Latvia

On my trip through the Baltics with my friend Harry, we made the four-hour bus journey from Tallinn to Latvia's capital, Riga. The city had a quaint charm to it. Cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and beautiful old architecture made the old town feel like a movie set, an impression that only got stronger when we stumbled across a television crew filming in the middle of the city.

One of the highlights of my time in Latvia was finally meeting Oskars, an international student who ran cross country at the University of Miami. Ironically, despite attending the same university, we’d never actually met in person. We’d only shared a virtual class together. Back then, he was just another face on a screen. In Riga, he became our local guide, showing us around his hometown and introducing us to some of his favorite spots.

The next day, Harry and I took a trip to the seaside town of Jūrmala. People had recommended it, and while it was pleasant enough, we both joked that there wasn't much going on, even in the middle of summer. Latvia, it turned out, wasn't exactly known for being action-packed. But after months of constantly moving and chasing one adventure after another, slowing down for a couple of days was a nice change of pace.