I seemed to have missed this one over the summer but heres a wonderful video extolling the virtues of Latvia's spas. And, it only cost the Latvian Tourism Agency 41,00 USD!

Šlesers and Flick yesterday presented the first phase in Riga's new tourism campaign. Things got off to a bad start when journalists were sent this version of the ad complete with one big Freudian slip.


oops... was supposed to be "Leave". Click pic for larger size.

This ad has almost something wrong with it everywhere you look. First of all the whole slogan just sounds clumsy in English, certainly not up to the level of what it should be.

Riga City: Easy to go. Hard to leave. You understand what they were trying to get at but probably needs to be written a bit different. Firstly you dont need to call it Riga City, people will understand fine enough if you just say Riga. Easy to go - maybe 'Easy to visit' might be better. Hard to Leave is probably the only thing right in this slogan.

Have a look at the tagline at the bottom. Birthplace of Christmas tree - a 'the' in there wouldnt go astray. Then under that is something I still cant figure out what its supposed to mean: Now for 499 years What the...?? I cant even imagine what it was in Latvian before they got their literal translator to have a go at it.

Lastly the photos. OK this may be purely subjective, but to me those images say nothing. In an abstract way, which I would understand, it still says nothing. A heart with an eye in it (EDIT: Took me awhile but I just work out its supposed to represent I LOVE = eye heart) and a fat viking opera singer.... thats just got Riga written all over it!

Ads already appearing in online advertising lists for professional meteor diggers - a bargain at only 12,00LVL.

http://www.zip.lv/show/?i=843649

Looks like it was a dumb-ass idea from Tele-2 mobile photo company. Hoping to get some good press for Latvia (as opposed to the recent crisis press) they thought that a hoax/swindle/conjob would make people think a bit different about Latvia and inspire Latvians. Prātiņ nac mājas! (Come home brain!)...

.........................................

"Mazsalaca meteorite" turns out to be marketing hoax by "Tele2"

RIGA, Oct 26 (LETA) - "Mazsalaca meteorite" was actually a hoax designed by the telecommunication company "Tele2", as the company's marketing director Janis Sprogis acknowledged to LETA.

"Our goal is to inspire the people of Latvia," Sprogis said.

"As we can see, with this Latvia made the news all over the world, everyone wants to know about Latvia, and this is not because of the crisis, the hard times and so, but because there is something creative and exciting happening here. It is a unique achievement and part of our communication," said Sprogis.

Sprogis also said that "Tele2" would compensate all the losses that the state has sustained.

(more -> LETA )

Reports (Associated Press) today seem to lean towards the meteorite which hit a field near Mazsalaca to be a hoax.....first tip off might have been the land owner, complete with ticket book in hand, who started charging 15 Lats (21 euro) to see the meteorite. Some reports say she seems to be a local politician who is a member of the local district council.

Experts say it was probably done using shovels and some pyrotechnic compound for the 'burning'meteorite. Must have taken some time to do...



The video as well was quite well done....

New reverse graffiti thats popped up throughout Riga. Reverse graffiti is created by cleaning dirty surfaces with stencils, detergent, and a high powered pressure washer.

At a time when Latvia is losing people to economic migration this campaign(?) says: - 1. Your grandkids wont speak Latvian there - 2. Dont give in, Dont leave - 3. Build Latvia, not other countries - 4. The lucky country is here, dont leave

Originally filed under "must be some kind of joke" but then after a bit of investigation it was refiled under "dear god it is true!" - wonder if there will any protesters against this parade? Not only the parade elicits a wtf but also the fact there is a website for Latvian Blondes - http://www.goblonde.lv

RIGA, Latvia, May 27 (UPI) -- The head of the Latvian Blondes
association said a planned parade of about 2,000 blond women is aimed
at cheering the country up amid economic woes.

Marika Gederte, head of the club for women with yellow hair, said
the parade planned for Sunday in the Latvian capital Riga will be held
under the motto "make the world a brighter place" and will involve an
orchestra comprised entirely of blondes, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.

"People need positive emotions, and I hope this event will cheer them up," Gederte said.

She said the parade will lead up to a ball that will feature
contests in categories including Latvia's best blond lawyer and best
blond journalist.

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/05/27/UPI-NewsTrack-Quirks-in-the-News/UPI-44851243459800/