After 24 hours of flights and layovers, I’ve arrived in Riga, Latvia. My first stop is the Radisson Blue Elizabete Hotel and a bed near looked so good.
So why do I do it? Are the flights and the layovers and the delays and the tiredness worth it? Heck yes! I would fly for another 24 hours to experience the culture, the beauty, and the people of Riga, Latvia.
Today, even though it is a little rainy and cold, I’m filled with light and sunshine as I explore Old Town and Central Market. What’s your furthest travel experience? Was it worth it in the end?
Bucket List Publications 
Sure it was worth it =D
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Riga?! I couldn’ t believe me eyes! 🙂 Welcome! And I hope you will enjoy it here – even if the spring that lasted for quite some time seems to be turning back into winter. The Central Market on Saturday? Perfect choice! So is the Old Town… 🙂
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I woke up this morning to a lot of snow. I’m second guessing Riga 😉
Old Town was one of the most beautiful places I’ve been in my life! Stunning beauty around every corner. I’m falling in love with Latvia.
You are blessed.
🙂
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Hope you have fun on your visit to Latvia – and I love how you wrote this: “I’m filled with light and sunshine as I explore….”
ph and liked the photos as well. 🙂
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Thanks! Not so much light and sunshine today in the snow storm but I’m fixing that with a visit to the spa. 😉
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Enjoy your visit.
The furthest I did fly was a little more than 5 hours, and yes it was worth it.
Irene
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Where did you go? Even a 5 hour flight can be stressful, especially nonstop. I hope it was so place amazing. 🙂
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I did go from Denmark to The Canarian Islands, which was a long trip then. It was in 1977 I think. I was very young and travelled with my mother.
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My furthest to date, was flying from Dublin to Melbourne via London, Singapore and a stopover in Sydney for my cousins wedding. Australia is such a lovely place, can’t wait to go back again.
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Awesome!
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18+ hours SFO-SGN, plus quick refuels in Hawaii and Guam, Jul ’69 – Jul ’70. Worth it? Uh… uh………
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I know just how you feel. It was 40 hours of the same from Guatemala (warm and sunny ) to Cyprus and now Macedonia (cold and cloudy). But it feels like spring around here with soaking up the cultures!
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My longest trip was probably Chiang Mai, Thailand. I went three times so I guess, YES, it was worth it! 🙂
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My longest flight is around the sun. Still in progress. My jet is the earth. Won’t know if it’s worth it until my final breath. Will keep you posted.
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All my longest flights land me in Ireland. 😉 And always worth it. 🙂
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As an Irish girl, this is always nice to hear! 🙂
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36 hours…worth it because I was with my husband and boys. Would travel to the ends of the earth and back as long as we were together. It’s like taking home with you anywhere we go 🙂
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Hope you have a great time! And winter doesn’t come back while you’re here!
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Kudos to a passionate traveler. The longest I’ve flown to date has been four hours with no layovers. My trip coming up will have a five-hour layover in Chicago. How boring. How do you do it? Had you managed any sleep in those 24 hours? 🙂
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Awesome!! Can’t wait to hear all about it. My furthest all-at-once travel experience was to Italy with a 3-year-old and two connections to make. It was a long “day” of travel, but went much, much better than I’d ever hoped. Have so much fun!
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My furthest experience was when i traveled to the department of motor vehicles. definitely the strangest culture and society i’ve encountered.
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Lesley the journey is always worth it. Soon enough one will be in the nursing home in the rocker. I can sleep then. 🙂 For now every adventure available is to be treasured. Enjoy Latvia.
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What a gorgeous hotel!!! Nice check mark off the old bucket list.
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Technically, Australia in 1982 was the longest: 38 hours from Florida to Brisbane. “Back in the day,” it was a LOT harder! However, both trips to India, in the past 10 years have been WICKED long! Each over 32 hours!! And then, arriving in India is totally overwhelming! Totally worth it, and will do it again next year, with my youngest. I’ve taken both his sibs to India; he’s next! Travel is always worth it… but it does get a lot harder, the older I get! Have an incredible time, friend!
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Mine was from London to Brisbane, via LA and Auckland. 33 hours! Journey was terrible but it was worth it in the end to see my family.
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I traveled to Riga in ’95. It was a “long” trip in a metaphorical sense. I was on the train from Kiev and I didn’t have to stay. There was a rowdy group of college kids in my compartment (I was in college myself). I ended up finding out that one of the guys knew an ex-girlfriend of mine, so we hit it off. I learned that they were a choir going to perform in Riga.
It ended up that one of their group got sick at the last minute, so they had an empty bed. I stayed with them, and I ended up having a great time.
I should take more “long” trips like that. You never know what you’ll find along the way!
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* I didn’t have a place to stay
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About 5 years ago: Dayton, OH–Dulles (or BWI?)–Norfolk, VA–Rammstein, Germany, hot sandy place in the Middle East. Worth it? Yes and No. Kabul-no thanks-once was enough, but Muscat, Oman-anyday of the week-a beautiful place with welcoming people. Happy travels.
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I’ve never flown.
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Singapore from Florida. 12 hours time difference, and I would do it again 100 times! Have fun in Latvia!
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I traveled to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in 2007 with the marching band. The flight was ridiculously long but it was worth every second!
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Saw your pics on Instagram of Riga looks gorgeous – enjoy (once you have recovered from the jet lag)
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Thanks! I was feeling pretty good today after a good night sleep. Tomorrow should be even better. 🙂
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I love reading about your passion for traveling.
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You are amazing! I can’t imagine traveling so much. You have so many adventures!
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I went to Marrakech last year and although not the furthest, it was the worst! Our first flight was delayed so we missed our connection and were re-route through Amsterdam and Marseille. We had to camp overnight in the Marseille airport, arrived a day late in Marrakech and had no luggage (and this was supposed to be a hiking vacation in the Atlas mountains so we had to skip it since our luggage had all of our hiking gear)! But we made the best of it. Hit the souks as soon as we arrived to get some new clothes and explored the mountain villages and Essouria near the sea. In the end, it was still an amazing experience!
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my furthest? i’m based in indonesia, i used to fly back and forth between home and USA, during my years living in the East Coast. i flew back once every few years. those were the most tiring flights i’ve had. even more than flying to london from here.
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