Cathy (USA) story

This past spring/early summer, I decided to venture to Latvia, a place I could previously barely locate on a map, after meeting my Latvian friend Rita on a walk in Spain the previous year. As she told me about the Camino in Latvia I was intrigued and made plans to join her for our adventure. It was great decision! Having walked many pilgrimages in Spain, Italy, and France I was looking forward once again to the experience of being every day in nature, alone with my thoughts, feelings and challenges. Living in the moment with only observing, walking, enduring and enjoying as the goal each day. In my opinion it is the best way to experience a country, a culture, a people and life.

Highlights: The beauty of Latvia is everywhere, from the flower-filled meadows to the pristine forests, the swamps (and very large mosquitos), the clear lakes to the majesty of the sea. The views and landscapes were varied and rarely disappointing. Discovering the history, culture and warmth of the Latvian people was a high point of my trip. The powerful connection to nature, the celebration of strong women, the revered ceremonies and costumes were awe-inspiring. I particularly enjoyed the rituals around the Solstice celebration and was very impressed with Rita’s daisy-wreath making skills! Having the opportunity to meet Rita’s Latvian friends as they welcomed us for the night provided additional insight into the history, customs, diet and passions of the Latvian people. I loved that! (Except for the pink soup) Also, traveling a bunch of days with Rita’s grandson, Gustavs, added a playfulness and special joy to the walk. He was one amazing 11 years old. Additional Kristen, another Latvian friend and fellow hiker helped me immensely with language. Her exhaustive efforts to communicate with me in English and to constantly translate were much appreciated. Thank you. Finally, I need to mention the city of Riga. It is a beautiful place – a perfect mixture of old and new. I loved walking around, watching the people, shopping, eating, and soaking in the charm.
Lowlights: My least favorite part of our walking adventure were the long, tedious stretches of gravel roads. I know these were necessary to get from point A to point B but I often found them unchanging and laborious and was always happy when we came to a new terrain. I think the challenge of doing this walk without the organization, guidance and support of Rita would have been overwhelming to me as an English speaker from the US. Lastly, there were no other hikers that we met on route. I see this as a good thing and a negative. Sometimes it is nice to be alone in the world without the constant interruptions of others. No one else’s needs to consider, no hurry to accomplish anything, just you and nature. On the other hand, sometimes it is nice to meet other people from other places, to share stories, to commiserate or celebrate the ups and downs of each day`s journey.

Conclusions: An experience I will always treasure! Memories of walking in Latvia always bring a smile to my face and a warm feeling to my heart. Admittedly, this probably has more to do with Rita, Gustavs and Kristen (especially Rita) than the actual physical act of walking and exploring a previously unknown country and culture. Will I be back? Probably not, but I now feel a connection to a people and a country that was totally foreign to me. Thank you for the journey!
See you in the US . . .

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