Baltic states: Life and business (off off Tokyo): August 2-8, 2014

More than 20 years have passed after Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia became independent from the Soviet Union.

The societies and the lives of the people there have dramatically changed.

Estonia is known as "e-country" or one of most advanced nations in the world in the use of IT. I visited e-Estonia showroom, where the history, the current situation and the future policy on IT were displayed and well explained.

Lithuania and Latvia follow. I saw many free WiFi spots in the towns, including a place in front of Riga's cathedral (picture).

Some taxis offered free WiFi services.

“Eco” is another trend. Systems to use (share) public bicycles are introduced in Vilnius and Riga. The photo is taken in Vilnius.

Integration of society and economy goes on. 

Crossing the borders is their daily activities. 

I saw people and tourists waiting the buses at Riga Bus terminal for Tallinn (Estonia), Vilnius (Lithuania), Berlin (Germany), Minsk (Belarus), Moscow (Russia) and many other foreign cities (even in the Russia-west tension over Ukraine).






Of course, many people spend ordinary life.

People enjoyed beer in the open-air bars along the streets. They enjoyed summer's day in the park and other places, including Riga's canal side (left) and Tallinn's small open space on the shops (photo second from the top).

The huge market in Riga was crowded with local shoppers. The market was made using the materials taken from the mooting facility of Zeppelin, the famous airship developed in the early 20th century. 

People were selling ice creams, souvenirs and drawing pictures in the old towns as usual. The photo was taken in Vilnius. 


In countryside, they were making hay rolls for winter seasons (top photo). 

Some are changing rapidly and some are slowly.