Travel Confessions: Down the Memory Lane

There are so many great memories about places I have visited and even greater memories of people I have met. How do you do justice and pay respect to these memories without leaving something out?

So, I have decided to walk down the memory lane. I was born and raised in Latvia. In my early 20’s I traveled across the ocean to see the world and did not return. I have been back to Latvia a few times since then but a few years ago, for the first time, I went there as a tourist. I did not go home to visit. I went to see places and remind myself about my roots and the beauty of that wonderful little country.

The moment I stepped off the plane I was carried away by a smell of jasmine and linden tree flowers that together make your head spin. That is a divine aroma.  It is hard to explain, you just have to go there at the end of June and experience it yourself.

Kolka, The Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea has amazing man untouched wild beaches. You can walk for miles on the beach and not meet a soul. It is emotionally and physically refreshing.  I felt that little inner child wake up and embrace the day the way it was – perfect.  No sounds of cars, no people, no noises that distract you from hearing yourself.  I was walking on the beach to the sound of my beating heart.

The Baltic Sea

I didn’t expect anything, I was not in a rush to get anywhere, and The Mother Nature just sent me the most beautiful thing – a swan. It is one of the most graceful birds in Europe. I know, I know – I will go all sentimental on you here but looking at this bird made me think about the beauty of our existence. I have so many wonderful friends that I have met over the years. Some of them are just virtual and some of them I had a chance to meet but every single one of them is beautiful inside out.  And think about how many people we still have to meet! How many are out there that could take our breath away?

USSR garages

A few days later we were wondering through a small town where my friend lives. I couldn’t take my eyes off some old falling apart buildings, garages, and some other structures that were left behind as the Legacy of the USSR.  It all might look broken and old, and quite disturbing but to me it was a little reminder of my childhood, sports I played, games I enjoyed, buildings I used to hide behind.

Geocaching in the Wild

We also went gocaching with some friends and ended up exploring ruins, abandoned houses, crawled underneath train tracks (don’t tell my mother), walked on rotten bridges, and wondered in a deep grass.  This was my homeland and I fell in love with it again. It wasn’t my home but it was a place I loved deeply in my heart, never forgot and never will forget.

Summer Solstice in Pedvale, Latvia

I know that I will be back as I still have a very deep connection with this country. You can’t forget lakes, forests, flowers and the Baltic Sea that echoes in you every time you are somewhere by the water.

I know this is one of those tagging things that have rules. Somebody tags me and I have to pass it on and nominate a few others. However, I feel bad about putting people on the spot.

First, thank you, Liz, for posting your amazing travel confession and then encouraging me to follow through with this.

I have three people that I know have so much to say about traveling and confessions, maybe not both at the same time but… I will leave it up to them to post or not post a travel confession.

Rules:

Post a photo (or photos) and description(s) of your confession(s) in a new post.
Tweet your post with hashtag #TravelConfession and follow/tweet @Traveling9to5
Tag 3-5 other travelers you’d love to see confess and tag them on Twitter.

Carolyn – she is an awesome person. Sometimes I think she knows my struggles and posts about them. I just love reading her reflections

Lois – she has been an amazing inspiration in my life. She is my virtual friend but I believe that one day we will meet in person and I will be swept off my feet.

Independent – I hope he will post in English. I have been reading his blog for so many years and he never stops amazing me.