Fagradalsfjall Volcano Iceland

 

We hiked to the newly erupting volcano at Fagradalsfjall on May 15, 2021 before starting our self-drive tour around Iceland. This was the biggest highlight of the entire trip and is a very special reason to visit Iceland right now.

Iceland - 2 Weeks of Fire & Ice

We're vaccinated! This means travel is more of an option. We're still cautious and mindful of the pandemic, so our first travel choice had that consideration. Iceland is on everyone's good list for COVID-19, so it was a win-win scenario for us wanting to travel and them wanting tourists.

Ragakāpa Nature Park

Jūrmala Latvia isn't just about the beaches. There's also the Ragakāpa Nature Park and Jūrmala Open Air Museum with a recreation of an old fishing village. They're great for easy hiking around and seeing different things on the long Easter weekend or any other time. Yes, these places are very near to the beach and you can walk the beach as a part of it. However, when it isn't summer yet and it's still kind of cold, then it's nice to walk around and see some other things besides the beach. Latvia is wonderful for places to hike and this area near Riga is a good one.

Salaspils Memorial

 

To honour the dead and as a warning to the living. In memory of the Jews deported from Germany, Austria and Czechia, who from December 1941 to June 1942 died from hunger, cold and inhumanity and have found eternal rest in the Salaspils forest.

Jūrmala Latvia - Beach in Winter

 

Is that a white sandy beach? Well, the snow is white over a sandy beach, so technically it is a white sandy beach. Going to the beach is a popular activity in Latvia all year. Snow doesn't stop the strolling or sports. It's odd to dig your car out of the snow to go to the beach, but it's still a good way to get some socially distanced fresh air. Here's a previous Jūrmala post with warmer and more crowded times.

2020 Travels

 

2020 is finally done. It hasn't been one of the world's best years in my lifetime, even though it's been relatively good for us. I'll continue my travel blog tradition of looking back on last year's travels. I tried packing some week long trips into the winter to get away from the dark and cold. We made 2 of the 3 planned trips out of Latvia before the year took an unexpected turn.

Latvian National Museum of Art - Symbolism

 

Almost everything in Riga is closed on the weekends while the pandemic continues. We were pleasantly surprised to see the art museums are one of the very few places allowed to open with masks and social distancing. The annual pass for the art museums is one of the many things we love about living in Riga.

We've been staying home a lot lately other than walks outside for fresh air. That's less appealing as it gets colder. I decided Sunday would be a good day to try a museum with the hope that it wouldn't be too crowded.

The basement exhibit hall has a limit of 16 people to spread everyone out. There was a short socially distanced waiting line to enter. The whole experience felt a little safer than visiting the grocery store, which is probably about as safe as it can get here with masks and social distancing.