Wagga Wagga to Worcestershire & back again
Ever walked around a place and been awestruck at the beauty that surrounds you? When you get that excited grin on your face and have to keep telling yourself, ‘Yes, this is real’. That’s the feeling I got strolling through the Latvian capital Riga the weekend before last. It’s a city that’s got a history dating back to before the Middle Ages, is starting to find its feet after so many decades of occupation and is filled with just some really lovely people.
This weekend Adam and I will fly to Latvia for our next mini-break of 2017. Latvia is one of the Baltic states in Eastern Europe and has a long and conflicted history, including being invaded by Nazi Germany and occupied by the Soviet Union in the last 100 years. Part of the capital Riga has a UNESCO World Heritage listing and close to half the country, which is part of the European Union, is forested – a unique mix that allows for varied holiday experiences.
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Eastern Europe was a region we started investigating after returning from Gibraltar last month, due to its easy accessibility from the U.K., the exchange rate and the fact it was a little ‘off the radar’. When well priced flights to Riga came up at reasonable times on the dates we wanted from our first choice airport, Adam and I decided Latvia needed to be explored.
If you’re looking for somewhere sunny, with amazing views and a mix of English, Spanish and north African cultures, Gibraltar could be the place for you.
Adam and I have just returned from a three day, two night stay in the British Overseas Territory. We went on a whim swayed by cheap flights and a few people did raise their eyebrows at our plans. Gibraltar, at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula, has a bit of a reputation as being a jaded 1970s family resort destination. Sure it’s still full of English tourists, but if you dig a little deeper and take the time to learn a little about this city and its incredible history, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised.
Wattle and Ash 