Nē, nē, nē, duša ir pirmais! These were the instructions given by a Latvian grandmother in her birthday suit after I entered the bath complex and reached for the steam room door. Never mind that I was already clean. The Latvian sauna ritual always begins with a shower. Perhaps amused by my halting Latvian and my […]
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10 Fun Things To Do in Sydney, Australia
Sydney is a city best enjoyed outdoors. It has cliff walks with epic views, ferry rides past famous landmarks, and beaches close enough to downtown that locals can catch a few waves before and after work. Then there’s the food. In between adventures, you can treat yourself to the freshest seafood and messiest cakes. (I’m […]
Two Weeks in Australia: The Perfect Itinerary
Anyone who has been to the Land Down Under knows that Australia has some of the most stunning and diverse scenery in the world. From the burnt red expanse of the Outback and cliff-backed beaches along the coasts to subtropical rain forests and snow-covered mountains, nearly every type of landscape is represented across the continent. […]
40 Photos That Will Make You Want to Visit Istanbul in Winter
When I first learned that Turkish Airlines offered direct flights between Riga and Istanbul, I started dreaming about a sunny winter getaway. The average temperature for Istanbul in January is 45F/7C, which might not seem super warm, but is an improvement over Riga’s 30F/-1C and near-constant snow cover. Istanbul is also 1,800 kilometers south of Riga, resulting […]
36 Hours in Hobart, Tasmania
My introduction to Tasmania was altogether too brief. Due to a scheduling snafu and delayed flight, I had just 36 hours in Hobart, the capital of Australia’s southern island state. But, as ever, I was determined to make the most of my visit. While I didn’t climb to the top of Mount Wellington or go […]
Trakai Castle: A Medieval Fairytale in Lithuania
Regular readers of this blog will know that I love a good castle. This fact traces to my childhood, when my favorite movie was Disney’s Robin Hood. I delighted in watching the cartoon animals sing and frolic around ye olde countryside and dreamed of being Maid Marion in a castle of my own. (Dramatic scenes were often […]
3 Days in Vienna: The Best Palaces and Museums
Vienna is a beautiful city filled with art, music, and coffee houses. It was home to Mozart and Beethoven, seat of the Hapsburg Monarchy, and capital of the Holy Roman Empire for hundreds of years. With over 100 museums and multiple palaces to explore, you will need at least 3 days in Vienna. The following […]