Riga Rooster

Why can't Britts keep their clothes on ?

2008-07-10T07:32:43Z

Strange - for a while this Rooster thought it was a Riga problem and mostly with the boys.

Guess What? It appears to be a hetitage and/or society problem perhaps?

Headlines Online Edition The Guardian - Thursday 10 July 2008

Woman accused of sex and assault on Dubai beach faces jail

A British businesswoman who was arrested for having sex on the beach in Dubai will be jailed and deported if found guilty, lawyers in the Arab state believe.

Michelle Palmer, 30, will serve "years not months" in prison after she was allegedly caught twice on Jumeirah Beach.

Wow, this Rooster is going to keep a safe distance from that beach - for sure

Saule, Pērkons, Daugava / Sun, Thunder, Daugava

2008-07-07T18:16:17Z

Opening evening program, Sunday 6 July 2008, Riga Latvia

Latvian Song Festival Celebration Opening Parade July 2008

2008-07-07T03:13:51Z

The 24th Latvian Song and 14th Dance Festival officially begins July 5, 2008 and will continue until July 12th.

Participating in the 24th Latvian Song and 14th Dance Festival will be 38,233 people, including 18,464 choir singers and 13,317 dancers.

The Song Festival's origins can be traced back to the first half of the 1800s in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

The Celebration is held every four (4) years.

Copyright (c) 2008, Patricia Tourist Office Riga www.rigaLatvia.net

Version II

A Crisis in Latvia’s hotel industry - no big surprise - still sad

2008-06-30T05:22:30Z

-

The Riga Rooster was talking about this possibility over a year ago. He pecked that unless the Latvian Tourism Authorities begin to take action to improve the image of Latvia abroad this situation might occur. And it appears that it has according to the latest Business News in Latvia last week.

Hotels being sold off in Riga
As market tightens, older hotels are being abandoned

From www.Standbynews.info Monday 30 June 2008

Latvia’s hotel industry is experiencing a crisis, according to this article, and three hotels in Riga have been put up for sale. After Latvia’s accession to the European Union in 2004, the number of hotels in the city and its outer district grew considerably, a trend that accelerated also due to the World Ice Hockey Championships in 2005. Last year, 5.234 million foreigners crossed Latvia’s border. But in the first quarter of 2008, the number of tourists in Latvia decreased y-o-y for the first time since 2004. At the end of 2007, 400 places of accommodation were available in Latvia. Meanwhile, eight new hotels have been unveiled in Riga so far this year, for example, the Reval Hotel Elizabete and the Nordic Hotel Bellevue. The Atlantija Hotel, which first opened in the Soviet period, will be auctioned off in October. These days the building resembels nothing more than a run-down hostel. It is also possible that the 3-star, 68-room Bruninieks Hotel will be sold too.

Biznes&Baltija, 2008-06-27

The Rooster's last thoughts...

The statistics on the number of people crossing the borders is very misleading and not representative of tourism. Many of the border crossings are from Latvia's neighbors just swinging across for a short visit, to have lunch and maybe even stay overnight. But, that is NOT tourism and these visitors do not contribute many NEW MONEY into the tourism economy.

Our guess of statistics for numbers of nigh stay is that it has decreased from around 3.8 nights in 2003 to about 1.8 nights in 2007/2008.

Most of the foreign visitors are those that choose to come, live cheaply and drink their pockets empty. Most of these monies don't find the pockets of the tourism providers either. They line the paper bags of the clever few that have found a way to make a killing from the drinkers stumbling off/on the Ryan Air and other lowcost flights.

Shame on the Latvian Transport Minister and the other leaders of Latvias Tourism and Police sectors for NOT making a plan as the first Ryan Air flight touched down. There is still no plan and only action being done is chasing the drunks around the freedom Monument to stop peeing on the monument and to have them pull up their pants.

SHAME on Latvia's leadership , this rooster crows loudly.

.

Red Tape abound at Bergs's Property Marijas & Elizabetes

2008-06-28T08:19:42Z

Wow, a bright flash of RED blinded the Rooster in his travels this morning over Berga Bazars and Hotel Bergs property in Riga Center.

A closer look showed a huge amount of RED TAPE wandering around the property.

This Rooster was told in no uncertain terms to take his tourism Videos and fly away.

Can't sell them in their Farmers market.

Our company that normally participates in the bi-weekly farmers market decided to arrange for two tables instead of one and display our tourism products in addition to our Linen manufactured products.

After setting up our two tables, the lady in charge told me to take my tourism products and leave the site in ten minutes.

At first we started to discuss in Latvian language as as usual that goes no where. I asked in English what was the problem. The person from Bergs Management said we did not tell her in advance EXACTLY what we were going to sell.

What stupidity is all I can say.

What a country -- that is too much in love with formality and a piece of paper to stop legal, normal business from happening !

No wonder why Latvia is at the wrong end of the list of all the world surveys and no wonder why so many Latvians have gone abroad to earn a living.

No wonder why tourists are complaining about a lack of customer service.

No wonder why foreign investment is difficult to attract.

No wonder why so many shops and cafes are closing their doors.

What is it going to take for young people to say enough is enough ?

Only locals can change this stupidity and turn their country into a prosperous society.

My only suggestion is to boycott the stores, places, etc., that display this behavior. The Bergs's complex establishments have lost my money and my family of Internet sites will tell this story until I "kick the bucket" - hopefully not in Latvia.

Today was one of those days when you really wonder WHY ? Are we flying around Latvia?

more details on our BLOG RedTape.lv

http://www.redtape.lv/2008/06/hotel-bergs-berga-bazars-management.html

.

Finally, the Riga mayor orders police chief to bring order to Old Riga

2008-06-18T06:22:15Z

Hear Hear !!!!! its about time, says the Rooster!

News article:
http://www.standbynews.info/7182.0.html?&tx_standbynews_pi1[showUid]=31413&cHash=7ac85694f2

“Suppress the drunken hoodlums!”
Riga mayor orders police chief to bring order to Old Riga

A drunken Brit who punched a city policeman has managed to annoy even the usually calm mayor of Riga, Janis Birks. Riga Municipal Police Chief Janis Gedusevs has been told to “bring
order in Old Riga”. "It is alarming that an increasingly large number of foreign citizens ignore any kind of limitations, disrespect the rules and have no respect for other people.

Now, by attacking a policeman, they have gone beyond all bounds," Birks said. According to research cited by this article in the Russian-language daily Vesti Segodnja, out of 2.5 million tourists who visit Riga each year, more than 270,000 come to the city with the intention to fight. Latvia has the image of a country with cheap drinks, wayward girls and impunity, the article continues.

Tourists urinating by the Freedom Monument have been punished only by fines. The author of the article suggests putting the nasty people behind bars instead.

Vesti Segodnja, 2008-06-17

.

Americans Need Help in Latvia

2008-06-01T06:48:26Z

http://adoptkristina.blogspot.com/

May 28, 2008

We are writing to you seeking urgent help. We are in Latvia to finalize the legal adoption of a family member, a five year old girl, who was orphaned and we have now run into a stonewall from United States immigration. The U.S. embassy here in Riga has not been able to help. As the situation now stands we are unable to return to the United States with our daughter; the embassy even suggested we leave her here! This is unacceptable.

Two years ago when we found out that Kristina was orphaned; we made an application with the Latvian Ministry of Child Welfare to adopt the child as there were no relatives in Latvia willing or able to take her in. At the same time we contacted USCIS to ask what the process would be to bring her to the United States once the adoption was finalized in Latvia. We were told that because it was a relative child we should file an I-600 visa application that we were directed to download from the internet. Over the next year and a half we completed obtaining the documents required for the I-600 including a home study by a licensed social worker in New York State, a criminal background check, letters of reference, birth and marriage certificates and other required documents. We have all of these in our file.

In January, 2008 our attorney in Riga, Latvia notified us that the Latvian Ministry of Child Welfare had approved us as adoptive parents to Kristina. We contacted USCIS again and asked them when we should file the I-600 form. The USCIS officer asked if we had the court documents from Latvia or a birth certificate for Kristina; we did not as they would not be available until we came to Latvia to finalize the Latvian court process. We were told to bring the I-600 along with our other documents and file them with the embassy in Latvia when we came here to reside for the required one month period. Two days before we left the United States on May 21, 2008 we again contacted USCIS to verify that we had all of the required documents and were there any others we should bring with us. The USCIS officer acknowledged we had done all that was necessary and promised to call us back if any additional information was needed. No one called and we left the U.S.

To our shock and amazement when we went to the U.S. Embassy in Riga on May 23, 2008 we were told that "oh, the law changed on April 1 and you now have to file an I-800A and I-800". We inquired how we could do this and were told that we had to return to the United States to file this form. Our adopted daughter is now living with us -- we asked what we should do about her -- the answer -- "she's not a U.S. citizen and we can't help her, that's your problem". Are you kidding me? What are we supposed to do with this child -- leave her on the street?, abandon her once again to an orphanage? And how long exactly is this new form going to take to file? What are we supposed to do in the meantime? We are here with our daughter Maize who is 10 years old and Maize's grandmother, Milda Betins, who is 88 years old -- what about them?

This is an outrageous situation -- we did everything we were told to do by USCIS and have diligently followed their directions as they were conveyed to us. No matter what we do it now appears one of our daughters will be left without a parent soon. Does any of this represent the best interests of children or of families? Milda Betins is also elderly and needs to go home -- she only came here to see the finalization of the adoption of her sister's great grand daughter -- imagine her shock at the reception this child has so far received from the United States.

Sincerely, Laurence Earner Ilze Earner, Ph.D.
701 Greenwood Avenue 701 Greenwood Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11218 Brooklyn, NY 11218
718-871-5975 -- H 718-871-5875
347-432-0715 -- C

iearner@hunter.cuny.edu
sales@limzmachinery.com

in Latvia:

Zala iela 2
Saulkrasti, LV-2161
2-7864803

Even many British believe their drinking is out of control

2008-05-19T14:29:34Z

Is British drinking out of control? Last Updated: 12:46PM BST 19/05/2008

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/yourview/1987415/Is-British-drinking-out-of-control.html

More than 500 people a day were admitted to hospitals in England last year after drinking too much, according to official figures.

Are British drinkers ignorant amount the amount they drink? Will the new advertisements encourage you to reduce the amount you drink?

Is the only solution to binge drinking to make alcohol more expensive and less readily available? Should the Government be targeting young binge drinkers rather than older, middle classes wine lovers?

Is British drinking out of control?

Looking for a Hotel in Riga? - pay attention - beware of the location

2008-05-09T09:13:54Z

There are many new small hotels springing up all over Riga. Some are not perhaps in the most desirable locations.

As the old saying goes - Let the Buyer Beware !

One local newspaper just issued a strong statement on a new hotel South of the Central Market. A couple of days later a different newspaper issued a glowing report on the same hotel ... whimmm just wondering... yea ...

This Rooster is simply chicken when it feels the heat of the Sicilian BBQ ... so we have decided to change the wording of this POST to be as neutral as possible but still send a message of beware about of the location before you choose your hotel.

Better to be safe than suffer the fate of the infamous DoDo bird. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodo

During the day some of these locations may be quite safe and even large shopping centers are located closeby. However after sundown and with a few too many drinks in my tummy (not thinking too fast and clear) I might be a little more worried about some of the areas outside of the central city center.

Riding public transport can risk having your pocket picked during daylight hours; but the riders of the trams at these later hours may not be the knd of people you would want to invite into your home. This worrys me some too. So a taxi is probably recommend over a late might Tram or bus ride and for sure I would not be walking in some of these locations by myself late at night.

There are many possible hotels in this category and I won't name them as I don't believe it is my place to do so. So as a visitor, consider the location carefully and ask a lot of questions.

So the 100 Ls question (US$200) is do you risk something happening to save 100 Ls on a 3 night stay? Subtract 30 Ls of potential taxi fares during your stay and you are down to a 70 Ls savings over walking to a central city center hotel at a higher price. (30 Ls for taxis is 10 trips at 3 Ls per trip - that's 3+ trips a day for 3 days)

Oh yea, almost forgot to mention, some hotel owners have made special arrangements with taxi companies for special fares from the hotel to popular locations around the city. There is just on simple problem with these relationships and that is the GREED on the part of those involved in calling for the taxi for the client. Sometimes a different taxi company is called than the one which should be and someimes the extra fare charged to the client is shared with the person that called the taxi.

Oh yea, another issue is how do you get back to the hotel without paying the special much higher fare of the taxi driver hailed on the local street corner .. it's know to happen around these parts.

... be careful is all we are saying

RuroVision 2008 Latvian Entry - Pirates Of The Sea - Wolves of the Sea

2008-05-05T20:46:32Z

EuroVision is fast approaching...

... Good Luck Latvia !!

Is there a Cultural Problem Somewher here? Binge Drinking?

2008-05-05T11:15:20Z

-

It seems that a UK couple from Northern Ireland were in Portgual on holidy awith their three (3) children.

They simply passed out from too much drinking leaving the small children without supervision.

The children were removed by the police for their safety.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7383623.stm

Much like the Binge Drinking that many (not all) from the UK do when they visit Riga.

I have to question if there is something wrong in the society that many need to be twiked a little?

What do you think?

Latvia Inflation - Requires New Lessons for Project Submittals

2008-05-02T07:39:57Z

The days of simple brown envelopes are over. Inflation is affecting everyone and everything these days and especially hard hit are the methods for large product approvals.

Now there must be a contingency plan and contingency budget monies available at a moments notice when making your application submittal for signature.

Learn how to make the fast switch of a larger suitcase in place of the smaller envelope in the waiting room.

GREED not safety or quality arrives at Riga Airport

2008-04-29T06:30:31Z

-

Today is a very sad day in Riga especially around the airport taxi queue.

The world famous for excellent customer service, relative safe driving skills and fair prices TAXI COMPANY no longer has an official dispatcher and office at the airport.

Read the positive comments on the Trip Advisor website:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/SearchForums?ff=1134&geo=274967&scope=2&q=red+taxi&returnTo=%2FShowForum-g274967-i1134-Riga.html

Since 1999, we have had an excellent relationship with the company Rigas Taxi Parks http://www.rtp.lv

Their management has be willing to build a relationship; to listen to our concerns and the concerns of clients and to make significant changes in how they operated their business; treated workers; set higher and higher expectations; improved driver safety and demanded that drivers not cheat clients.

I am sure we will never know what has really happened. But thank you Riga City Council for this funeral event today!

So in the vernacular around these parts - caveat emptor -- lie, cheat, steal, rob

Let the arriving client buyer BEWARE of taxi overcharging and unsafe drivers !

Leadership - set an example - not from the British Royal Boys

2008-04-17T09:26:49Z

-

No wonder the British boys coming to Riga do what they do, it's quite common practice in their homeland and even practiced by the Royal family heirs.

If you haven't read about their recent weekend trip to the Isle of Wight, read the article linked below.

And they got their by no leass than a joy ride on a Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter.

I won't bore you with my writing, I will simply post the link to an excellent article written in the Daily Mail Newspaper - William, a helicopter - and this risk to the monarchy
00:10am 17th April 2008

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/columnists/columnists.html?in_article_id=560178&in_page_id=1772&in_author_id=244

Its a great article and I encourage you all to read it.

Continued Taxi Overcharging in Riga - Beware

2008-04-08T07:31:50Z

Again another complaint about taxis overcharging in Riga. This has been an ongoing issue with no apparent action from the city or state government as long as I have been living here since 1999.

Do taxis overcharge?

DO chickens click, do fish swim, do roosters crow?

Silly you, of course Taxis overcharge everywhere in the world.

The issue here is does anyone care. Not in Latvia.

The really only honest taxi company in Riga is the company that operates RED Renaults and small Ford cars. www.rtp.lv

But, rumor has it that city council is about to make a very stupid decision and either replace the RED taxi company at the airport with the "not so good" company or add the "not so good company" and let the buyer beware. The decision is due to be made 9 April.

All we can do it try to make our voice heard; but, no confidence on my part that anyone cares.

Where is the Leadership in Latvia? - Still hiding after 50+ years of Soviet Occupation?

2008-02-26T07:16:08Z

British visitors need to find a toilet and stop peeing in public! Who cares if it is a small number of them. It's plain and simply WRONG and public pressure and awareness is the only way to STOP it.

Get the message Mr. British Ambassador - more action and fewer words in a Press Release is what's required on your part - get involved, meet some flights at the airport and have a little chat with your "???s"!

What's wrong Mr. Latvian President? Its about time someone in Latvia stood up and did something to improve the situation in Latvia.

The silence from Latvia's leaders is deafening when it comes to dealing with tough issues including reckless driving, lack of work safety practices, bad customer service, non payment of taxes, lying, cheating and on and on.

So what's right is the recent Interior Minister's willingness for once to stand up and be heard on an issue that has gone on far too long unchecked.

The British Government is basically accepting this behavior as it has gone on for hundreds of years at home and with their "traveling pigs" show.

But, that does not mean that Latvia and other countries have to stand for it.

OK, maybe the Latvian laws are too weak, so finally someone is getting angry and will push through some tougher punishment.

The Riga Rooster crows loudly in support of the Interior Minister and his comments about the peeing pigs!

Its time for all Latvians to stop hiding their heads in the sand like an Ostrich bird or swimming like a jellyfish. Get a spine and lets get going to make Latvia a stronger country!

-

It couldn't have happened to a nicer BLOKE ! Don't pee on our monuments!

2008-02-19T15:18:51Z

The Riga Rooster HOLY agrees with the comments in this Press Release and fully supports even stronger fines and more jail time.

RIGA, Feb 19 (LETA) - The foreigners who urinate by the Freedom Monument are pigs, Interior Minister Mareks Seglins (People's Party) expressed to members of the press today.

As reported, today, the Riga Central Court imposed a five-day administrative arrest against a British citizen (born 1974) who was caught yesterday relieving himself at the Freedom Monument in Riga. He is the first foreigner who has been arrested for such conduct in Latvia.

Seglins, commenting on the recent ''tradition'' of foreigners relieving themselves by the Freedom Monument, told members of the press: ''Pigs those English. Full of filthy blokes!''

The politician emphasized that a bill is being put forward at Saeima that would give police officers more authority in similar situations.

As reported, Riga Mayor Janis Birks (For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK) believes that harsher penalties must be introduced for people who can find no better place than the Freedom Monument to relieve themselves.

Last week, amendments to the Administrative Violations Code, proposed by Birks' TB/LNNK, were forwarded to Saeima committees. The amendments are meant to prevent foreign tourists' obscenity and lewdness at the Freedom Monument and stipulate raising the applicable fine to LVL 200, and LVL 500 if the offender is caught doing the same thing again.

LETA
Copyright © LETA

Spoof of Stalin's Cousin

2007-08-31T17:28:10Z

Are you considering a visit to Eastern Europe to meet a lady?

Think twice!

Somewhere in Eastern Europe, there is a lady named "Stacia". Some have said that she is really related to Stalin; but, no one is sure.

Maybe you will recognize her from past visits. Maybe not, too!

But, I thing if you had ever saw her face to face, you would never forget her.

The question is: "will you ever meet her again"? (more)

7 tourists illegaly detained in Riga, Latvia for over two weeks

2007-06-04T04:30:00Z

5 Portuguese and 2 Spanish tourists were detained in Riga, Latvia on 16 May for alledgedly "stamping on a flag". No witnesses were brought forward & no proof was shown. 3 have been freed without charge. The others are still in jail suffering from malnutrition. Read one of the freed detainees' first hand account. Please digg this to raise awareness.

read more | digg story

Summer of fun in Riga Latvia - 2007

2007-06-02T17:15:28Z



"Summer of fun in Riga Latvia - 2007" on Google Video
Lots to see and lots to do in Riga Latvia. Oh how things have changed in the last eight (8) years. Riga is transforming itself into happening place. ... come and enjoy the experience !

The Emperor of Japan and his wife in Riga

2007-05-26T04:57:46Z

Emperor of Japan arrives in Riga Latvia

2007-05-25T10:12:23Z



"Emperor of Japan arrives in Riga Latvia" on Google Video
Motorcade on arrival in Riga Latvia of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Akihito, emperor of Japan

Wow - cost of Rooster's rooms and feed skyrocketing

2007-05-14T06:02:15Z

From StandBy News - 14 May 2007, www.standbynews.info

Prices at hotels and restaurants in Latvia up 42% since April 2004

According to the Latvian Central Statistical Bureau, the services of hotels and restaurants in April were 17.5% more expensive on average compared to April 2006. Since Latvia joined the European Union, the prices for catering and hotel services have climbed rapidly – compared to April 2004, prices have increased by 42%.

Dienas Bizness, 2007-05-11

It ain't cheap to live in Riga

2007-05-12T02:27:04Z

-

Annual inflation in April at 8.9% from: http://www.leta.lv

RIGA, May 10 (LETA) - Inflation in Latvia keeps rising: in April, compared to April 2006, consumer prices increased 8.9 percent, according to the Central Statistical Bureau's data.

Prices for goods grew 7.5 percent in April, and prices for services 12.7 percent.

Compared to this past March, average consumer price level in April rose 0.9 percent. Prices for both goods and services increased 0.9 percent.

Higher prices for vegetables, fuel and catering services, increased water supply tariffs had the greatest effect on consumer price changes in April.

As reported, last year consumer prices in Latvia grew 6.8 percent: prices for services increased 6.4 percent and prices for goods grew 7.9 percent. Inflation in 2005 totaled 7 percent.

Žanete Hāka LETA

more news: http://www.latviatravel.info/news/

ELKOR - Riga - a continued disappointment

2007-04-26T16:38:21Z

ELKOR what a company - huge stores, lots of selection and customer service from the stone age!

I continue to be amused at how stupid their purchasing people are. I have been to almost all of their stores over the past 10 months and have purchased every large black picture frame that they have in stock. I have also bought a few with silver and a couple with dark blue frames. These are nice Germany made frames about 6.99 Ls each.

Its been a total of perhaps 25 or more frames. I would have bought MORE if they had them.

With all these frames being sold in many of their stores, you would imagine some clever purchasing person or computer analysis program saying ... BUY MORE! THEY WILL SELL!

nah..... no more in stock. Today, I found only one of my first choice and 3 more small second choice frames. Oh yes, all the prices have gone up 1 to 2 Ls each an increase of 28%

Don't bother asking the clerk if they have more or can get more, they simply stare at you in dis belief or say something like. This is what we got buy or or leave! They are close to being simply RUDE!

Overall I give ELKOR stores a Rooster rating of 1/2 rooster our lowest rating

1/2 Our lowest rating - Meets minimum acceptable expectations