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My Very First WitSummit In Riga, Latvia
EuropeMy Breaking ViewsTravel

My Very First WitSummit In Riga, Latvia

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I am still reliving the Witsummit conference that I attended last month. When I relaunched my blog this year, I knew I wanted to take it seriously. I had long hard conversations with Jenna of JennasWorldView about why I should relaunch my blog. She and others wouldn’t let me rest.

Always so grateful to the encouragement, because 6 months later I’m writing about my first travel conference. I had written down that I was keen to network by going to more events, stay consistent and invest on my platform. Read: Tips On How to Get Your Groove Back Into Regular Content

My Very First WitSummit In Riga, Latvia

This was my very first travel conference abroad, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I am mean what are you supposed to expect? At the event, there were influencers, bloggers and industry members all ready for a weekend to share information, network and more. The event was held in Riga at the Radisson Blue Latvija Conference and Spa Hotel. I, of course, stayed in a hostel! JOKING – I stayed in an Airbnb.  

wanderful

What is WitSummit? 

The Woman in Travel Summit (WITS) is an event for travel influences, creators, and industry. Running for six years, it brings together some of travel’s top talent to discuss future innovations, builds dynamic collaborations, and change to the travel industry worldwide. It does this all while supporting and empowering a diverse community. WITS is organised by Wanderful, a top network for women travellers with a reach of over 40k worldwide! Amazing right?!

I can tell you now that I was extremely excited about this event! On arrival, I couldn’t believe the various women I met and from all over the world. These women were all real nomads. It was great being in an environment where women shared a genuine love for travel and content creating! I felt like the conference had a real intimate nature.

Cost:

The event itself cost me around €149 (euros) – please note this ticket was purchased on a discounted rate. I believe the original price for the event was around €249. Again note the ticket price is not included in your transport or accommodation – this was all done separately. If you would like to know the details please contact me. My flight was reasonable, at £65 pounds. I flew with the lovely cheap and cheerful Ryanair (ya’ll start paying me) booked via my absolute fave Skyscanner!

I arrived on a Thursday evening (quite late in the evening); surprised by how friendly Latvian people were to me. After everything that happened to me in Greece, I must admit my guard has been on real high alert! But I was really put at ease when I arrived. 

On my first day…

The first day was an early start for me! You should know I don’t do early mornings unless I am catching a flight! 

I had to wake up bright and early to do my make up and get my eyelashes on and meet the tour guide for my trip to Ķemeri National Park. This was a very memorable experience indeed, and you should read more about it. The day went quite quickly. After lunch, we were taken back to the hotel, where I was given the option to register early. Exhausted after such an eventful day, I decided to head back to my Airbnb and have a nap.  

The night finished off with a WitSummit evening welcome party! Impressed by this event is an understatement! It was absolutely amazing! A great way to see how everything was planned and organised.

We were picked up from the hotel via coach and taken to the venue for our party and dropped back. There was performances, food (you know you have won me over when you have food at an event), a DJ’s and a photo booth – check out the photos below:

I met some amazing women, some of which I had been following for a while.  Of course, I wanted to enjoy the night some more so went out to party with my new friends afterwards. We event went on to an Afro Pop party. I have no comments on how that party went but knew it was time for a girl to go home!   

On my second day… 

The second day was the opening day! This was the first official day of the WitSummit. I woke up bright and early to head over to my sessions. The first session I went to – Achieving Success on a Global Scale: Pitching Brands for Products, Payments, and Press Trips. It was about growing your blog and how to turn it into a business where you can create your own opportunities. These were the speakers for the session:  

Kirsty Leanne of Plus Size Travel Too 

Kirsty Leanne is a Plus Size Travel Blogger from the West Midlands, UK. With a successful travel blog and five years of experience behind her, Kirsty has become a spokesperson when it comes to pitching brands as a micro-influencer. 

Pola Henderson of Jetting Around 

Pola Henderson is a travel writer, city explorer, and founder of the blog Jetting Around. She has been featured as a writer or travel expert on CNN, MasterCard, Expedia, NPR, WBEZ Chicago, and more. Travelling has been a part of her life since she was three.  

Although I was 5 mins late, I was extremely impressed by what I gained from the session. I learnt about how to pitch to brands and most importantly, how to have confidence in my own personal brand!  

The second session I went to was a called – Building Travel Campaigns that Reflect the Diversity of the World We Live In. An insightful talk about diversity and inclusion in the travelling world. These were the speakers for the session:   

Vivienne Dovi of Melanin Travel 

Vivienne Dovi is the founder of Melanin Travel, a platform creating events, guides and content for the African Diaspora. Combining her 20+ years of travel and passion for diversity, Vivienne turned her lived experiences into a bustling community of over 13,000 travellers. 

Martinique Lewis of Skyroom

Martinique Lewis is diversity in travel consultant, content creator, and Influencer Manager. Trusted amongst her peers as a “connector,” she is always connecting the dots to ensure the travel industry is mindful of diversity and not just as a “buzzword.”

witsummit

Cherrie Osborne of Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority 

Cherrie Osborne has become a familiar name in the tourism industry, not just in the United Kingdom, but across Europe and in the Caribbean. Her distinguished reputation, far and wide, has grown over the years 

Jamie-Lee Abtar of The Travel Marketer 

Jamie-Lee Abtar is a travel marketer, brand builder and creative innovator. A regular speaker on topical travel issues, Jamie-Lee has a history of helping travel brands to build strong, profitable relationships, conceptualising. 

After these sessions, we were served with lunch, another great way to speak and network with other women from around the world. 

Power Networking Sessions

WitSummit organised a Power Networking session, which allowed me to book meeting and speak to a few brands that work with travel content creators like myself. A very full, packed and engaging day. The night finished off with a lovely meal at Ludo and a trip to the opera house to watch the ballet. Read 11 Amazing Things You Must Do In Riga, Latvia

On my third day… 

The final day was the best! Again, it was another early start attending sessions and more networking! 

The first session was at 9 am in the morning! Called Instagram: Understanding Analytics and Using the Power of Stories to Grow Your Brand. Here I was about to learn how to grow my Instagram following! The speaker for this sessions was lovely. Still, I don’t personally feel that the course was for me. All the same, it was good to go along and again network with different women. The speaker for this was: 

Nour Brahimi 

witsummit

Nour Brahimi is a storyteller, the first Algerian travel YouTuber, and the first female Algerian travel vlogger. A 2019 nominee for Best Algerian YouTuber of the Year and Best Algerian Instagrammer of the Year, her goal is to break stereotypes with online video and to empower women.

The next session called: What’s Your Story? How to Bridge the Gap Between Narrative Storytelling and SEO.  Here I learnt the power of SEO. The speaker for this: 

Flora Baker of Flora the Explorer 

WItsummit speaker and audience
Flora Baker speaking on SEO

The blogger Flora Baker is a freelance travel writer whose work has appeared in National Geographic Traveller and Coastal Living. Over the last decade, she has worked with Bollywood celebrities in India and musicians in Iceland, built artificial limbs in Bolivia and constructed houses in Brazil. 

And the final session was closed with a keynote from Lola Akinmade Åkerström. She spoke about finding your true passion and challenged the audience to understand that travel is not their only passion. 

Lola Akinmade Åkerström 

Lola at Witsummit with MyBreakingViews

Lola Akinmade Åkerström explores culture through food, tradition, and lifestyle for high profile publications such as National Geographic Traveler, BBC, The Guardian, and Lonely Planet, amongst others. She has collaborated with many well-known.

The questions Lola asked were incredibly insightful because it forced me to ask myself some hard questions – like why do I love to travel? And what really is my true passion? I am still figuring that out, but I hope to get there soon. 

Lola giving her presentation

Beth Santos Wanderful / Women in Travel Summit 

Beth is the Founder and CEO of Wanderful and creator of the Women in Travel Summit.

On my final day… 

I stayed an extra day to see more of Riga. Another early start (I think by now you can tell that I am not big on my early mornings lol). We took a taxi to the most colourful church I have ever seen in my life. I would say it’s actually an excellent location for Instagram photos! Check out mine below: 

We then bought some croissants and headed back to the hotel for our walking tour in Riga! I, of course, took lots of pictures and learnt a lot about the history of Latvia. I would suggest to anyone in Riga to take a walking tour. 

Final thoughts of WitSummit 

witsummit timetable

I am delighted to of attended the European WitSummit! It was good, to network, and be in an environment of likeminded people! I think I will be definitely considering going to the next one in Gdansk! You can buy your tickets now!

Thank you for taking the time to have a read of my first travel conference abroad with WitSummit! Have you ever been to a travel conference which ones?

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4 Romantic Weekend European Getaways for Couples
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4 Romantic Weekend European Getaways for Couples

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I have to say I also love a romantic weekend getaways. With long workdays and everyday life, you have to admit a getaway is a must to keep things alive and fresh. There are so many places to get away with a loved one. It can be a colourful hotspot, city breaks, charming beach towns and more.

Of course, I understand that every couple is different and has various taste when travelling with a loved one. This year I went on a few weekend getaways, some for romance and others for celebrations and I thought it would be good to start a travel couple series.

5 perfect weekend getaways for couples

Copenhagen, Denmark 

Copenhagen is a city that’s founded on the water, and you’re never far from one of the canals or the harbour-side.

You can easily see a lot of Copenhagen on a long weekend getaway. Nyhaven was a favourite spot for a stroll for my partner and me. It has pretty coloured merchant houses and plenty of cafes to sit outside and enjoy the atmosphere while the small bridge that crosses it has a collection of love locks similar to those found in Rome and Paris.

romantic weekend getaway

Note: Copenhagen is quite an expensive European country, so it’s advised to plan well ahead before going. I stayed at the WakeUp Copenhagen Hotel, which was reasonable for the price we paid.

You can find out more things to do in Copenhagen – A Day with MBV In Copenhagen

Italy, Bologna 

OASIS

Italy is a great country to visit for a long romantic weekend getaway. I would suggest Bologna. Bologna is the lively, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy. There is so much history and romance in this city.

ITALY

You can easily see a lot of Bologna in long romantic weekend getaways. Finestrella di Via Piella you reach the famous window on the Canale delle Moline and the bridge, both overlooking the canal. Looking out among the buildings, you can see one of the few stretches of running water.

Sweden, Arild

SWEDEN

Arild is a train away from Copenhagen. It is situated in Höganäs Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with only 522 inhabitants. I stayed in a hotel surrounded by a mountain, with a sea which I would say is beautiful for a morning stroll. The Hotel Rusthållargården was very old fashioned, with lovely stone walls and full windows.

Sweden like Copenhagen is quite a pricey country, so proper planning is useful before you visit.

romantic weekend getaway IN SWEDEN

France, Paris  

romantic weekend getaway in PARIS

Yes! Paris is one of my favourite romantic weekend getaways. Paris, France’s capital, is a major European city and a global centre for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. I would always go to Paris for a cheeky romantic getaway!

There are so many romantic activities to do like the famous Eiffel Tower, dinner at KONG and more.

You can find out more things to do Paris – France Paris: A 3 Day Romantic Trip In Paris

KONG

Thank you for reading my post. I have a few things lined up on couple travelling, so be sure to subscribe for the new blog post.

Do you have any romantic getaway suggestions – leave a comment below, and let’s add these to our bucket list (if you have one). Read the related post – An Expert Guide: What to Pack for a Weekend Getaway.

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Tips On How to Get Your Groove Back Into Regular Content
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Tips On How to Get Your Groove Back Into Regular Content

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Since I’ve been back, I’m learning that blogging and content creating is hard, really hard! And if you don’t stay on top of things, then you can quickly lose yourself and become so inflated that you give up the whole thing. I’ve been there too many times *trust me*.  As we are close to a New Year, I thought it would be good to write a few tips on how to stay on top of your goals.  

Write and write 

Thanks to thecococreativ, I was able to not worry about the logistics of my website and focus on my writing. It was great because I was able to write. Write like I was writing my diary. I didn’t read over my work I just kept on writing and decided that it would be best to go back to what I wrote once I was ready to publish the post. 

Spend some time just writing down how you feel. As a travel content creator, write down your experiences and ask yourself the following questions: 

  • How did the country make you feel?
  • What did you learn about yourself?
  • Do you have any tips you can share in that specific country?

I feel like if you want to you can write up to two or even three posts on just one country. For example, I went to Paris for my birthday this year and here’s what I wrote:

Take some time out and talk to people who understand your platform. It can be a friend or someone in your content creating community. You never know how they may be able to advise or give you tips on what you can write on next. 

I now use writing as a form of therapy. I have a lot to say, and there is no way you can keep a girl like me quiet! So if you need some ideas, do give me a shout! 

Get out the house

Thanks to Char of memoirs & musing. I learnt that it’s so important to get out of the house. I am lucky that I can also write at home, but it has to start away from home. Take yourself to a local café or a library. If you live in London, I can suggest a great place – the South Bank Centre. It’s not as good as it was back in the day but has space for you to get your head down. 

Try your local Starbucks if you have one. Set yourself a deadline for writing a couple of posts, and you will be surprised how much you get done.  Another thing to is write the headings of posts and then just do the intro with a few headings. You will see how easy it is to flesh out the content once you have the body.

Go to events 

Thanks to events such as Black British Travel Meet Up, WomenInTravel and Black Travel Creators (haha). I was able to learn so much from other content creators. I remember a brand mentioning that as a travel blogger, there is so much one can talk on. 

As content creators, we don’t realise how much influence we have over someone. Not to mention that as a traveller, we can talk about virtually everything! It doesn’t have to focus solely on travel. Yes, travel can be the sole purpose, but have some fun and talk about fashion, food, skincare, hair care. 

Don’t limit yourself is what I’m saying here!

Remind yourself why you started in the first place 

Why did you start your platform in the first place?  

Ask yourself this daily. Like every single day!

If you have been following My Breaking Views from the beginning, you will know my journey. I wanted a space for young people to share their opinions on political issues. Studying International Politics at uni/college made me want to speak about the problems around the world. I also wanted to share areas of my study exchange but doubted that I could talk about it. I now have a few study exchange posts, which you can also dip into.

Utilise your lunch breaks 

I often can write a few words here and there while on my lunch break. Use the time it’s there for your side hustle!

In summary

  • Write to yourself like you’re a friend to yourself. 
  • Remind yourself how amazing your platform is and why you started it in the first place. 
  • Tell yourself why you must and should keep going! 
  • It may give you that small push you need to get writing. Start with this is my baby, and I got to keep going! 

Thank you for reading my blog post. I hope you enjoyed my few tips I shared on how I stay motivated! What about you? What keeps you motivated for your blog.  

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11 Amazing Things You Must Do In Riga, Latvia
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11 Amazing Things You Must Do In Riga, Latvia

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Riga is the capital of Latvia. A quite small beautiful city with lots of colourful and high buildings. You may have already caught up with my Riga stories on Instagram. However, if for whatever reason you haven’t. Do not worry. I’m about to give you a detailed list of things to I did and you can do when in Riga.   

As you may already know, I went to Riga last month for a travel conference with WitSummit! I will be writing about this and will publish next week. But it wasn’t just the conference I attended. There was a bunch of other tours which the sheswanderful had organised for us to participate in. So what did I do in Riga?  

11 Things to do in Riga, Latvia

1. Go to Latvian National Opera

I was informed that the Latvian people love their performing arts, so visiting the opera house felt surreal for me! I was delighted to go and see the ballet. To be honest with you, I wasn’t truly sure what to expect, but as it was only €8 (euros), I thought it would be improper to miss out on the opportunity. 

Would you like to go? If you’re ever in Riga and have some time get yourself some tickets for a performance.   

2.Head over to St. Christopher’s Church 

One thing I noticed on my walking tour in Riga was the several churches in the beautiful city. After the travel conference finished, a friend suggested heading over to Christopher’s Church. Although it was hella cold. I was grateful to see such a beautiful view of the city. The escalator is quite tricky to manage with a big group of people, but once you are up high, you will be consumed by such a breath-taking view.  

I only paid €5 (euros) to get the top and would say it was totally worth it!    

Note: when you are in the building, try and be very quiet as there may be a church service going on.    

3. Try some Latvian food at Ludo    

Latvian food is delicious, and Ludo is a must! The restaurant is cheap as chips! You have a variety of selections to choose from. Then you pay at the counter.  

Listen I was able to get a 3-course meal with mulled wine (who else loves mulled wine) for less than €15 (euros) tell me that isn’t a bargain!   

4. Try out some food at the central market   

The fish market in Riga

I went here a couple of times while in Riga, and would say it’s a place that you do not want to miss! It has all sorts of clothes and essential household goods.  

Oh, and a whole variety of Latvian food. You guys know that I love me some good food! It also has a fish market where it displays living fish! Be sure to not miss the market. I would suggest it as a place to go for a relaxed, quick lunch. 

5. Take a picture outside the House of Black Heads 

I knew I wanted to get a picture here when I heard Black Heads! I would say it was undoubtedly one of the main attractions of the city. The building was built in the 13th century, bombed during WWII. 

6. Soviet Architecture   

Also known as the Academy of Science or Stalin’s Birthday cake, take your pick. I personally think it sounds excellent as Stalin’s Birthday cake. Again, like the St. Christopher’s church, it has terrific views from the top! 

For just under €4, you can head up to the 17th-floor for more breath-taking views of the city’s skyline.  

7. Take a stroll Downtown/ a walking tour

 

Yes, I did this for two days while I was there. Riga is actually a charming city with lots of colourful buildings. I was very impressed to see so much colour, with the buildings.  A walking tour should give you a background of the history and you will be able to ask questions along the way.

8. Visit a museum in Riga    

There are several museums in Riga. And I would say that it’s a great way to catch up with Latvian history is the Latvian National Museum of Art. The focus lies on paintings, but usually quite some lovely special exhibitions going on! Check it out here.   

9.Play with the bubbles  

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?? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ?? ? ??????? Hard questions to answer but one that you should. ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ As the year draws to end. I have started to think about all the things I do for myself as an individual. ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ I often watch people not go after what they want. I see people settle because that is what is easiest, myself included (honestly). We stick with what is comfortable. We stay in our bubble.⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Our bubble is what makes us comfortable. It's what we have learned, it's the known. But the known is not always the right way to live. We all have our own bubble. Everyone's is different, it's formed by our life experiences. Your bubble is easy to stay in, but difficult to get out off. ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Every time we do something new we step outside of our bubble and we become comfortable with it. The bubble gets absorbed and becomes a bigger bubble. Eventually, our bubble will become big and strong enough that we will no longer feel limited by anything. ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ People naturally look up to people with bigger bubbles than them. They aspire to be like them, they are amazed or simply intrigued because they live a different life from them. However, very few people take the steps to live outside of their own bubble and experience all the amazing things the world has to offer. ?⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ If you never step out of your bubble then you will never learn to live your dreams. ? So, I'm here to tell you it's not as scary as it sounds. If you can imagine it it's possible. Your life is limited to your own imagination.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ I would like to thank @huesofdelahaye for capturing this image ???

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Hahaha!! This is a funny one! I really do love this picture that was taken off me and would suggest that we should all take photos of ourselves and live our lives fully. This picture has so much meaning for me, and you can find out why on my Instagram.   

10. Visit the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 

I have never in my life seen such a beautifully coloured church! This church is a marshmallow pink and blue orthodox church that is absolutely perfect for your Instagram posts. 

11. Head over to the national Kemeri National Park 

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UPDATED: This year I've made a huge effort to try new things. You know go places I wouldn't normally go to like the Boglands in Lativa #ad @enjoylativa ??⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If you have been keeping up with my stories you would have seen that yesterday I put on my @hunterboots and space shoes (swipe to see them on) and went walking through a Bog. Something I never expected to do but was glad to have the exprience. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ???? ?? ??? ??????? ????????? ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The Ķemeri Bog is one of the main sulphur water producing bogs around Ķemeri. The bog land soil has poor nutrients, acid and in many places sodden. It means that most of the trees are not able to endure the harsh conditions. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ There are however, a few surviving species, like pine and birch. When I was walking through the bog there was berries which I was told where edible. I can't say I had any if I'm honest with you. I did enjoy the exprience. It was something new, which I think is always great. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I will be writing about my exprience to the Boglands and more on www.mybreakingviews.com. If there is any specifics you would like to know do let me know! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Otherwise thank you for reading ?✈??⁣⁣ ⁣ New post: ? ??? ????? Ķ????? ???????? ???? #linkinbio

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This was one of the first things I did when I arrived in Riga. I wrote all about it this week have a read – A Day Spent at Kemeri National Park. 

I hope you enjoyed reading a list of things you can do in Riga! Have you ever been to Riga before? Let me know if there any other cool stuff you did while you were there!   

 

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A Day Spent at Ķemeri National Park
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A Day Spent at Ķemeri National Park

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This year I’ve made a considerable effort to try new things. You know go places I wouldn’t usually go to like the Boglands in Lativa @enjoylativa ??⁣⁣

If you have been keeping up with my stories, you would have seen that last month I put on my @hunterboots and space shoes (check out my Instagram to see more) and went walking through a Bog in Latvia. Something I never expected to do but was glad to have the experience. ⁣⁣

What is the Ķemeri National Park?

The Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk is a popular tourist destination in Riga. It’s a park that has moss, small pine trees, deep pools, tiny dark lakes, and the smell of wild rosemary. The bogland soil has inadequate nutrients, acid and in many places sodden. It means that most of the trees are not able to endure the harsh conditions.

⁣⁣
⁣⁣


There are, however, a few surviving species, like pine and birch. When I was walking through the bog, there were berries which I was told where edible. I can’t say I had any if I’m honest with you. I did enjoy the experience. It was something new, which I think is always great. ⁣⁣

On arrival, I was asked to slip into some space shoes (picture below) to ensure I didn’t sink into the swamp! I was immensely thankful that I carried my wellies and thermal socks with me.

The National Park was my very first activity in Riga. I had initially changed my mind on actually going. I was so scared that I would sink into the swamp and would never be found again! Haha! I later decided that it was good to try something new! Hey, when was the last time you tried something new?

We walked through the swamp for approximately an hour. It was freezing and very wet! Despite the cold, I enjoyed the walk because it wasn’t something I usually do, and it made me think about experiencing more new activities in the world.

Lunch Time at Hercogs

The day finished at a lovely restaurant called Hercogs. We all enjoyed a three-course meal which was extremely lovely. The food was very much needed after walking through a swamp haha! The restaurant is located on a reformed gypsum factory which has been converted into two exclusive apartment complexes.

Getting there:

By coach: drive along Ventspils motorway (A10) as far as the sign “Ķemeru tīreļa Purva laipa” (Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk) – towards Ventspils about 200 m from the turning point to Ķemeri.

By public transport: follow the signs from Ķemeri rail station, first, cross the railway line and walk 1 km to Ventspils motorway as far as the cell-tower; we advise you to take the pathway running towards the right-hand side with the sign “uz Tīreļa laipu” (to the Tīreļi boardwalk). 

Hiking along the boardwalk is free, and the boardwalk is open throughout the year.

The car parking fee is 2 EUR.

If you have ever considered going to Riga, I would definitely suggest visiting Kemeri National Park.

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UPDATED: This year I've made a huge effort to try new things. You know go places I wouldn't normally go to like the Boglands in Lativa #ad @enjoylativa ??⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ If you have been keeping up with my stories you would have seen that yesterday I put on my @hunterboots and space shoes (swipe to see them on) and went walking through a Bog. Something I never expected to do but was glad to have the exprience. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ ???? ?? ??? ??????? ????????? ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The Ķemeri Bog is one of the main sulphur water producing bogs around Ķemeri. The bog land soil has poor nutrients, acid and in many places sodden. It means that most of the trees are not able to endure the harsh conditions. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ There are however, a few surviving species, like pine and birch. When I was walking through the bog there was berries which I was told where edible. I can't say I had any if I'm honest with you. I did enjoy the exprience. It was something new, which I think is always great. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I will be writing about my exprience to the Boglands and more on www.mybreakingviews.com. If there is any specifics you would like to know do let me know! ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Otherwise thank you for reading ?✈??⁣⁣ ⁣ New post: ? ??? ????? Ķ????? ???????? ???? #linkinbio

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Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed my photos. I will be writing more about what I did Riga next week. Be sure to subscribe to the blog and follow me on Twitter and Instagram for more footage of my travels.

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[AD] My Hearing Loss Experience
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[AD] My Hearing Loss Experience

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The festive period is approaching — a socially and beautiful time of the year. But with Christmas just around the corner, for more than half of UK adults with hearing loss, the festivities are not such a social, joyous occasion. Hearing loss is often seen as a non-visible disability. Many people feel there is a stigma around the condition and find it hard to ask for help. There are 11 million people with hearing loss across the UK, (that’s around one in six people), so it’s a condition that affects a lot of us.

Please note this post is a collaborative post with Specsavers Audiology. All opinions are my own. 

Hearing loss

Hearing loss can have many different causes. For example, sudden hearing loss in one ear may be due to earwax, an ear infection, a perforated (burst) eardrum or Ménière’s disease. Sudden hearing loss in both ears may be due to damage from loud noise or taking certain medicines that can affect hearing.

With hearing loss, it can lead to withdrawal from social situations, emotional distress, and depression. Many people avoid social settings for fear of asking people to repeat themselves. Research shows that it increases the risk of loneliness, but only for those who don’t wear hearing aids.

Heard it Through the Grapevine

Christmas is just around the corner which means the party season will soon be in full swing. With the busyness of the festive period, we often neglect our health and rarely pay attention to our eyes and ears. These two senses are a significant part of whether we can enjoy the festive period.

Last week I was invited to a wine tasting event with Specsavers Audiology. The event honestly changed everything for me! It was an intimate wine tasting evening, where we were all asked to wear hearing moulds which stimulated hearing loss. The event was for Specsavers to raise awareness on the importance of regular hearing checks.

There are 11 million people with hearing loss across the UK, (that’s around one in six people).

The event started at 6 pm at which I am proud to say that I was for once on time. I was welcomed with champagne and canapes of which I indulged in fully. You know me now, guys! 

Later in the evening, we spoke to an audiologist from Specsavers who informed us on the impacts of hearing loss and the importance of having your ears checked regularly.

My experience of wearing hearing loss moulds

I remember the audiologist asking me a series of questions, such as had I experienced any pain or any ringing in my ears etc. All of which I answered no to. The audiologist then checked my ears with an otoscope and told me that my eardrums looked healthy. (This was surprising considering how loud I blast my music daily).

Me and the audiologist

One ear was done at a time. The ear was fitted with a spongey mould and then injected with a cold substance which replicated around 70% hearing loss. Meaning that I was unable to listen to people speak like I usually do.

How I really felt losing my hearing

The experience was rather emotional. So emotional that I cried. Honestly, I first felt like I was physically underwater, you know that feeling when you know conversations are happening, but you can’t pinpoint what it is. That was how I felt not being able to hear.

I also learnt that using a cotton bud in your ear is like rubbing sandpaper on your hand.

I couldn’t believe how much I had to concentrate and look at people when they spoke to me. The majority of the night was spent with me feeling like I was shouting, which was ironic because many people said that I had talked a lot quieter and softer. As I was the first to have the moulds in I could feel a sense of isolation when making conversation with others. Continually having to ask people to repeat themselves, was complicated with people I had only just met for the first time.

Feeling isolated

Several times I felt very isolated and ready to leave. If I couldn’t hear what someone said, I would feel conscious of asking them to repeat themselves, so I usually smiled and nodded for fear of being annoying and praying for them to speak louder. When someone moved their face as they talked to me or covered their mouth, I wouldn’t be able to hear a single word that they said.

Another thing I noticed was the sudden change in my taste buds. Food and wine tasted slightly different. It felt like my other sense became more pronounced when I couldn’t hear. My attitude has undoubtedly changed towards those that suffer from hearing loss. I don’t think I have ever spoken with anyone with real hearing loss, but this evening really opened my eyes and made me realise the difficulties one may have with their hearing.

Me trying to hear what others are saying.

Mixed emotions

I kept the moulds in for just over an hour. Convinced that I had to keep them in as long as possible. I wanted to get a real sense of what it was like to suffer from hearing loss. When they were taken out, I was filled with tears and emotions. The experience was incredibly overwhelming, and the ability to be able to take the moulds out and hear again. Never in my life had I imagined what it was like to lose one of my senses. And for me, it was only for one hour! Realising that I struggled so much with the mould in. And then knowing that this is people’s daily life saddened me. It also made me understand the importance of proper communication and pronunciation.

There are helpful ways of speaking to someone with hearing difficulties:

  • Get their attention by calling their name before actually talking to them
  • Look directly at the person when you are speaking to them
  • Speak slowly and clearly. At the same time, don’t over pronounce the words, or they can’t follow what you are saying.
  • Never shout at someone with hearing difficulties
  • Don’t be dismissive, so things like ‘don’t worry about it’ is not a good idea
  • Be patient

Get your hearing checked

After my experience, I will be certainly getting my hearing checked more often. I would suggest getting checked once every two years. To find out more or book your next appointment head to your nearest Specsavers store or simply visit www.specsavers.co.uk 

I want to thank Specsavers Audiology for giving me such a life-changing experience. I left the event feeling transformed and more willing to understand the issues people may face with hearing loss. Think you could work with me – click here

As a travel blogger, it makes me wonder what it would be like to travel with hearing difficulties? Do you know anyone with hearing difficulties?

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