Fishmonger

Riga Central Market.  Which offers a magnificent selection of fresh fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, spices and many other foods.  The offical website here includes some interesting old photos including this one taken in 1964 during the Soviet occupation.

The site also lists some of the products available including "Honey in the honeycombs and flower dust, Hemp butter, Sandthorn syrup and marmalade, Cranberries, red bilberries, mountain ash (at fall), Fried lampreys, Rye bread, Salted and dried mushrooms, Sauerkraut (autumn, winter), Kvass (summer), Pig snouts (in winter), Crafters’ Wickerworks and Knitwear and Amber jewelry".  Not sure why pig snouts are available only in winter.

It's an amazing structure (see today's reserve blips) and claims to be Europe's largest market (72,000 square meters). It's also included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list as part of the listing for Old Riga.

The market consists of five pavilions constructed by re-using old German Zeppelin hangars (the market has 5 of 9 (some sources say 13) of these structures still existing worldwide). It was built from 1924 to 1930 and took a couple of years longer than planned because of financing problems.  Good to see that the Riga City Council has resisted pressures to 'supermarket'ize' the place and is intent on preserving the market's character and cultural value.