2024 has been a year rich in travel and adventures. The number of flight segments this year wasn’t as high as in other years, with only 17 flights (some years it’s been as many as 75 flights in a year!). We spent about a month in hotels in total (there have been years where it was a quarter of the year), and we also took some road trips. This year, Georgia was added to our list of new countries; we returned to others repeatedly. This was my sixth time back in New York, and at least my thirtieth trip to Hamburg in total, which only confirms that this city has become my second home.
We also reached new heights in the blog and collaborations. In November, a major interview with me was published in “Lilita” magazine. We collaborated several times with RIX Riga Airport, Swedbank, and Gribu Atpūsties. Not one, but two (!) books were released: our first cherished book with Jēkabs, “Sapņu mednieku ceļojums: pirmie soļi pasaulē,” and a month later, the second, with Zane Eniņa, “Atklāj pasauli. Kā sākt ceļot patstāvīgi.”
Read about the top most impressive places from previous years here:
But now, about those trips!
12. Lisbon – The Worst Hotel of The Year
Lisbon was my last flight trip of the year, and this time it was the bare minimum – just a business trip, without the option to arrive a bit earlier or stay a bit longer. This trip became memorable, but not for the best reasons. The hotel I stayed in, for that budget, was undoubtedly one of the worst I’ve ever been to. When I travel, I always share both the good and the bad. When I shared my experience on the blog’s Facebook page, the post reached over 130,000 people and was later shared by LA.lv and Jauns.lv. Fortunately, this was neither my first nor my last trip to Lisbon; overall, it’s not bad there at all, and you can read about my experiences at other times in my previous article about Portugal.
11. Amsterdam – Afternoon Tea and Crocuses
Amsterdam was another trip where events were dictated by my business trip schedule. However, I still managed to catch a few moments for myself – the spring sun in a park full of crocuses, the famous train station cafe with a parrot, and afternoon tea with a colleague, which added to my impressions of afternoon teas in the Netherlands. You can read my full review of best afternoon teas around the world here.
10. Crocuses in “Jaunrūjas” – Not Just in Spring, but Also in Autumn!
Continuing the theme of crocuses, it has become our annual tradition to visit Jānis Rukšāns in spring to see the world’s largest crocus collection in bloom. We had heard a lot about autumn-flowering crocuses, and this year we went to see them too! The saffron had already finished blooming, which I hope to see someday if not in Iran, then at least in Greece. But we saw many other crocuses, including plants related to saffron, which really do smell like it. In a couple of months, we will definitely visit Jānis again!
9. Bulgaria – Much More Than “All-Inclusive”!
A trip to Bulgaria was definitely not on this year’s “Bingo” card, but when we were invited, we decided to say yes! Previously, I had visited Sofia in Bulgaria more than 15 years ago, and my impressions were mixed back then. I was curious to see how the country had changed. This time, it was an opportunity to see the Black Sea coast. Bulgaria is often considered the cheapest option for “all-inclusive” type trips from Latvia, but this destination is definitely worth exploring for independent travelers and those interested in history and delicious cuisine! This trip confirmed that Bulgaria has something to offer not only for those who want to “lie like a starfish” on the beach.
8. Palanga – Returning After 20 Years
Similar to Bulgaria, I hadn’t been on a leisure trip to Palanga in a very long time. It was interesting to observe what has and hasn’t changed in Palanga over the years (for example, the Amber Museum facade has been renovated, but the crowds on Basanavičius Street haven’t diminished!). We enjoyed a proper spa weekend, underwater baths, saunas, pools, walked along the beach, and also visited the famous Babylonian Garden!
7. Vilnius – Continuing the Spa Theme!
We also returned to Vilnius after a short break, though not as long this time, as we were there shortly after the pandemic. However, the hotel we stayed in was the same one I stayed in almost 20 years ago on my first business trip to Vilnius! Despite it being September, it felt like true summer. We enjoyed both spa relaxation in the pools and a world-class massage by masseuse Made, as well as visiting a couple of sights – the botanical garden and Trakai Castle. Also, for the first time, I tasted cheese ice cream!
6. Hamburg – Returning to My Second Home
Despite having been to Hamburg over 30 times, it’s always good to go back, and new sights never cease! This time, I went on a Mother’s Day trip with my mom and grandma. I wanted to show them my Hamburg, as I know it, as well as see places I hadn’t been to before, one of them being the famous Airbus factory! We also visited the botanical garden, Miniatur Wunderland, and fortunately, we were in Hamburg exactly during the port festival, which meant a magnificent fireworks display that we watched from the water! Read about my previous tourist experiences in Hamburg in this article.
5. New York – Sixth Time, But Not the Last
Returning to New York for the sixth time, I once again confirmed that it would be good to get there at least once every year or two; that “New York feeling” needs to be refreshed in your blood occasionally. I must say, though, that this time New York remained memorable as being particularly dirty, with a particularly large number of homeless people. And unfortunately, something has also changed for the worse on the shopping side – many stores no longer have fitting rooms at all; clothes have to be taken home to try on (bought and then returned). However, there were good experiences – afternoon tea at the Crosby Street Hotel, where my favorite book The Idea of You is set (read more about my afternoon tea experiences here), the Harry Potter show on Broadway, and a wonderful tour of the New York Public Library.
4. Boston & Salem – Art and Witches
Where there’s New York, there’s also Boston, because my relatives live there, and of course, being in the USA, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to visit them! I traveled from New York to Boston by train, also enjoying the business class offerings, thanks to a free “upgrade” coupon given to me by my uncle. By a fortunate coincidence, I got to have afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library (read more about my afternoon tea experiences here), took a tour of the library itself, and was absolutely delighted with the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Afterwards, together with my relatives, we went to Salem, the famous witch city, which experiences its main peak of visitors around Halloween.
3. Georgia – Eat and Eat Again!
We had been talking about Georgia for a long time, and offers to travel there had been made to us multiple times, but somehow they never materialized. Until finally this year, the plans came true, and while it was still very much spring in Latvia, we enjoyed a completely different spring in Batumi! The brightest impressions are definitely about eating until almost unconscious, the fantastic dancers and singers who performed for us almost every evening, and the indescribably beautiful nature – I will never forget the blooming rhododendrons in the forest!
2. Scotland – Scottish Wedding and Puffins
If you’re invited to a wedding, you have to go! And if you’re invited to a wedding between a Scot and a Latvian, especially! So the Midsummer holidays were very special for us, as we witnessed a wedding with traditional Scottish cultural elements – men in kilts, the special knot-tying ceremony, and Scottish dances. Amidst all of this, we went hiking in the fantastic Scottish nature and also took an indescribably beautiful day trip to the Isle of May to observe puffins, which nest there during this season. You’ll be able to read more about this trip on the blog very soon!
1. Our Book
The most vivid impressions of the year were undoubtedly related to the creation of our first book, “Sapņu mednieku ceļojums: pirmie soļi pasaulē” so no other travel experiences can overshadow this! The book was two years in the making, but this year was when it became tangible. We went through the entire creation process – working with the editor and proofreader, layout, cover selection, and 14 hours at the printing press, watching the sheets being produced, then folding, stitching, and finally – gluing the covers, when the books rolled along the conveyor belt like warm pastries. Order fulfillment, delivering the books to the largest bookstores in Latvia, and the book launch event at RIX Riga Airport. A month in the top-selling Latvian book charts, a 20-city book tour, and so many positive reviews about how this book has inspired people to travel, write, and follow their goals and dreams! The book can be purchased here.
What were your most vivid impressions and travels this year? You can read summaries of the most vivid impressions from previous years here:
If you are interested in seeing the lists from previous years, you can find them all here: