economy at large develop
much king in Latvia. Overall though,
we can see that the movement
towards a 'cashless society', and per-
haps a big brother style financial
system, is not as far away as we
might imagine.
According to the Bank of Latvia's
2009 statistics, banknotes constitute
94.3 percent of all cash in circula-
tion in Latvia, while coins total just
58.3 million lats (or 5.7 per cent).
The most popular note is the
20-lats, which accounts for over half
of all notes in circulation, while
1-lats coins make up a similar per-
centage for the number of coins in
circulation.
Opposite is a table provided by
the Bank of Latvia, which shows the
banknotes in circulation as of the
1st of January 2008 and 2009
respectively:
became an independent national
bank for the first time in decades.
Almost 18 months later it became a
central bank with the right to issue
national currency.
A temporary currency – the
Latvian ruble – was initially used in
1992 as the only legal tender. Then,
in March 1993, the Latvian lats
finally came into its own becoming
the recognised national currency of
the Republic of Latvia.
Cashless society?It is estimated that cash accounts
for about 20 per cent of all money
existing in Latvia. This figure per-
haps seems low, but when you com-
pare the total proportion of cash in
circulation to 7 per cent in the USA
and only 5 percent in the UK, one
can appreciate that cash still is very
It is estimated that cash accounts for about 20 per cent of all money existing in latvia
Banknotes in Circulation1 January 2008 1 January 2009 Relative change
in the amount (%)
Amount (in thousands of lats) Percentage Amount
(in thousands of lats) Percentage
Ls 5 73 922.3 7.4% 70 781.2 7.2% -4.2%
Ls 10 79 128.0 8.0% 73 773.3 7.7% -6.8%
Ls 20 458 352.4 46.1% 485 291.7 50.6% 5.9%
Ls 50 68 481.4 6.9% 73 888.9 7.7% 7.9%
Ls 100 170 275.0 17.1% 145 212.0 15.2% -14.7%
Ls 500 143 412.5 14.5% 110 872.0 11.6% -22.7%
Total banknotes 993 571.6 100% 959 819.1 100% -3.4%
The lats and the euroThe relationship between the lats
and the euro has been discussed by
everyone from George Soros to the
senior writers of the Financial Times.
Pegging the lats to the euro has
meant that the lats' value against
the euro has been fixed. The official
8 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
Quick cash facts• Each coin, depending on its
denomination, manages "to visit"
the Bank of Latvia 2 to 5 times
on average per year.
• In 2006, 26.8 million worn and
damaged banknotes were with-
drawn from circulation
• 13,600 2-lats coins struck in
1992 and 1993 were withdrawn
from circulation in 2001
• The life of 5-lats banknotes,
which get the greatest use, is
the shortest
• The most commonly counterfeit
note or coin is the 1-lat coin
Battling the counterfeitersThink it is easy to counterfeit
money? Here is a list of the secu-
rity features incorporated in the
latest Latvian notes:
• Metallic clear text window
thread
• Watermark
• Vertical relief band
• See-through register
• Latent image
• Invisible fluorescent fibres
• Micro text
• Intaglio printing on steel plates
• Secret printing ink
• Anti-copier background printing
• Colour-shifting ink
• Embedded mark
• Thermal effect
• Transparent window
Table used courtesy of the Bank of Latvia
G A T E W A Y r I G A 11
Everybody now knows you as the
young, good looking BMX gold
medallist from Latvia who lives in
California. But how did your story
begin?
I was born in 1987 in Valmiera.
My mum is originally from Tukums
and my father is from Cesvaine, but
they moved to Valmiera to start a
new life together.
The thing I remember most of all
about growing up was riding my
bike when I was a kid. When I was
five and a half my dad took me to
the local BMX track. To be honest, I
remember crying because it really
wasn't something I wanted to do,
but here I am still racing BMX
17 years later.
What prompted your father to
take you down to the track in the
first place?
My parents' friend's son rode a BMX.
He was ranked first in Latvia at the
time and the idea just came from there.
Did you feel any better the sec-
ond time you went back to the
track?
Actually, I still didn't like it the sec-
ond time. But after a week or two
away from the track I started to ask
my dad if he would take me back
there. The thing was, he never pushed
me. He gave me the opportunity but
it was ultimately my choice.
When was your first big race?
My first big competitive race was in
1993 when I came fourth in Latvia.
Then, three years later, I won the
world championships aged 9.
How do you go from finishing
fourth in Latvia to world champion
in three years?
It's relatively easy for kids to prog-
ress in sport. The track was a 20
minute ride away from our family
house and I just practised all the
time. I remember that I had my
cycling helmet on before I even left
the house.
Which was the first major compe-
tition you won abroad?
The second time I competed abroad
I won in England at a competition in
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T r A v e l p e o p l e
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
The thing I remember most of all about growing up was riding my bike when I was a kid
Three of us trav-elled to China to represent latvia but most peo-ple back home thought I wouldn't handle the pressure
Latvia's golden boyMaris strombergs became the pride of latvia in 2008 when he won the coun-try's first olympic gold medal. He now lives in BMX-crazy California where he is considered by many to be the best at his sport in the world. Maris kindly took time in January, before returning to the Us, to talk exclusively to Gateway riga about his life and career.
Brighton. I became the first Latvian
to win the World Championships.
How did your life change with
that first big success?
Everybody started congratulating
me. I was a little kid though, so life
didn't change too much. Over the
next couple of years I had a few
third-placed and second-placed finish-
es. There were a number of quality
Phot
os c
ourt
esy
of M
aris
Str
ombe
rgs
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
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riders in Latvia and strong competi-
tion, so that kept me on my toes.
Did you get support from spon-
sors at that point?
I started to earn a little bit of
money for the first time at 17. At
that point you are competing in the
Junior Men competition. I finished
third in this when I was 17, and the
following season I became the
European Junior Champion.
I also picked up my main sponsor
at that age as you are classed as a
professional and no longer as an
amateur.
How did you find the transition
from amateur to professional?
I had three years racing in the
elite competition. The first year was
tough and I only finished 11th. But
in the second season I was runner up
and the following season I won the
European Championships, the World
Championships and then the
Olympic Games.
It's something that you have
doubtless been asked many times,
but how would you describe that
feeling as you crossed the finishing
line and knew you were the best at
your sport on the planet?
It is very hard to explain.
Unbelievable. My coach was crying. In
a way nobody expected it from me.
Three of us travelled to China to rep-
resent Latvia but most people back
home thought I wouldn't handle the
pressure. This meant there was very lit-
tle pressure on me. But honestly, it is
almost impossible to properly explain
that feeling you are talking about.
We talked about how things
changed when you won your first
championships. But it must have
been an almighty head spin when
you became Olympic champion?
Yes, definitely. Things changed a
lot. People back home started to take
much more interest in the sport of
BMX. When I came back from Beijing
I was 21, and there were a lot of
interviews. I guess I was often pretty
nervous with all that, but I am used
to it now. I often get recognised
When I am waiting at the gate for the race to begin I am full of nervous excitement
14 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 G A T E W A Y r I G A 15
when I am in Latvia. One restaurant
gave me a free pizza the other day!
As a sportsman, which is more
important to you – the Olympic or
World Championships title?
The Olympics is the biggest stage
in the sport but it is only held once
every four years. We also have the
ABA title in the US, which is the
most lucrative competition. But
in a regular season the World
Championships is the biggest
competition in status terms.
You are around 90 kilos and 1.85
metres tall. Many people who don't
know anything about the sport
might imagine it would be better
to be smaller and more agile...
You need power, speed and the
ability to move quickly. Explosive
power is essential so we do a lot
of red light work in the gym. We
always work on squats and sprints
and reaction times to the red
light.
Actually, there is no real optimum
size and weight. The third placed
guy in Beijing was very short, while
the other medallist is much taller
than me at 1.94 metres. Some
aspects of the sport are easier for
shorter competitors, while jumping is
easier when you are taller.
What is the 'buzz' for you in
BMX?
One lap is approximately 35 sec-
onds. One mistake, even a very small
one, can change everything. I guess it
is very intense. When I compete the
feeling I get is that I want to do it
more and more. When I am waiting
at the gate for the race to begin
I am full of nervous excitement.
I seem to get just the same nervous
excitement before every race.
What do you think you would
have done if you hadn't been so
talented at BMX?
When I was 10 I played basket-
ball. I still really like it. The first
thing I do in California in the
mornings is to have a look on NBA.
com and check the latest results.
I believe I will compete until I am
29, but I don't really know what
I will do after that.
How is life in the US? California
dreaming?
The US is fun. When I moved
there last January (January 2009) my
coach was with me for the first cou-
ple of months. He helped me get
settled with money, paperwork and
all that stuff. It was hard at first.
Then I was alone after four months
and I found that very hard. It is
much better to have your friends
over with you.
I am looking for a house now.
I live in a small city about one and
a half hours from L.A. The best thing
is the climate. In January it is plus 20
Celsius. When I came back to Latvia
this December it was minus 24.
One of my close friends is moving
over to the States shortly. I miss the
jokes that you enjoy with your close
friends and the language barrier
always plays a part, no matter how
good my English gets.
Now that you have spent a year
away from home what things about
Latvia seem different through a new
pair of spectacles, so as to speak,
when you return?
I think the main change is in
relationships. My sister and I have a
good relationship but we have really
bonded more since I moved away.
Maybe it is the quality time we
share together.
What is your nickname in the
States?
They call me 'the machine'. One
of the old school BMX guys said to
me, “You are the machine.” Then
one commentator referred to me as
'the machine', and the nickname has
stuck ever since. Some people call
me Mr Strongman.
You are a young man who has
been both Olympic and World
Champion. What motivates you
when you have already reached
the pinnacle of your sport?
There are two leagues in the
States – the NBA and the ABA.
I won the ABA last season but was
third in the ABA. The motivation is
to prove I deserved my medal in
Beijing and that I can be the best
in both leagues. There is also a
huge motivation until the next
Olympics in two years' time, when
I want to defend my title. Next
time round it will be the opposite
to Beijing with lots of pressure on
me. I'm still young so there
shouldn’t be any motivation prob-
lems. BMX is my life; I wake up
with thoughts about BMX and I go
to sleep with thoughts about BMX.
What have been the single big-
gest positive and negative effects
that have come with your success?
My life is moving in the right
direction. My goal was to move to
the States and to prove I was wor-
thy of being called a champion.
After BMX I still don't know what I
will do. I like coming home to
Latvia, so I might yet end up here.
But right now my life is all about
BMX racing…
one of the old school BMX guys said to me, “You are the machine.”
My goal was to move to the states and to prove I was worthy of being called a champion
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e C o n o M Y
Fighting for your rights
Gateway Riga spoke to Sanita
Gertmane, the Head of the
Consumer Information and
Communications Department of the
Consumer Rights Protection Centre
of Latvia to get a clearer picture of
what consumers should do if they
are not satisfied with the goods or
services they purchase.
What are the legal bodies in
Latvia in the area of consumer
rights protection?
The main Consumer Protection
organization in Latvia is the
Consumer Rights Protection Centre.
It is a state authority under the
Ministry of Economics, and deals
with such issues as: individual com-
plaint handling, protection of con-
sumer collective interests, air passen-
ger rights supervision, market surveil-
lance in the non-food Sector etc. As
well as this, the CRPC is a host
organization for the European
Consumer Protection Network (ECC
NET). This means that we can also
assist EU citizens who experience
trouble with some goods and services
here in Latvia.
What is thejurisdiction of the
CRPC?
The CRPC is a state Authority. It
enjoys legal powers that enables it to
Consumers in latvia are now better protected than ever before
also a lot of complaints about pack-
age tour travel companies.
In 2009 the trends regarding the
complaints changed very significantly.
Many consumers are now complain-
ing about everyday goods like shoes,
mobile phones, electric appliances
and computers. And certainly the
number of complaints about credit
and banking policies have increased
3 times in number.
So this means that the complaints
reflect those issues that are actual for
consumers at the present moment.
Could you put some numbers
on that?
Statistics shows that during 2009,
we received almost 3000 complaints
and provided more then 55,000 con-
sultations.
Is the situation improving? Is
customer service improving?
On one hand, the situation is
improving because consumers are
becoming more and more informed.
We see that from our everyday work
and we also try to inform and
increase the consumer information
level. But, on the other hand, we
see that the economic crisis is hit-
ting many industries and that means
that traders are not so friendly and
service oriented to the consumers.
Therefore, sometimes it becomes
enforce binding decisions. This
means that traders are obliged to fol-
low any such decisions or appeal
against them in the courts.
What can a consumer do if they
are not happy about something?
First of all, if a consumer is not
happy regarding some good or ser-
vice purchased, the problem should
be negotiated with the seller. This is
usually the best way to solve the
problem. I have to admit, however,
that we have observed a trend in
very many cases involving consum-
ers and traders where they are just
not able to stick to a consistent dia-
logue, and then the case comes to
our office. In such instances it
sometimes takes up to 4 month to
resolve a dispute.
What has changed in the last
few years in regard to consumer
rights in Latvia?
Yes, we have noticed some trends
and changes during previous years
compared to the present moment.
The number of complaints is grow-
ing every year but types of com-
plaints and cases differ. For example,
a few years ago when there was a
very active building and real estate
market, consumers were complaining
about construction services and real
estate purchase contracts. There were
statistics shows that during 2009, we received almost 3000 complaints and provid-ed more then 55,000 consulta-tions
We are happy that rIX under-stands the meaning of air passen-gers rights and that the airport actively supports the con-sumer infor-mation campaign "speak up!"
The num-ber of com-plaints is growing every year but types of complaints and cases differ
quiet tough for consumers to imple-
ment their rights.
What are standards like in
Latvia compared to other coun-
tries?
There are the same directives and
legislation in power throughout the
EU, but some norms are more speci-
fied. However, some problems are
related to the implementation of the
legislation and, for example, a lack
of budget resources devoted as well
as mutual understanding between
consumers and traders.
Any positive examples?
There are quite a lot of positive
examples. One of those, we think, is
the decision issued by the CRPC
regarding unfair contract terms and
unfair penalties. This can save con-
sumers a lot of money.
What is the situation with
regard to Riga International
Airport?
There are not any big cases
regarding RIX. We are happy that
RIX understands the meaning of air
passengers rights and that the airport
actively supports the consumer infor-
mation campaign "Speak up!". RIX
currently displays the posters to
inform people about their air passen-
ger rights.
Phot
os c
ourt
esy
of th
e C
onsu
mer
Rig
hts
Prot
ectio
n C
entr
e of
Lat
via,
Jus
tin W
alle
y an
d S
anita
Ger
tman
e
Con
sum
er p
rote
ctio
n im
ages
cou
rtes
y of
Jus
tin W
alle
y
B U s I n e s s f e A T U r eTheir newly developed
PrimeComposite concrete offers
increased toughness and durability
in a thinner and more economical
floor. In addition to Latvia,
Primekss has companies in
Sweden, Finland, Norway, Estonia,
and Poland, where Primekss seam-
less floors are being used more
and more for factories, warehouses
and large stores.
For more information:
www.primekss.com
2009 runners upDores fabrika ltd.
Dores fabrika combines old tradi-
tions with new technologies to cus-
tom-build modern log houses with
up-to date designs. Their unique
glued-wood timbers and innovative
joint designs offer unprecedented
eco-friendly structures that are
weather-tight under the harshest
winter or summer conditions.
Dores has the most modern factory
of its kind in Europe and can pro-
duce 350 log houses a year, mostly
for export.
For more information:
www.dores.lv
2009 Third placeMetrum ltd.
Metrum is an international
land surveying and territory plan-
ning company. Using aerial-pho-
togrammetry and laser scanning,
Metrum has become the market
leader, and has completed proj-
ects for the Latvian coast line,
forest territories and the city of
Riga. It is the first company in
Eurasia to develop and offer an
innovative aerial obstacle map-
ping system.
For more information:
www.metrum.lv
to development, top-line growth
and improved profit margins.
Currently the global leaders in
innovation are, in ascending order:
South Korea, the United States,
Japan, Sweden and the Netherlands.
South Korea and Japan are world
renowned for their track records on
innovation particularly in the field
of new technology, while the
United States has, historically, had
the biggest pockets, allowing it to
attract some of the world's finest
young and established talent. The
examples of Sweden and the
Netherlands, however, remind us
that smaller, forward thinking coun-
tries, that thrive on efficient new
ways of thinking, can also lead the
way in the innovation stakes. It is
the Swedish and Dutch success sto-
ries that must spur Latvia on to a
brighter future.
One organisation actively work-
ing to improve business innovation
in this country is the Investment
and Development Agency of Latvia
(LIAA). Founded soon after Latvia's
regained independence in the early
90's the LIAA supports companies
in Latvia trading internationally, as
well as overseas businesses seeking
partners or locations in Latvia.
Together with the Latvian Ministry
of Economics the LIAA has created
an annual award for the compa-
nies recognised as making the
greatest strides in the area of busi-
ness innovation. The “2009 Export
and Innovation Award” has the
goals of 'contributing to the com-
petitive capacity of Latvian partner-
ships in Latvian and in foreign
markets, the promotion of growth
in the quality and quantity of
exports, the generation of products
with high added value, and the
promotion of innovation by evalu-
ating the results of the partner-
ships and identifying successful
partnerships and products.'
Three Latvian companies were
honoured in 2009 for their develop-
ment of innovative products and
practices. Here is a brief look at the
best placed companies in the “2009
Innovative Product” awards:
2009 Winnersprimekss ltd.
Primekss is an industrial flooring
specialist that has utilized research
and development to create the
world’s most innovative, durable,
and cost-effective concrete floors.
Innovative LatviansInnovation by latvian businesses is helping open the door to a brighter future
Phot
os c
ourt
esy
of L
ETA
and
LIA
A
Innov a-tion can be found not just in business but also in the arts, design and even in the fundamen-tal way we think about processes
It is the swedish and Dutch success stories that must spur latvia on to a brighter future
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 G A T E W A Y r I G A 1918 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
Innovation is the key to future busi-
ness development and prosperity.
But what exactly do we understand
by innovation? Perhaps it is best
easily explained as finding new or
more efficient ways of doing things.
Innovation can be found not just in
business but also in the arts, design
and even in the fundamental way
we think about processes. We might
imagine innovation as the creation
of an idea, the resultant transforma-
tion of that mental object for its
useful purposes and then finally its
implementation into the real world.
Focusing on business we can con-
clude, briefly, that innovation leads
20 G A T E W A Y r I G A
f A M o U s T o W n
vidzeme's largest town is a community on the rise
The city that thinks and creates
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
most of Latvia as well as neighbours
Estonia (only 50 kilometres away),
Valmiera has seen the largest manu-
facturing and commercial enterprises
in the region set up home in and
around the town.
Historical perspective Dating back to the thirteenth
century a quick synopsis of its
valmiera has seen the largest manufactur-ing and commercial enterprises in the region set up home in and around the town
Val
mei
ra p
hoto
s co
urte
sy o
f Lat
vian
Tou
rism
Dev
elop
men
t Age
ncy
long termism prevailsBack in the mid 1990's few towns
or villages in the Baltics had the
foresight to begin planning ahead for
the long term future. Short termism
ruled. But not in the case of
Valmiera.
Vidzeme's largest town began
developing as a business and admin-
istrative centre with significant invest-
ment set aside for culture, arts and
sports projects. In 1996 Vidzeme
University College was founded.
Blessed with good transport links to
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 G A T E W A Y r I G A 2322 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
absorbing history helps explain
why the town is on the rise
today:
After first being coveted by the
Bishop of Riga in 1214, Valmiera
soon became a key stronghold of
the Livonian Order, with a castle
being built to help ensure that the
local Talavians were kept in check.
In the following century it became
part of the region's most powerful
trading organization – the Hanseatic
League. And despite tragedies and
disasters such as the bubonic plague
killing many in the town in the
1620s and the Russian army sacking
the town less than a century later,
Valmiera always remained one of
Tourism aplentySituated adjacent to the banks of
the Gauja River, Valmiera is more
than a business, administrative and
student town. This is also a town
blessed by exciting night life; a com-
munity with many of its own fascinat-
ing tourism sites, which stands tanta-
lisingly on the door step of the stun-
ningly beautiful Gauja National Park.
Back in Valmiera itself, the follow-
ing places are worth checking out if
you are planning a trip to Vidzeme's
most happening town:
st. simon's ChurchThe medieval St Simon's church(also
known as Simona Church) dates back
to 1283. It was reconstructed in 1729,
and later served as a concert hall dur-
ing the Soviet era. Many tombstones
date back up to 500 years, while the
church itself is adorned by a number
of 18th century paintings.
There are stunning views of the
town and its environs from the
church's tower.
the region's most important trading
posts thanks to its location on
direct roads pointing to Pskov,
Tallinn and Novgorod. In more
recent times the construction of a
mainline train station and a direct
rail link to Riga ensured that this
trading post of old has very much
become a trading post of new.
valmiera always remained one of the region's most impor-tant trading posts
valmiera is more than a business, administra-tive and stu-dent town
livonian order ruinsValmiera's 13th century Livonian
Order castle was burnt down dur-
ing the Great Northern War of
1702. Its ruins are well worth
a stroll around.
old pharmacyThe grand old Pharmacy, built in
1735, is the oldest wooden building
in Valmiera and the 2nd oldest phar-
macy in Latvia.
soviet memorialThis huge memorial park began
life in 1985. It is one of the largest
of its kind in the Baltics and stands
further information:www.valmiera.lv/Telephone: +371 64207177E-mail: [email protected]
Getting there:Valmiera is easily reached by
bus or train from Riga. Direct
trains link the Latvian capital to
Valmiera. If you are coming by
road then take the A2 towards
Sigulda, before turning off onto
the A3 to Valmiera.
A place to rest your head:If you are planning a trip away
to Valmiera then you can't go
wrong with an overnight stay at
the Hotel Wolmar. This comfortable
three star hotel is a member of
The Latvian Association of Hotels
and Restaurants and offers cosy
rooms and excellent centrally locat-
ed facilities.
For more information:
www.wolmar.lv
24 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
in remembrance of both the victims
of the Nazi era and the countless
Soviet soldiers who fell during the
Second World War.
other attractions not to be missed...
Valmiera is also home to an
impressive local museum, one of the
best theatres in Latvia, a red brick
Orthodox church, and in the summer
months Lake Dzirnezers is the perfect
spot to relax.
Attractions just outside of the
town include the mystical Blue Hill,
Burtnieki Lake and, of course, the
wonderful Gauja National Park.
If you are visiting Latvia we would
like to invite you to enjoy the
beauty of Latvia's nature as well
as our wonderful capital city, Riga!
Raksi Recreation Centre is situated
in one of the most beautiful and
untouched territories of Latvia – the
Gauja National Park, just 100 km
from Riga. Our complex offers
numerous possibilities for active rec-
reation and to feel energised by
nature and fresh air.
It may sound amazing, but the
first camel born in Latvia resides at
Raksi's open-air zoo together with
llamas, alpacas, guanacos and many
other exotic creatures. Enjoy a walk-
ing tour of our zoo and see what
you can discover! It is undoubtedly
our great pride.
For an adrenaline rush take one
of our quadrocycles and enjoy a real
safari around the surrounding woods
and paths. Alternatively, why not try
our very special engine – the segway.
As well as our unforgettable winter
safari you can enjoy basketball, foot-
ball, volleyball and badminton fields
when the weather gets warmer.
And for those who like real excite-
ment we offer paint-ball – the per-
fect game to play with friends.
Our complex boasts a wonderful
location allowing you to navigate
Latvia’s longest and most beautiful
river, the Gauja, by kayak, canoe
and raft.
After active rafting, fishing,
quadrocycle driving or sports activi-
ties you definitely deserve some
relaxation time in our wet baths or
saunas and an overnight stay in our
gorgeous guesthouse! These facilities
can also be used also to hold semi-
nars – a change from the usual
seminar surroundings is literally a
breath of fresh air! We offer all the
necessary equipment for seminars as
well as exciting adventures that are
guaranteed to leave a smile on
every face.
Close to Raksi is one of Latvia's
most ancient and beautiful towns,
Cesis. This attractive town has a feel
of ancient times inspired by its
Middle Age castle. It is also undeni-
ably modern with fun guaranteed at
the town's popular disco club. Enjoy
a night out before returning to the
comfort and hospitality of Raksi!
Don’t pass on this possibility to
enjoy Latvia's nature. Don't miss out
on the never-ending adventures at
Raksi Recreation Complex.
Recreation complex „Raksi” – active recreation in nature hands!
For more detailed information
visit www.kamieli.lv, or contact
us by e-mail [email protected]
or phone +371 2926 3798.
Address: „Raksi”, Drabesi district,
Cesis region.
Attractions just outside of the town include the mystical Blue Hill
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 G A T E W A Y r I G A 2726 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
directly through it and its inhabitants
have been predominantly Russian in
ethnicity. But this Russified classifica-
tion is far too simplified and does
Maskavas forštate (Maskavas/Moscow District) is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in riga and certainly its most colourful.
Maskačka
not do justice to the many groups
and religions who have made this
home, beginning in the fourteenth
century. A curious mix of Latvians
from the south-east of the country,
Belarusians, Ukrainians, Roma, Jews
and Old Believers have helped to
give this most colourful district of
the Latvian capital its distinct and
somewhat eccentric feel.
eclectic cocktailA journey through Maskavas
serves up images of the architectural-
ly sublime as well as dilapidated
urban decay. If this district were in
a western European capital city it
would no doubt be heralded as an
architectural masterpiece, most likely
under the protection and recognition
of UNESCO, and visited each year
by millions of tourists. But, alas, it
is not, and instead only a mere
trickle of mostly-wary, inquisitive
tourists make it to Maskavas to sam-
ple its delights.
Said delights include an eclectic
cocktail of world-class Art Nouveau
buildings, cobblestone streets full of
150-year old wooden houses, Soviet
era tower blocks, vast green parks,
deserted squares and open spaces,
stunning churches, poignant cemeter-
ies, a fascinating warehouse district
and, not forgetting, a smattering of
brand new glitzy shopping centres
and car dealerships. Step out of a
200 year-old church and you can
stroll one hundred metres to buy the
latest electronic gadgets; pace past a
dodgy looking dive bar and glance
up to admire the timeless splendour
of a classic five storey Art Nouveau
town house.
A tour of MaskavasSadly much of the district
became a Jewish ghetto during
D I s C o v e r Y
A journey through Maskavas serves up images of the archi-tecturally sublime as well as dilapidated urban decay
and railway stations, close to the
bank of the River Daugava.
It derives its name from the fact
that the road to Moscow passed
road to MoscowYou will find the Maskavas District
beyond the central market and bus
Phot
os c
ourt
esy
of In
spira
tion
Rig
a, th
e La
tvia
n To
uris
m D
evel
opm
ent A
genc
y, A
inar
s M
eier
s, J
ustin
Wal
ley,
Han
za H
otel
and
Dod
o H
otel
.
28 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
one of the quirkier aspects of Maskavas is the large old Believers congrega-tion
Nazi occupation and thousands
were murdered here and in the
nearby concentration camps.
Reminders of these atrocities
remain. Visitors wishing to gain a
better understanding of what hap-
pened during World War II should
visit the Old Jewish Cemetery and
what remains of the Great Choral
Synagogue. Specialist Jewish tours
focus on other specific streets and
houses in the Maskavas district.
One of the quirkier aspects of
Maskavas is the large Old Believers
congregation that worships here. The
origins of the Old Believers date to
the eighteenth century when a sect
of Orthodox Christians were forced
out of Russia and set up home in
Riga and other cities. The 200 year
old golden-domed Grebenshchikov
Church is the focal point for today's
faithful – a congregation of Old
Believers that some say is the largest
in the entire world.
The Orthodox Church of the
Annunciation is another religious
structure worthy of a visit. This yel-
low wooden church is almost 200
years old and its atmospheric interi-
or reflects this fact.
If a visit here doesn't satisfy your
ancient-church-visiting-habit then
your next port of call should be
the Riga Church of Jesus. This
octagonal construction is the oldest
wooden church in Latvia with its
current manifestation dating back to
1818. A church has, however, been
located on this site since way back
in the 1620s.
Moving on to structures with a
decidedly non-religious theme, a fas-
cinating area of Maskavas is the up
and coming Warehouse District.
You can find several blocks of ele-
gant brick-built warehouses just
behind the Central Market. After
decades of relative neglect a number
of enlightened locals have finally
recognised the huge potential of this
area and now specialist shops, music
venues, cafés and even a museum
have set up home next to compa-
nies that still use the warehouses for
their originally intended purposes.
The Warehouse District has the
potential to become one of the most
sought after areas of Riga to live and
play in over the coming years.
A visit to Maskavas wouldn't be
complete without a trip out to the
famous LIDO atputas centrs. LIDO
(www.ac.lido.lv) is the kind of res-
taurant and entertainment complex
you might expect to find in the
U.S.A. rather than in little Latvia,
and tourists are continually amazed
by the delights on offer here. Not
only does LIDO offer one of the
most vast buffet dining experiences
you are likely to come across any-
where in the world, but it is also
home to a number of bars, a huge
ice rink and a family entertainment
centre. The main wooden log cabin,
which houses the restaurants and
bars, is said to be the largest of its
kind in Europe. Gateway Riga rec-
ommends that you kick off your
tour of Maskcka with a hearty
breakfast or lunch here before taking
a stroll around the nearby parks,
Soviet estates and cobblestone streets.
Whether or not you class the
Central Market and the Academy
of Sciences skyscraper as being part
of Maskavas, you should also cer-
tainly consider including both of
these fascinating places in your
Maskavas tour. In short, the Central
Market is one of the largest markets
in the world and a visit to its
Zeppelin hangars is a Riga must.
The Academy of Sciences building is
a blatant but fascinating reminder
of the Soviet occupation. It also
boats unmatched stunning views of
the capital.
30 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
If you are planning to visit
the LIDO Recreation Centre for
dinner or leisure purposes, then
it is possible to catch a direct
bus back to the Stockmann shop-
ping centre afterwards from out-
side the main entrance of the
complex.
Alternatively, you may choose to
visit Maskavas as part of an organ-
ised tour. Excellent options for this
include the Jewish Riga Tour and
the Alternative Riga Walking Tour.
For more details of these contact
www.rigaoutthere.com
overnight in 'Maskačka'Maskavas is only moments away
from central and Old Riga, but
how about getting the most out
of your visit to the district by
staying overnight there? A number
of good hotels have opened up in
Maskavas in the past couple of
years. Two establishments of par-
ticular merit are the Hanza Hotel
(www.hanzahotel.lv) and the Dodo
Hotel (www.dodohotel.lv). The
excellent Hanza Pub, located with-
in the Hanza Hotel, sources all of
its fresh fruit, vegetables and green
salads from the nearby Central
Market.
visiting MaskavasMaskavas is easy to reach by foot
from the Central Market and the
Railway station. However, for first
time visitors it is probably advisable
to visit the area by tram, taxi or as
part of a specialised organised tour.
The number 5 and 7 trams all pass
through the district, and you can
easily pick one up just outside the
bus station and Central Market or
from the edge of Old Riga. Indeed, if
you do not feel inclined to wander
around Maskavas, visiting the places
mentioned in this feature, then sim-
ply jump on a tram and ride it to
the end of the line. Another tram
will come along within ten minutes
to take you all the way back to Old
Riga, and during the hour-long
return journey you will be treated to
a fascinating insight into life in
Maskavas from the tram window.
The Warehouse District has the poten-tial to become one of the most sought after areas of riga to live and play in
32 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 G A T E W A Y r I G A 33
A I r l I n e I n f o C U s
Follow the leaderWith established airline companies
going bankrupt every month and
talk of high profile mergers to save
other big players, Ryanair continues
to buck the negative trend affect-
ing the industry. Indeed, Ryanair is
now the world's biggest interna-
tional carrier of scheduled passen-
gers. In the current fiscal year it is
expected to carry approximately 66
million passengers, a figure that
dwarfs the totals of some competi-
tors it once trailed.
The Irish carrier already has 39
bases – these being airports where
it often serves dozens of direct
routes. With the introduction of
direct flights between Riga and
Oslo Rygge on March 30, the
Latvian capital alone now has 14
Ryanair routes across Europe. And
this figure is again expected to rise
during the coming few months.
Despite the downturn in the global airline business ryanair continues to go from strength to strength
In total ryanair now operates across a mind bog-gling 1000+ routes
has kept ahead of its rivals by
consistently selling seats that
other airlines simply can't shift.
When it comes to the budget low
cost model Ryanair is certainly
the leader that other airlines
choose to follow. Or at least try
to follow.
So for airline passengers who are
hoping to fly in the next few
months the message is simple: If
you want to fly cheaply, plan
ahead, travel light and take advan-
tage of some of Ryanair's extraordi-
narily good value air fares. Before
somebody else does.
In total Ryanair now operates
across a mind boggling 1000+
routes. This includes 150 individ-
ual destinations in 26 different
countries in Europe and northern
Africa.
Part of the reason for the com-
pany's success has been its fleet
modernisation programme, which
now sees it with an operating fleet
of 210 new fuel efficient Boeing
737-800 aircraft. Additionally, there
are firm orders in place for a fur-
ther 102 new aircraft (before taking
account of planned disposals),
which will be delivered over the
next 2.5 years.
One of the other great reasons
for the airline's continued expan-
sion is, of course, its ongoing
budget airline status. With argu-
ably the most efficient and user-
friendly website in the industry as
well as regular promotional fares
of just five euros and 10 euros
for international flights, Ryanair
ryanair has kept ahead of its rivals by consistently selling seats that other air-lines simply can't shift
Rya
nair
phot
os c
ourt
esy
of R
yana
ir
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 G A T E W A Y r I G A 3534 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
D e s T I n A T I o n G U I D e
An eye on LondonThere are few cities in the world
more exciting and vibrant than
London. There is certainly no other
city that is as cosmopolitan. With
more than 50 non-indigenous com-
munities which have a population
of more than 10,000 and an esti-
mated 300 languages spoken the
English capital is far and away the
world's greatest urban melting pot
The english cap-ital is far and away the world's greatest melting pot of culture, language, colour, reli-gion and ideas
some consider london to be not just england's capital, but also the world's
apartments. A trip out to middle
class towns such as Kingston reveals
a different world from that of east
and south London.
Alternatively, east London is gritty
and edgy. This is the real London
of cockneys, jellied eels, urban decay
and - with West Ham and Millwall
in the neighbourhood - real working
class football teams and pubs. It is
an east London that is set to
change soon with much redevelop-
ment planned ahead of the 2012
London Olympics.
London is a city in a permanent
state of change and reinvention.
Once upon a time visitors mocked
London for its poor dining choices,
yet nowadays it must have the
greatest proliferation of restaurants in
one place on the planet. Only in
London does a Somali dishwasher
live next door to a Polish plumber,
a Kenyan doctor and an Afghani
restaurant owner. Consequently,
London is sometimes the least
English place in England. But is also
the beating heart of England. Once
you understand this seeming contra-
diction you are truly ready to enjoy
the world's most cosmopolitan and
English city.
ities that is Madame Tassauds, and
one of the world's most famous gath-
ering places – Trafalgar Square.
But most of these terrific sights are
found in a confined area of central
London that is more rich man's play-
ground and tourist curiosity than lived-
in city centre. Outside of central
London, the city is like four distinct
cities within a city, each more or less
defined by the points on the compass.
For fashionable, down-to-earth
London visit Camden where you will
find that most English of
Englishmen, the market trader, going
about his business. You thought the
English were reserved? Think again.
North London is the place where
many people who have 'made it' but
are never likely to be rich beyond
their means set up home. It is also
the area of London where you will
find the world' most famous football
stadium, Wembley; now more
resplendent than ever with a magnifi-
cent arch lighting up the sky above
its hallowed turf for miles around.
West London meanwhile is the
'posher' end of town. This is the
glitzy, sometimes pretentious world of
Chelsea footballers, Arab and Russian
billionaires and multi-million pound
only in london does a somali dishwasher live next door to a polish plumber, a Kenyan doctor and an Afghani restaurant owner
Phot
os c
ourt
esy
of V
isit
Lond
on
of culture, language, colour, religion
and ideas.
The London that most first time
visitors seek is one of red telephone
boxes, omnipresent double decker
buses, raucous pubs and the ancient
cultural musts of the Houses of
Parliament, Buckingham Palace and
the Tower of London. This vast pul-
sating metropolis is all of these
things, but it is also so much more.
In terms of obvious attractions the
London Eye is the latest big thing
for those visiting Europe's largest city.
A bird's eye view of the city from
one of its rotating pods seems almost
de rigueur.
Other attractions that keep the
punters coming back 52 weeks per
year include one of the world's great-
est museums, the magnificent Natural
History Museum, the cult of personal-
A place to rest your head:The luxurious Hilton London
Stansted Airport hotel is the ideal
place to spend a night at the begin-
ning or the end of your trip. This
value for money four star offers lux-
ury rooms, fine dining, free leisure
facilities and first class service just
moments away from Stansted
Airport's departure and arrival termi-
nals. This is particularly ideal if you
are flying into London late or you
have an early flight out of London
Stansted the next morning.
For more information:
www.hilton.co.uk/stansted
Getting there:Ryanair flies from Riga to London
Stansted daily. At the time of going
to press it was offering two daily
flights, seven days per week on this
route. Fares can be as low as ten
pounds for a one way London-Riga
flight.
For more information check out
www.ryanair.com
36 37
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Day SPA Aqua VillaIn the Old City, embraced by beauty and antiquity, which
through the centuries has retained intangible shades of sensations, you can find the boutique Day SPA Aqua Villa. It was founded in 2001. To regain peace, harmony and a feeling of comfort, we offer SPA procedures, classic, exotic, relaxing massages and beauty rituals from all over the world. At Day SPA Aqua Villa you can not only recover physically and spiritually, but also enjoy high quality facial and body care, correction and aesthetic procedures.
Tirgoņu iela 11, 2.th floor, Vecrīga (old Riga),tel +371 67814686, +371 29196349 [email protected], www.aquavillaspa.lvWorking hours: Monday - Friday: 8:00 - 21:00 Saturday: 10:00 - 21:00 Sunday: Closed
Amorette SPAAmorette SPA invites you to enjoy a variety of SPA procedures
and rituals, putting yourself in the hands and under the guidance of our experienced specialists; and letting natural and cosmetic agents as well as a carefully chosen bespoke exercise programme work wonders for you.
Amorette SPA beauticians will tailor treatments to your individual needs. If you long for a quiet rest during a facial then your wish will be fulfilled.
If you enjoy head or hands massage while a face mask is being applied, we will do just as you wish. If you wish to spend some more time in the lounge, you can book it in advance and enjoy a good rest.
Kalnciema iela 90, Elefant Hotel, Rīgatel +371 26336362, +371 67225560Brīvības iela 199c, Europa City Riga Hotel, Rīgatel +371 26336362, +371 [email protected]
pArK spAPARK SPA is an exclusive, private SPA salon, located on a
quiet street in the very centre of the city. We offer massages and treatments using centuries old wisdom from different cul-tures combined with today’s advanced methods and high quali-ty cosmetics.
Competent specialists will provide you relaxing and regenerat-ing programs: classic, exotic, relaxing or healing massages, face and body treatments, as well as healing therapy programmes for women, men and couples. Enjoy romantic relaxation in VIP apartments with an aroma and steam bath. We will help you create your own individually tailored program for an unforgetta-ble experience.
We respect the clients’ wishes for privacy and undisturbed recreation. Each client will be treated as a unique and special guest.
PARK SPA for wonderful recreation, health, beauty and renewed spirits.
Kalpaka bulvāris 9, Riga, LV 1010tel +371 29121111www.parkspa.lv
MadhouseClub – Restaurant Madhouse is located at the most sparkling
place in Old Riga – close by Llvu Square, exactly 101 metres from the Laima Clock.
Madhouse is the perfect place to have fun. In the daytime it is a cosy restaurant, which offers excellent Italian cuisine, while in the evening it becomes a party place, where friends gather to chat and drink delicious cocktails. From midnight till sunrise Madhouse brings together everyone who wants to dance, to meet new friends or just have a good time. You will always be welcome by the city's friendliest bartenders and waiters.
Come to Madhouse for positive emotions, because here you will get them for free!
Kaļķu iela 11, Rigatel +371 67220556www.madhouse.lvOpen: Sun – Thur 8:00 – 3:00 Fri – Sat 10:00 – 6:00
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op
pI
nG TIrGonIs I lTD.
Tirgonis I Ltd. shop offering Latvian souvenirs is in Sector C
of Riga Airport Passenger Departure Terminal.
The range of goods includes: alcoholic drinks and sweets
produced in Latvia, bread and honey, amber and leather,
ceramic and wooden items of Latvian origin, the Bank of Latvia
memorable coins, audio and video records of Latvian composers
and performers, graphic arts goods as well as souvenirs on
Latvia and Riga.
Those are works of art of both national decorative art experts
and companies offering various goods representing Latvia and
Riga, beginning from hand-made to well-known Latvian factory-
produced items.
sWIss WATCHes DUTY free sHopSwiss Watches Duty Free Shop “ROYAL Boutique” is conveniently
located in Schengen Terminal at RIX and offers a great variety of
the most recognizable brands and accompanied with International
Warranty Certificate to guarantee worldwide after sale service:
Montblanc, Longines, Rado, Tissot, Jaques Lemans, Swiss Millitary,
Cover of Switzerland.
Royal Boutique provides sport, endless classic design and modern
fashion swiss made watches at a very attractive prices, guarantee
quality and authentic products. Our professional sales staff will be
always happy to help you to choose and wrap purchased items in
original gift box of chosen brand. The purchasing process becomes a
real pleasure process. Any item purchased in ROYAL Boutique, will
be a “royal” gift to your associates, business partners or friends.
Swiss Watches Duty Free Shop "Royal Boutique" Riga Airport
Tel: 00371 67207221
feBrUArYDinamo riga v Dinamo MinskFebruary 1 / Arena Rigawww.dinamoriga.eu
Acoustic Alchemy February 12 / Big Guild www.acoustic-alchemy.net
Alla pugachovaFebruary 13 / Arena Rigawww.bilesuserviss.lv
Cosmos February 17 / Ventspilswww.positivus.com
Werther February 19 / National Opera Housewww.opera.lv
erotic festival 2010 February 20 / Kipsala Hall www.erots.lv
The stories of latviansFebruary 20 / New Riga Theatrewww.jrt.lv
elina Garanca and lnsoFebruary 25 / Great Guildwww.lnso.lv
MArCHothello - concert performanceMarch 5+7 / National Opera Housewww.opera.lv
MaksimMarch 6 / Arena Rigawww.makroconcert.lv
nabuccoMarch 8 / National Opera Housewww.opera.lv
filips Kirkorovs March 18 / Arena Rigawww.makroconcert.lv
AprIl
eros ramazzottiApril 4 / Arena Rigawww.makroconcert.lv
Triobet Baltic league Quarter finals – 1st legFlora Tallinn (EST) v Ekranas Panevezys (LIT)Vėtra Vilnius (LIT) v Ventspils (LV)April 6 / Tallinn / Vilniuswww.balticleague.com
solo concert by Inga slubovskaApril 7 / National Opera Housewww.opera.lv
Triobet Baltic league Quarter finals – 1st legLiepajas Metalurgs (LV) v Skonto Riga (LV)Sūduva Marijampolė (LIT) v Levadia Tallinn (EST)April 7 / Liepaja / Marijampolewww.balticleague.com
stass MihailovsApril 10 / Arena Rigawww.bilesuserviss.lv MAYTriobet Baltic league Quarter finals - 2nd legSūduva Marijampolė (LIT) v Levadia Tallinn (EST)Skonto Riga (LV) v Liepajas Metalurgs (LV) May 4 / Marijampole / Rigawww.balticleague.com
Triobet Baltic league Quarter finals -2nd legEkranas Panevezys (LIT) v Flora Tallinn (EST) Ventspils (LV) v Vėtra (LIT)May 5 / Panevezys / Ventspilswww.balticleague.com
The sleeping BeautyMay 8 / National Opera Housewww.opera.lv
night of the MuseumsMay 17 / Latviawww.li.lv
lady Macbeth of MtsenskMay 28 / National Opera Housewww.opera.lv
All information correct at time of going to print
Gar
anca
– In
spira
tion
riga
Mak
sim
– m
akro
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Eros
– m
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w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 G A T E W A Y r I G A36
38 39
Rīgas iela 7/9, Liepāja, LV-3401, Latvija
tel +371 634 80888; +371 634 03434
fax +371 634 80444; [email protected]
www.europacity.lv | www.groupeuropa.com
Elizabetes iela 83/85, Riga LV-1050, Latvia
tel +371 67770900, fax +371 67770940
[email protected] | www.hotelbergs.lv
HOTEL BERGS
EUROPA CITY AMRITA HOTEL
Teātra iela 10, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia
tel +371 67356060; fax +371 67356061
www.royaloldcityhotel.lv
ROYAL OLD CITY HOTEL
27 Katrīnas dambis, Riga, LV-1045, Latvia
tel + 371 67323130; fax + 371 67830187
[email protected] | www.karavellahotel.lv
HOTEL KARAVELLA
Jāņa iela 6, Riga, Latvia
tel +371 350560 fax +371 350561
[email protected] | www.redroofs.lv
RED ROOFS INN
Ho
Te
ls
Restaurant Blue CowDo you think that stories about the blue
cow are a myth? No, it’s all true! We can ensure you there is definitely one – the steak & fish restaurant Blue Cow located in the very heart of Old Riga on Llvu Square. It’s impossible to avoid hearing a loud 'moo' when you pass by; a sound that welcomes and encourages everybody to taste the res-taurant's high quality modern Latvian dish-es prepared using BIOlogic products, fresh fish dishes and a wide range of steaks. The charming interior is simple and excellently designed, and probably, for a moment, it will make you believe that a real blue cow does indeed live here.
Maistaru iela 21 (Līvu square) Rigatel +371 67223307, +371 29522323www.zila-govs.lv [email protected]
MÇrti¿a Be˙ereja Martina Bekereja (Martin’s Bakery) cosy cafés indulge everyone
with their oven-cooked rolls and cakes, prepared according to ancient recipes, and from natural sources. The wide range of bak-ery products satisfies the standards of even the most fastidious gourmands – from pies and buns filled with various fruits, berries and creams, to sweet and salty pastries and delightful cakes.
Martin's bakeries offer a peaceful and bright atmosphere and you can expect to be greeted by their smiling and always friendly staff. You are always welcome in one of the Martina Bekereja cafés in Riga!
Marijas iela 19, tel +371 67287161Brīvības iela 80, tel +371 67316535Ģertrūdes iela 44, tel +371 67310881Lokomotīves iela 76a, tel +371 67149084A.Čaka iela 54, tel +371 67293589Vaļņu iela 28 (Old Riga)[email protected], www.bekereja.lv
39w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
Musical restaurant - club FEELING Restaurant “Filings” is situated in
the heart of the old city with unri-valled views of Dome cathedral.
Enjoy lunch here, with live piano music every day, or take a break from your Old Riga sightseeing tour to enjoy its fabulous home-made cakes and coffee.
Every evening from 21:00 Latvia's finest blues,jazz, soul and rock’n’roll musicians hit the stage - that’s what the real feeling is about!
Fridays and Saturday nights are all about good music and good food. Enjoy the basement dance club. It opens at 21:00 and is crowded by midnight.
For a romantic getaway, business lunch or dinner with friends, “Feelings” is the place to be.
Smilšu iela 1/3, Doma laukums, Rigatel +371 67225190 or +371 28370747www.fiilings.lv
Restaurant “Provansa”Restaurant "Provence" invites You to
spend time in its cosy, romantic and comfortable premises in the heart of Riga, at Lacpleša Street 12. Your visit will be unforgettable for many reasons. Enjoy the melodic, unobtrusive background music, the delightful interior and, of course, a wide choice of sophisticated and delicious dishes, which combine traditional French kitchen artwork with Latvian rustic cuisine thanks to the chef's creative interpretation.
Lāčplēša iela 12, Rigatel +371 67240412tel banquet reservations +371 26660057provansa@restoransprovansa.lvwww.restoransprovansa.lvOpen 12:00-24:00
Lido Recreation CentreThe LIDO Centre is characterized by an
unmistakeably Latvian environment, count-less tasty dishes, LIDO beer, live music every evening, and a year-round celebration of national festivities with gorgeous decorations!
Use this opportunity to enjoy national dishes cooked according to ancient Latvian recipes, as well as an excellent selection of international dishes. Your chosen dish is cooked right in front of you by skilful LIDO cooks. The main building of the LIDO Recreation Centre is one of the big-gest and most beautiful log buildings in Europe, and can host more than 1000 guests. Anybody can enjoy the cosy atmo-sphere and hospitality of the Centre, and instantly feel at home here.
Krasta iela 76, Riga tel for info +371 67504420, tel for booking +371 67700000,www.ac.lido.lvH
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38 G A T E W A Y r I G A
Apsara Tea HouseThis is the perfect place to relax dur-
ing the cold winter days. Enjoy a cup of tea (and they have any tea you can think of), tuck into a slice of delicious cake and watch the world pass by.
So why not just dive into their pil-lowed second floor and forget everything?
Tea terrace ApsaraKr. Barona iela 2atel +371 67227710daily 10:00 – 22:00
Tea house Apsara (in Vērmanes Garden)Tērbatas iela 2tel +371 67212436daily 10:00 – 22:00
Tea house Apsara (in Old Riga)Skārņu iela 22tel +371 67223160daily 11:00 – 22:00
Andalzijas SunsThis is a democratic pub suiting every-
one’s taste. Customers enjoy the free-form industrial style, and, of course, the wide variety of dishes including hamburgers and carbonade, prepared in the Latvian style.The restaurant's speciality is TEX-MEX dish-es. Prices are low and serving sizes huge, meaning this restaurant offers excellent value for money. If you don’t want to eat to excess the restaurant has daily special offers for breakfasts or for dinners (from 12.00 till 17.00).
Elizabetes iela 83/85, Rigatel +371 67288418, +371 [email protected] www.andaluzijassuns.lvOpen: Mon-Thu: 10.00 – 01.00 Fri: 10.0 – 03.00 Sat: 11.00 – 03.00 Sun: 11.00 – 01.00
Bergs Restaurant Located in the award winning luxury
boutique Hotel Bergs, Restaurant Bergs is one of the premier dining destinations in Riga, offering haute cuisine inspired by local Latvian fare, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Experience the bi-weekly 3-course lunch menu (15Ls) or monthly seasonal 4-course gourmet din-ner (25Ls) while enjoying the elegant interior design with large windows over-looking the bustling Bergs Bazaar (Don't miss the Slow Food bazaar, which is held from 09:00-15:00 on every second and fourth Saturday of the month).
Elizabetes iela 83/85, Rigatel +371 67770957, fax +371 [email protected], www.hotelbergs.lv
Working hours:Mon-Sun 07.30 – 11.00 Breakfast;Mon – Sat 12.00 - 23.00 Lunch & Dinner;Sun 12.00-24.00 Bar & Snacks
Murales pizzeria Murales in-house Sardinian chef, a man
who knows many gastronomical secrets, presents a newly opened pizzeria in the Bergs Bazaar. The ingredients for the res-taurant's pizzas, pastas, and delicious breads come directly from the exotic Mediterranean island. While sipping mirto and enjoying tiramisu, you will be amazed by the colourful wall paintings, known in Sardinia as murales. Besides the authentic food and art, use free Wi-Fi to tweet. Or ask for take-outs and treat your friends. All this and more starting from just 7 Ls. Benvenuti to Murales!
Bergs Bazaars, Dzirnavu iela 84, Rigatel +371 67282055, +371 [email protected], www.murales.lvOpen: Mon – Fri 09.00 – 24.00 Sat – Sun 10.00 – 24.00
Bar I Love YouBar I Love You, in the heart of the
Old Town, has been around for five years, quietly turning into a major meet-ing place for the young and creative crowd. Up until the 17th century the building housed the Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas of Myra. Weekdays here pass in tranquil serenity, but come the week-end and we’re throwing wild parties with some of the best local DJ’s spinning their favourite records.
Refreshing drinks, charming people – Bar I Love You is especially favoured by musicians, its celebrity guests including Kings Of Convenience, Mum and Sigur Ros among others. If you are looking for an alternative to the routine pop noise of the Old Town, this is your obvious choice – Bar I Love You on Aldaru street!
Aldaru iela 9, Rigatel +371 [email protected], www.iloveyou.lv
MAGIC 4 MIllIon
rIGA International Airport keeps
on growing with new routes and
‘passenger 4 Million’.
For the first time in its history,
RIGA International Airport welcomed
the 4,000,000th passenger within a sin-
gle year on 21 December 2009. The
lucky traveller was a surprised and
delighted Linda Kimeiša from Riga.
She was warmly welcomed as she
entered the terminal building from
her flight and congratulated by
Krišjanis Peters, chairman of the
board of RIGA International Airport,
Arturs Stikuts, sales and marketing
director of the Reval Hotel Group in
Latvia, Janis Vanags, vice-president of
the national carrier airBaltic, and
Kaspars Muižnieks, technical director
of the taxi company Rlgas taksometru
parks, as well as the melodic tones
of the saxophone quartet n[ex]t.
“The development trend of RIGA
International Airport over the last
five years has always reached the
threshold of the desired million
around Christmas time,” said Krišjanis
Peters. “Today, as for the first time
in the history of RIGA International
Airport we receive this year's 4 mil-
lionth passenger, the gratification is
great indeed.”
‘Passenger 4 Million’ was showered
with gifts, including a RIX Club card
providing the opportunity to enjoy
all the privileges of the airport’s best
clients and two business-class tickets
for any of airBaltic’s 60 direct flights
from Riga, including its new destina-
tions for 2010, namely Madrid,
Belgrade and Vaasa.
Reval Hotel Group invited the
4 millionth passenger to spend
a weekend at one of the chain’s
nine hotels in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius,
Kaunas, Klaipeda or St Petersburg and
Rlgas taksometru parks presented her
with a 50-lat (70-euro) gift card for
use on the company’s taxis.
“This year has seen us welcome
more than 4 million passengers, a
significant step in the development
of RIGA International Airport, particu-
larly at this time of economic stand-
still and downturn in the global avia-
tion industry,” Mr Peters continued.
“Contrary to the declining trends
at most of Europe’s airports, RIGA
International Airport has managed to
adjust successfully and use this time
for development following a trend of
continuous growth started five years
ago, achieving a fourfold growth in
passenger traffic during this time. We
now have much work to do in order
to reach another threshold – five
million passengers. I am confident
that we will achieve this within a
year and a half.”
To encourage this process along,
airBaltic is launching more new
routes from Riga this year. These
include the Serbian capital Belgrade
from 5 May, the Spanish capital
Madrid from 2 June and the cities of
Vaasa in Finland and Umea in
Sweden from 29 March. All four des-
tinations will initially be offered four
times a week, on Mondays,
Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
airBaltic has also begun flights
between Riga and Lappeenranta,
Finland, four times a week. The air-
line is also casting an eye at the
Middle East. In addition to its exist-
40 G A T E W A Y r I G A w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0
eAsY nAvIGATIon To THe AIrporT
It’s now super-easy to get to rIX, by
bus, taxi and e-ticket.
A whole host of new opportuni-
ties is making trips between the
RIGA International Airport terminal
building and the city centre easy
and hassle-free. A brand new e-ticket
machine has been installed in the
facade annexe of the terminal, next
to the Linda florist’s shop, providing
the possibility to buy public trans-
port e-tickets or top them up.
Tickets for public transport can
also be bought at the Plus Punkts
and Narvesen shops in the airport
terminal.
To make the short trip between
airport and city centre more conve-
nient, the additional charge for lug-
gage in bus number 22 has been
cancelled. Now suitcases and bags
that do not exceed the dimensions
specified by the regulations of Riga
City Council Public Transport can be
hauled on board without having to
buy an extra ticket.
For a completely stress-free trip to
and from the centre of Riga, the
Latvian national airline has helped
to set up a new taxi company,
BalticTAXI, which started operations
at the airport last year. It joins Riga
Taxi and Rigas Taksometru Parks in
offering taxi services from RIX.
Right now there are 50 brand
new Toyota Corolla Verso cars in
BalticTAXI’s fleet, a number that will
steadily increase to 250 cars. The
entrance tariff is 1 lat and the tariff
per kilometre is a very reasonable
0.5 lat. BalticTAXI offers a flat tariff
of 9 lat per trip between airport and
city centre. Improving peace-of-mind,
passengers can pay this fare either at
the airport or on buying an airBaltic
flight ticket.
Meanwhile, RIGA International
Airport has made several improve-
ments in the service quality for
passengers with reduced mobility.
It has purchased a specialised
Ambulift vehicle, equipped with a
ramp, a cabin for wheelchairs and
various sensors and electronic appli-
ances to ensure safety for the pur-
pose of lifting disabled passengers
on and off aircraft of any type.
Employees have received training
to operate the vehicle.
All possible facilities are available
at the airport for passengers with
reduced mobility, including two free-
of-charge parking slots placed at the
entrance of the departures hall and
call points installed at the P3 and
P1 car parks to help them inform
airport staff of their arrival.
w i n t e r / s p r i n g 2 0 1 0 41G A T E W A Y r I G A
r I G A I n T e r n A T I o n A l A I r p o r T
We now have much work to do in order to reach anoth-er threshold – five million passengers.”
ing routes to Israel and Dubai, it
will launch Riga-Amman on 1 June
and Riga-Beirut on 2 June, both
twice a week.
The Latvian airline was announced
the Airline of the Year 2009/2010
Gold Award winner last October by
the European Regions Airline
Association at the body’s General
Assembly in Switzerland. The associa-
tion’s panel of experts were
impressed that airBaltic had devel-
oped from point-to-point low-cost
operator into network carrier, build-
ing an important international hub
in Riga in a period of economic cri-
sis in the Baltic markets.
Meanwhile, Wizz Air, Central and
Eastern Europe’s biggest low-cost air-
line, will enter the Latvian market on
28 March by opening three new
routes from Riga, to London Luton,
Oslo Torp and Turku.
And another new airline to RIX is
the Belarusian airline Belavia, which
has launched its route Riga-Minsk
with flights three times a week: on
Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. airBal-
tic already performs flights on the
route and thanks to a code share
agreement between it and Belavia,
passengers can choose from 10 direct
flights a week to Minsk.
ProductionCheck-In Baltic
Nometnu iela 44, Riga, LV 1002
Tel: +371 29208200
Magazine reg. nr.000703023
Editor-in-Chief Justin WalleyContributing writer Howard JarvisArt director Guntis GvozdevsProject Manager Madara Liniņa
Advertising and Sales Enquiries: [email protected]:+371 29135431Editorial: [email protected] and opinions: [email protected] information: [email protected]
Website: www.riga-airport.com
Special thanks for help in producing this magazine and/or providing photos: Hilton London Stansted Airport Hotel, Elizabeth Major, Tom McDermott, Ryanair, Tamas Laszlo, Erik Elmsater, Visit London, Maris Strombergs, Enars Plinta, Latvian Tourism Development Agency, Makroconcert, Inese Rutkovska, Bank of Latvia, Gatis Zommerovskis, Sanita Gertmane, Christian Happel, Triobet Baltic League, Hanza Hotel, Dodo Hotel, Hotel Wolmar, LIAA, Inspiration Riga, Vita Turne, Laura Audarina, Janis Meldrajs, Liana Wolmar, Ilze Zunde, Elina Kalnina, Aija Briede, the Consumer Rights Protection Centre of Latvia.
Gateway Riga is the official airport magazine for RIGA International Airport. It is distributed three times in 2010. Start circulation 15000. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors or persons interviewed and do not neces-sarily reflect the views of the editor, Check-In Baltic or RIGA International Airport. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and illustrations are not accepted. Gateway Riga accepts no responsibility for such mate-rials sent to its office, nor is it liable for loss of, or damage to, such material. All prices are subject to change without notice. Gateway Riga accepts no responsibility for printing errors. Printed by Talsu Tipogrāfija, Latvia.
vIps reCeIve THe BesT possIBle servICe
enjoy the airport’s vIp Centre and then
cruise up to your aircraft in a cool
lexus.
As the sharp-suited chauffeur drives
you towards your awaiting aircraft, it’s
clear that there’s no better way to
travel than this. It’s also the fastest
possible way onto the plane. This
Lexus flagship is certainly exceedingly
comfortable and luxuriously spacious
as the fusion of highly finished interi-
or materials provides the ideal setting
in which to relax and enjoy the ride.
Lexus is the official car of RIGA
International Airport. The LS600h is
the world’s most powerful luxury
hybrid sedan, while the state-of-the-art
Lexus Hybrid Drive technology deliv-
ers rapid linear acceleration, quiet run-
ning, impressive fuel economy and
lower emissions.
At lower speeds, progression is
often completely emission-free as the
car runs on electric power alone, so
you don’t have to worry about any
extra expense to the environment.
Besides the Lexus escort, the VIP
Centre at RIGA International Airport
offers a range of options for visiting
VIPs. A professionally executed Express
Service processes all travel documents
and includes an individual send-off or
welcome, minimal waiting time and
free access to the VIP terminal.
The Express Service is provided as
long as there has been previous regis-
tration by phone, email or fax and it
is available only with hand luggage.
If you do have luggage, the centre
also has a Classic Service to opt for,
which, like the Express Service, pro-
vides a comfort and individual atti-
tude, the execution of travel docu-
ments and an individual send-off or
welcome, as well as the registration
and receipt of luggage, wireless
Internet access, cable TV and interna-
tional daily newspapers, minibar ser-
vices, a refined selection of alcoholic
drinks and the possibility to order
hot meals and snacks.
As well as previous registration by
phone, email or fax, the VIP Centre
also requests arrival at the VIP termi-
nal at latest one hour before depar-
ture. The cost of this and other ser-
vices, which can be viewed online at
www.riga-airport.com by clicking on
“VIP”, refers to the stay of the client
in the VIP Centre two hours before
the planned departure and two hours
after the actual arrival.
Along with its classic and express
services, the VIP Centre also offers
client cards, the rental of plush
meeting and waiting rooms and
additional services that help to
ensure a perfect welcome or send-off
of VIP clients.
VIP Gold is a corporate client card. It
provides for all of the Classical Service
offers, gives special care for you and
your guests and comfortable conditions
for business conversations and free
access to the VIP terminal on 10 sepa-
rate occasions. The VIP Centre requests
registration by phone, email or fax.
VIP Platinum, meanwhile, provides
exclusive service all year with an
unlimited number of VIP services. All
of the Classical Service offers are pro-
vided, together with individual atten-
dance, a personal attitude, escort of
the client’s vehicle to the private air-
craft and reservations at other coun-
tries’ VIP centres.
The VIP Centre also has conference
and event locations onsite – a number
of tastefully decorated rooms for con-
ferences, events and private business
conversations.
Services here include ensuring that
conferences, business meetings and pre-
sentations go smoothly, the rental of
technical equipment and the purchase
of cold snacks and hot dishes. Photos
and further details of the rooms – as
well as images of the centre’s very
own Lexus vehicle – can be viewed at
the above VIP Centre website.
It’s a super Ultra-low emission vehicle, so you don’t have to worry about extra expense to the envi-ronment.