Thursday, July 2, 2009

Riga is a clean city

The cities hire people, mostly middle-aged and older, mostly female, to sweep the streets, walks, and parking strips. These people are out early in the morning with broom and long-handled dustpan (so they don't have to bend over, of course), sweeping the streets at the curbs and the sidewalks. At our former apartment complex, the sweepers also had home-fashioned carts in which to dump the refuse, including empty alcohol bottles. Their brooms are very functional, but different than what we see at home. Many are made from twigs, tied and fastened to a handle. They work very well, especially when sweeping leaves, etc. from the grass/dirt areas. We're now also seeing more "American-looking" brooms.

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