Latvia Archives – Explore with Lora

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How to Have an Awesome Weekend in Riga

Latvia was never a country that was on my radar, but I ended up visiting Riga for a weekend while…
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I’m obsessed with this part of Newfoundland! Too

I’m obsessed with this part of Newfoundland! Took a trip last week to the Bonavista Peninsula to hike the discovery trail network and check out the fall colours, which are absolutely stunning right now. The discovery trails are a network of trails around the Bonavista Peninsula. The most famous is the Skerwink Trail but there are plenty of others with equally amazing views. Along the trails you can see rugged cliffs, sea stacks, lighthouses, 560-million year old fossils, icebergs, whales, sea birds, and charming communities - just to name a few of the attractions. Another must-do well out here is join a boat tour to look for marine life and take in the coastline from the water. Thanks to @seaofwhalesnl for taking me out me out - it started as a foggy day but as the sky cleared it made for an incredible view. And we saw minkes and porpoises! The beauty of this province never ceases to amaze me - big thanks to @newfoundlandlabrador @legendarycoasts for helping make this trip possible ☺️

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="I’m obsessed with this part of Newfoundland! Took a trip last week to the Bonavista Peninsula to hike the discovery trail network and check out the fall colours, which are absolutely stunning right now. The discovery trails are a network of trails around the Bonavista Peninsula. The most famous is the Skerwink Trail but there are plenty of others with equally amazing views. Along the trails you can see rugged cliffs, sea stacks, lighthouses, 560-million year old fossils, icebergs, whales, sea birds, and charming communities - just to name a few of the attractions. Another must-do well out here is join a boat tour to look for marine life and take in the coastline from the water. Thanks to @seaofwhalesnl for taking me out me out - it started as a foggy day but as the sky cleared it made for an incredible view. And we saw minkes and porpoises! The beauty of this province never ceases to amaze me - big thanks to @newfoundlandlabrador @legendarycoasts for helping make this trip possible ☺️">

Thank you to everyone who voted in my story poll l

Thank you to everyone who voted in my story poll last week! This month's fundraising for unethical animal tourism awareness will go to @evpcambodia The Elephant Valley Project are doing amazing work in Cambodia and Thailand, helping to provide a home for elephants who have been overworked and abused their whole lives. I spent some time there volunteering in 2017 and it was an eye-opening experience learning about how elephants are exploited and tortured for the tourism industry in Southeast Asia. Thankfully, there are amazing organizations like EVP giving these elephants a second chance at living a happy life. But, it's not cheap to provide a home for elephants! 100% of the money donated will go to food and medicine for the elephants, pay the Mahoots caring for the elephants, habitat protection, education, and support for the community. Any little help makes a huge difference for the animals and locals involved in the project. If you can't donate money, you can share this with your friends and family. Maybe they have something to spare🥰 Thanks to @brainybackpackers and @expedition.wildlife for their passion for animal welfare in tourism, working with me this month to spread awareness! There’s a link in my bio for the GoFundMe ☺️

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="Thank you to everyone who voted in my story poll last week! This month's fundraising for unethical animal tourism awareness will go to @evpcambodia The Elephant Valley Project are doing amazing work in Cambodia and Thailand, helping to provide a home for elephants who have been overworked and abused their whole lives. I spent some time there volunteering in 2017 and it was an eye-opening experience learning about how elephants are exploited and tortured for the tourism industry in Southeast Asia. Thankfully, there are amazing organizations like EVP giving these elephants a second chance at living a happy life. But, it's not cheap to provide a home for elephants! 100% of the money donated will go to food and medicine for the elephants, pay the Mahoots caring for the elephants, habitat protection, education, and support for the community. Any little help makes a huge difference for the animals and locals involved in the project. If you can't donate money, you can share this with your friends and family. Maybe they have something to spare🥰 Thanks to @brainybackpackers and @expedition.wildlife for their passion for animal welfare in tourism, working with me this month to spread awareness! There’s a link in my bio for the GoFundMe ☺️">

Just hanging out with my bestie 🐧 Penguins are

Just hanging out with my bestie 🐧 Penguins are my favorite animal! For as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with these guys and it’s one of my life goals to see all 17 species of them in the wild. So far I’ve seen six - so I’m on my way! With the exception of the Galápagos penguin, all penguin species live in the Southern Hemisphere. The best places to see them are Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), Falkland Islands (off the coast of Argentina), South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and of course, Antarctica. If you’re wondering exactly where to see them in the wild, check out my latest blog post! This guy was found on Martillo Island near Ushuaia, Argentina (most southerly city in the world). The island is actually home to a huge colony of Magellanic penguins and small colony of gentoo penguins, but randomly the day we visited this king penguin was there too. A lost explorer? It was pretty cute how he was trying to low key blend in 😂 Yes you can see penguins in zoos and aquariums but often times they endure traumatic journeys there and live very stressful lives just for the benefit of our entertainment. Trust me, there is no better feeling in the world then seeing your favourite animal in the wild just being it’s happy self. ☺️ Which animal would you love to see in the wild?

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="Just hanging out with my bestie 🐧 Penguins are my favorite animal! For as long as I can remember I’ve been obsessed with these guys and it’s one of my life goals to see all 17 species of them in the wild. So far I’ve seen six - so I’m on my way! With the exception of the Galápagos penguin, all penguin species live in the Southern Hemisphere. The best places to see them are Patagonia (Chile and Argentina), Falkland Islands (off the coast of Argentina), South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and of course, Antarctica. If you’re wondering exactly where to see them in the wild, check out my latest blog post! This guy was found on Martillo Island near Ushuaia, Argentina (most southerly city in the world). The island is actually home to a huge colony of Magellanic penguins and small colony of gentoo penguins, but randomly the day we visited this king penguin was there too. A lost explorer? It was pretty cute how he was trying to low key blend in 😂 Yes you can see penguins in zoos and aquariums but often times they endure traumatic journeys there and live very stressful lives just for the benefit of our entertainment. Trust me, there is no better feeling in the world then seeing your favourite animal in the wild just being it’s happy self. ☺️ Which animal would you love to see in the wild?">

Earlier this summer I was photographing puffins fr

Earlier this summer I was photographing puffins from a distance in Elliston on the cliffs. It was nice but difficult to get a good picture as they were so far away. We were about to leave when someone told me to look behind me, and there was the cutest little guy behind me. His friend then came over to say hi, followed by a few more. I was surrounded by a puffin party and it was so amazing - swipe to see the cuties! If we had left just a minute before, I never would have had this magical encounter. That is the key to having an amazing wildlife experience: patience. It’s not easy to see an animal in the wild, but there is no feeling like it in the world when you do. October is (un)ethical animal tourism month and myself @brainybackpackers @expedition.wildlife are going to be sharing amazing ethical wildlife experiences around the globe as well as tips and advice on ethical (and unethical) animal tourism so you can make better informed decisions in your future travel plans! Let me know your favorite wildlife species in the comments below! I’ll be sharing mine soon 😁

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="Earlier this summer I was photographing puffins from a distance in Elliston on the cliffs. It was nice but difficult to get a good picture as they were so far away. We were about to leave when someone told me to look behind me, and there was the cutest little guy behind me. His friend then came over to say hi, followed by a few more. I was surrounded by a puffin party and it was so amazing - swipe to see the cuties! If we had left just a minute before, I never would have had this magical encounter. That is the key to having an amazing wildlife experience: patience. It’s not easy to see an animal in the wild, but there is no feeling like it in the world when you do. October is (un)ethical animal tourism month and myself @brainybackpackers @expedition.wildlife are going to be sharing amazing ethical wildlife experiences around the globe as well as tips and advice on ethical (and unethical) animal tourism so you can make better informed decisions in your future travel plans! Let me know your favorite wildlife species in the comments below! I’ll be sharing mine soon 😁">

Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbin

Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim. - Vicki Harrison (one of my favourite quotes about grief). When I first lost my dad, I never thought I would heal from it. Watching the person who brought me into this world leave it in front of my eyes changed me, and I struggled to find the same joy I had for life before. It was a long, difficult process but over time, I began to heal. I learned to swim, because I had too. But lately, I feel like I am drowning again. And this is largely in part because I am drowning in bureaucracy. No one really talks about the bureaucracy of death, at least, it’s not something I had given much consideration to before. But life is complex, and unfortunately those complexities have to passed on to someone else when you are no longer in this world. Being given the legal responsibility to finalize my dads life is one of the most stressful things things I’ve ever endured. It’s hard to separate bureaucracy from emotion when it’s tied up in so much grief. The conclusion of someone’s life is not for the faint of heart. If your parents are still alive I encourage you to talk with them about this and what they plan to do. I know that’s it’s awful and awkward and the last conversation you want to have. I didn’t want to have it either. I never fathomed the possibility of my dad dying at this age, so I pushed the conversations off. We said we’d do it later. But later never came, and now I’m stuck with a bunch of questions I’ll never get the answers too, just trying to do my best. Tell them you love them too. I wish I could. ❤️

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="Grief is like the ocean; it comes on waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim. - Vicki Harrison (one of my favourite quotes about grief). When I first lost my dad, I never thought I would heal from it. Watching the person who brought me into this world leave it in front of my eyes changed me, and I struggled to find the same joy I had for life before. It was a long, difficult process but over time, I began to heal. I learned to swim, because I had too. But lately, I feel like I am drowning again. And this is largely in part because I am drowning in bureaucracy. No one really talks about the bureaucracy of death, at least, it’s not something I had given much consideration to before. But life is complex, and unfortunately those complexities have to passed on to someone else when you are no longer in this world. Being given the legal responsibility to finalize my dads life is one of the most stressful things things I’ve ever endured. It’s hard to separate bureaucracy from emotion when it’s tied up in so much grief. The conclusion of someone’s life is not for the faint of heart. If your parents are still alive I encourage you to talk with them about this and what they plan to do. I know that’s it’s awful and awkward and the last conversation you want to have. I didn’t want to have it either. I never fathomed the possibility of my dad dying at this age, so I pushed the conversations off. We said we’d do it later. But later never came, and now I’m stuck with a bunch of questions I’ll never get the answers too, just trying to do my best. Tell them you love them too. I wish I could. ❤️">

Hi friends. I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately

Hi friends. I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately because I haven’t been feeling the best lately. It all started with a car accident a few weeks ago that sent my body into flight or fight mode, which hasn’t turned off since. There were other factors at play, but it was a catalyst to the return of my friends depression and anxiety. I wake up most mornings crying but for some reason I just keep telling myself to push on instead of dealing with the emotions. I tell myself if I just got to the gym, write that article, do the things I’m suppose to be doing, that it will be okay. But the stress keeps building up inside of me. Then yesterday, I had a near-drowning accident. I pushed myself to do something that I wasn’t in the mental space for, and that led to a stupid accident that resulted in me loosing consciousness underwater. There are no words to explain how grateful I am that someone was there to save me, otherwise I don’t think I would be writing this right now. I don’t even know why I’m writing this, but I just couldn’t stand the idea of posting another photo and pretending like I’m okay. I’m not okay. I’m far from it. We’re in the middle of a pandemic that’s destroyed my goals for this year, I’m still dealing with the grief of my father, I’m living in a place where I feel like I have no community and am incredibly lonely, I crash a car and nearly drown, and yet I still expect myself to get up every day and perform at my 100% best self? This is literally the narrative I tell myself. But today I say no to that, and yes to my mental health. It’s okay to not be okay.

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="Hi friends. I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately because I haven’t been feeling the best lately. It all started with a car accident a few weeks ago that sent my body into flight or fight mode, which hasn’t turned off since. There were other factors at play, but it was a catalyst to the return of my friends depression and anxiety. I wake up most mornings crying but for some reason I just keep telling myself to push on instead of dealing with the emotions. I tell myself if I just got to the gym, write that article, do the things I’m suppose to be doing, that it will be okay. But the stress keeps building up inside of me. Then yesterday, I had a near-drowning accident. I pushed myself to do something that I wasn’t in the mental space for, and that led to a stupid accident that resulted in me loosing consciousness underwater. There are no words to explain how grateful I am that someone was there to save me, otherwise I don’t think I would be writing this right now. I don’t even know why I’m writing this, but I just couldn’t stand the idea of posting another photo and pretending like I’m okay. I’m not okay. I’m far from it. We’re in the middle of a pandemic that’s destroyed my goals for this year, I’m still dealing with the grief of my father, I’m living in a place where I feel like I have no community and am incredibly lonely, I crash a car and nearly drown, and yet I still expect myself to get up every day and perform at my 100% best self? This is literally the narrative I tell myself. But today I say no to that, and yes to my mental health. It’s okay to not be okay.">

I am constantly amazed at how beautiful this plane

I am constantly amazed at how beautiful this planet is. Our natural environment is full of incredible wonders across the globe, yet so much of that isn’t going to exist in the future if we keep going down this path. How many more headlines can we see about extreme fires, biodiversity collapses, and ice shelves caving in before it’s enough to take action? While we can all to our own part to help, the federal government needs to commit to taking action too. They are about to give the Canadian economy a multi-billion-dollar kick-start in an effort to recover from the COVID-19 health crisis, and this plan needs to prioritize our wellbeing and environmental issues. That’s why I’m calling on the Minister of Finance, @chrystiafreeland to commit to a #green and #justrecovery plan that commits to helping Canada transition to a cleaner and more equitable economy. Join me. Please visit the link in my bio to sign the online petition.⁣ @envirodefence #ad #oneearthonevoice #PeerOEOV3

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="I am constantly amazed at how beautiful this planet is. Our natural environment is full of incredible wonders across the globe, yet so much of that isn’t going to exist in the future if we keep going down this path. How many more headlines can we see about extreme fires, biodiversity collapses, and ice shelves caving in before it’s enough to take action? While we can all to our own part to help, the federal government needs to commit to taking action too. They are about to give the Canadian economy a multi-billion-dollar kick-start in an effort to recover from the COVID-19 health crisis, and this plan needs to prioritize our wellbeing and environmental issues. That’s why I’m calling on the Minister of Finance, @chrystiafreeland to commit to a #green and #justrecovery plan that commits to helping Canada transition to a cleaner and more equitable economy. Join me. Please visit the link in my bio to sign the online petition.⁣ @envirodefence #ad #oneearthonevoice #PeerOEOV3">

Atlantic bubble travel 🌊 - Have you taken advan

Atlantic bubble travel 🌊 - Have you taken advantage of it yet? Let’s face it, if you’re living in Atlantic Canada it sucks that you can’t leave the bubble without facing a two week quarantine coming back. After what felt like never-ending quarantine this spring, I wasn’t willing to give up two weeks of our precious summer to leave, so I stayed local. I traveled all over Newfoundland, and took two trips outside of it - one to New Brunswick in July and another to Nova Scotia in August. (Sorry PEI - I owe you a visit)! Not only is this the perfect opportunity to see those places closer to home that you’ve always wanted to explore, but the bubble is a great way to safely travel right now and support local businesses. Most tour operators are barely staying afloat,so spending your money locally can make a huge difference in whose going to survive until next year when we all hope things go back to normal. As for safety, I felt very safe traveling through Newfoundland and the maritimes this summer. Even though cases have been quite low all summer and non-existent in many parts, there are still precautions everywhere. Everyone was respectful of my space, wore masks, and all businesses had enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures. For me, the best part about traveling close to home is that you can road trip. No worrying about close spaces on planes and limited luggage - you can just pack up the car with stuff and go. If you’re interested in road tripping around Cape Breton, check out my latest blog post for the best spots to visit! Do you have a travel bubble where you live? Have you taken advantage of it?

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="Atlantic bubble travel 🌊 - Have you taken advantage of it yet? Let’s face it, if you’re living in Atlantic Canada it sucks that you can’t leave the bubble without facing a two week quarantine coming back. After what felt like never-ending quarantine this spring, I wasn’t willing to give up two weeks of our precious summer to leave, so I stayed local. I traveled all over Newfoundland, and took two trips outside of it - one to New Brunswick in July and another to Nova Scotia in August. (Sorry PEI - I owe you a visit)! Not only is this the perfect opportunity to see those places closer to home that you’ve always wanted to explore, but the bubble is a great way to safely travel right now and support local businesses. Most tour operators are barely staying afloat,so spending your money locally can make a huge difference in whose going to survive until next year when we all hope things go back to normal. As for safety, I felt very safe traveling through Newfoundland and the maritimes this summer. Even though cases have been quite low all summer and non-existent in many parts, there are still precautions everywhere. Everyone was respectful of my space, wore masks, and all businesses had enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures. For me, the best part about traveling close to home is that you can road trip. No worrying about close spaces on planes and limited luggage - you can just pack up the car with stuff and go. If you’re interested in road tripping around Cape Breton, check out my latest blog post for the best spots to visit! Do you have a travel bubble where you live? Have you taken advantage of it?">

One of my last memories abroad was biking through

One of my last memories abroad was biking through the streets of Rome, which felt like I was in a dream. There's something so magical about Italy that leaves you with the feeling of wonder and awe, the one that makes you addicted to travel. Full of ancient history, diverse scenery, charming cities and irresistible food, Italy is the perfect destination to visit when it’s time to travel again. Have you been before? Let me know your fave place in Italy so I can add it to my list! #ad #enjoyitalyresponsibly #PeerITALIA

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="One of my last memories abroad was biking through the streets of Rome, which felt like I was in a dream. There's something so magical about Italy that leaves you with the feeling of wonder and awe, the one that makes you addicted to travel. Full of ancient history, diverse scenery, charming cities and irresistible food, Italy is the perfect destination to visit when it’s time to travel again. Have you been before? Let me know your fave place in Italy so I can add it to my list! #ad #enjoyitalyresponsibly #PeerITALIA">

When I brought my few remaining positions and cat

When I brought my few remaining positions and cat back to Newfoundland last Christmas I never expected that I would be spending half of 2020 in Atlantic Canada, but this year had other plans for us all. After living in other parts of Canada for the last 7 years, I feel grateful for this opportunity to reconnect with where I’m from. Things have returned to a sense of normalcy as much as they can here, and it’s given me the chance to see more of Newfoundland then I ever have before. And thanks to the Atlantic travel bubble, I’ve had the chance to discover the beauty of my neighbouring provinces too. Last month I got to spend time exploring Nova Scotia, which has so much to offer. I loved my time in Halifax and taking day trips out of the city to explore cute communities like Peggys Cove. It’s not hard to see why this is one of Canada’s most famous lighthouses! I showed up late in the day as the sun was setting, which was actually the perfect time to visit. The sunset over the lighthouse was breathtaking! Has this year brought you somewhere you didn’t expect?

<img src="https://explorewithlora.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png" alt="When I brought my few remaining positions and cat back to Newfoundland last Christmas I never expected that I would be spending half of 2020 in Atlantic Canada, but this year had other plans for us all. After living in other parts of Canada for the last 7 years, I feel grateful for this opportunity to reconnect with where I’m from. Things have returned to a sense of normalcy as much as they can here, and it’s given me the chance to see more of Newfoundland then I ever have before. And thanks to the Atlantic travel bubble, I’ve had the chance to discover the beauty of my neighbouring provinces too. Last month I got to spend time exploring Nova Scotia, which has so much to offer. I loved my time in Halifax and taking day trips out of the city to explore cute communities like Peggys Cove. It’s not hard to see why this is one of Canada’s most famous lighthouses! I showed up late in the day as the sun was setting, which was actually the perfect time to visit. The sunset over the lighthouse was breathtaking! Has this year brought you somewhere you didn’t expect?">