Latvia Archives – Explore with Lora

Start Here
About Lora
Destinations
Blog
Contact Me

Explore with Lora

Find your next adventure

Choose your Adventure
Destinations
Travel Resources

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…
Read More

Meet Lora

Hey there! I’m Lora, and welcome to your resource for finding amazing adventures around the world. I’m on a mission to explore every corner of this earth (57 countries and counting), seeking out the best hiking, diving, and wildlife encounters on this planet. I created this blog to share my journey and best insider travel tips with you. Read more

Let’s Connect

Recent Posts

Free and Discounted Products That Can Help Your Online Business Grow
Nomatic 40L Travel Bag Review: Why I’m Obsessed With This Bag
Should you Purchase Car Rental Insurance?

Follow on Pinterest

Contact
Travel Resources

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter for adventures sent straight to your inbox!

Leave this field empty if you're human:

Let’s Connect

Terms and Conditions

explorewithlora

The first country I ever visited outside of Canada

The first country I ever visited outside of Canada - our neighbour the United States! It was back in the 90s when you could cross the border without a passport, remember those days? We were visiting my Grandpa in Ontario and went to visit Niagara Falls one day which borders the state of New York. Because I was young and didn’t understand geography well, I thought that meant that New York City was on the other side. I begged and begged my grandfather to drive us across the border, convinced that I would suddenly be immersed in big shiny lights and shopping malls. He eventually caved and drove us across, and I met my disappointment that New York City was not right there. We visited the Rainbow Centre Factory Outlet, which was the closest I’d get to an American shopping experience. Since then I’ve visited many different parts of the United States, but it wasn’t until this last summer that I finally took a proper visit to New York City. It was a beautiful start of summer weekend attending the @govballnyc. There were so many people out that weekend and the city had a special kind of energy. It’s surreal to think of the streets there being empty now. Hoping New York and the rest of the world can heal from this soon so we can get back to enjoying places like this ❤️ 📸 @ouroborosfalling

I’ve been struggling with positing lately, but w

I’ve been struggling with positing lately, but was inspired by @philofwander recent post/idea to travel back in time to all the places and memories we’ve already experienced. Throughout the next 57 days, I’ll be posting photos from every country I’ve visited in chronological order along with a story or memory to go with it. I’m starting today with the country I was born in - Canada! I was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland which is the most easterly city in North America. I’ve since lived in four other provinces of Canada, and have visited them all + one territory! As much as I love international travel, exploring my own backyard has always been important to me. Canada is a wildly beautiful country that never ceases to amaze me. With so much nature and space, I feel like I could spend a lifetime exploring Canada alone! Which country were you born in? ☺️

HOME! 🏠 🥰 I’ve been a bit silent on here

HOME! 🏠 🥰 I’ve been a bit silent on here the last week as I’ve been trying to process the magnitude of everything that’s happening. Getting back to Canada was a stressful ordeal but since getting home and taking the time to accept what’s happening, I have been feeling much more grounded. My friend @wanderlush_travel nominated me for a gratitude challenge to share five things I’m grateful for. Practicing gratitude has always been helpful for me, and in times like this even more so. It’s not going to make everything better, but taking a few minutes every day to really focus on what you have to be grateful for can be extremely powerful. I’m grateful for this beautiful house that my dad built from the ground up. It’s always been my safe happy place, and now more then ever. Even though I lost him almost three years ago, I still feel like he’s protecting me. I’m grateful that the house is in the woods, so I can still easily go outside during these periods of isolation. I’m grateful that spring is around the corner (even though we still have a pile of snow here 😅). As more snow melts I will access to more hiking trails and this gives me something to look forward too. I’m grateful for my two cats here. No explanation needed! I’m grateful for technology and this beautiful online community who sent so many kind messages of support while I was trying to get home! It’s incredible that we can stay connected all around the world. What are you grateful for today?

Last week me and @travelguide_alex took a drive ou

Last week me and @travelguide_alex took a drive out to the countryside of Marseille to go for a hike. We wanted to minimize our contact with others while keeping our sanity, and thankfully nature is there to do that. I tried to take in all the beauty, with the creeping realization that this will be the last time I travel for the foreseeable future. That scares the crap out of me. Traveling is my entire life. It’s how I earn a living and it’s what brings me joy. But right now is not the time to travel. Now is the time to get home or commit to where you are to stay inside and help the world get over this crisis. It wasn’t a decision I took lightly but with so many unknowns, I’ve decided to go back to my own country (and of course, I will be self-isolating). It’s a crazy time right now. I hope you are all somewhere safe and sound. ❤️❤️

I never would have imagined how the last week has

I never would have imagined how the last week has unfolded. I don’t make good decisions when I’m stressed. My brain goes into overdrive, and I find it impossible to think clearly or at all. The events of the past week has been put me into extreme stress and all I want is to be able to feel safe again or at least have a clear head. I’ve made bad choices and have had horrible luck with flights, and now I don’t know if I’m going to make it home. I’m trying to stay hopeful. I am very thankful that even if I can’t be physically near people, I have this little online community. People shit on social media a lot but if it wasn’t for Instagram I would have missed out on connecting with a lot of amazing people. Even if we’ve never met before, these conversations and support for one another’s struggles that we are all facing have been helping me get through my days. And I think that’s only going to matter more in the coming weeks for everyone. I am truly touched by the kindness of the “strangers” I have met through here. This world is full of beautiful people, and we are going to get through this. Always here to chat. Thanks @travelguide_alex for the photo and awesome company during this crazy, crazy week. 🙏Hope you get home safe!

Being in Italy as the lockdown was announced has b

Being in Italy as the lockdown was announced has been a surreal experience. I’ve been taking things day by day and making decisions with the information that I have. At the time I left for Sicily there was no travel warnings from the Canadian government, only a handful of known cases, and I was confirmed to go on 10 days of FAM trips and tours rock climbing, hiking volcanoes, exploring islands, and more. Just an hour into my arrival in Catania, the government made the decision to lockdown the entire country and we were told to get flights out as soon as possible. My first two flights got cancelled but I was able to get out on a flight to Marseille today. I knew it was a risk going to Italy and unfortunately things went in a bad direction. This experience has made me realize how quickly things can change during these times and I’m not really sure what to think or do at this point when it comes to travel right now. I’m in a weird place because some people keeping telling me to go home but I’m not sure what that even means for me. This year was the start of me being a digital nomad and I gave up my place and most of my belongings to do so. On the flip side of things, the fact that I don’t have any commitments I need to return home for is an advantage, as if I get stuck somewhere or put in quarantine I have the time and ability to do so. This is a very real possibility depending where you are traveling, so it’s something to consider if you are wondering whether to cancel your trip or not. It’s rough times ahead for the tourism industry. Are you staying put or keeping calm and traveling on?

It wasn’t love at first sight when I got to Rome

It wasn’t love at first sight when I got to Rome. I didn’t know what to expect, but the city felt grimey and dirty to me. As I explored different neighbourhoods and learnt about the fascinating layers of history, I began to appreciate it more and more as each day passed. Now, I can’t help but feel amazed in every place I visit here, knowing how much has happened in the very spot I’m standing. The city has completely changed my feelings in just a few short days. I feel like Rome is the type of place you would love more and more the longer spent. 📸: @kasiawrites

Two Popes in the Vatican today 😁 Hello Italy!

Two Popes in the Vatican today 😁 Hello Italy! It was surreal to be able to walk in here today with no line, a place that is normally flooded with tourists. I’ve spent the last week reading and researching so much about Coronavirus, but in the end I decided not to cancel my trip to Italy (I was never planning to go to the Northern regions where the majority of cases are). Everyone’s situation is different so I completely understand why some people can’t take the risk to travel right now, but for myself, I felt that I could. Things feel normal here in Rome. Everything is open, people are out on the streets, I haven’t even seen many people wearing masks. The major difference is that there are way fewer tourists, which as a tourist, is actually quite nice. The implications of this are going to be devastating for Italy’s tourism industry, and I’m glad I can be here to support it. Has Coronavirus affected your travel plans? 📸 @wanderlush_travel

Happy World Wildlife Day! One of my biggest motiv

Happy World Wildlife Day! One of my biggest motivations for traveling is to see the incredible wildlife we have on this planet. I am particularly obsessed with penguins and one of my life dreams is to see all 17 species of them in the wild! So far I’m at five! This picture was taken at Martillo Island, near Ushuaia Argentina. There you can walk with thousands of adorable Magellanic penguins, as well as gentoo penguins and sometimes king penguins. Yes, it’s as magical as it sounds. Is there an animal you’ve always wanted to see in the wild? 🦒🦧🦥

Latvia was never a country that was on my radar bu

Latvia was never a country that was on my radar but I ended up in Riga last fall for the @sheswanderful women in travel summit! Verdict? Absolutely loved it! The charm of Old Town, incredible spa and wellness culture, a booming craft beer scene, and national parks just outside the city! What’s not to love about Riga? My latest blog post covers what to do in Riga for a weekend - there’s a link in my bio! Excited to be heading back to Europe this week to discover more hidden gems. What’s your favourite city in Europe? 📸: @laughtraveleat

Copyright © 2020 · Market theme by Restored 316

This website uses cookies to ensure the best experience on our site (only the tasteless robot kind). If you continue to use this site, you are agreeing to the privacy policy.Accept Read More

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.