We spent the weekend in Salacgrīva, and while it wasn’t warm or calm, it had its own kind of magic. It was windy — very windy — the kind that makes your coat flap wildly and your hair whip into your mouth. But there was also a bit of sun here and there, and thankfully, no rain.
Of course, we went to the sea. You can’t be this close to the coast and not go see what the sea is up to when the wind’s howling. And wow — it was wild and beautiful. The waves rolled in like they had something to prove, and the air was full of that unmistakable smell of salt and seaweed.
We stood there watching the kiters having the time of their lives, zipping across the water, jumping into the air like it was all effortless. The wind was their playground.
We decided to go to Ainaži. It’s not place where kiters are. The same shore, the same wind. Poor swans were trying to take off — flapping their wings furiously and being pushed sideways by the gusts. It was equal parts comical and sad. Nature was definitely in charge.
Helmi didn’t mind the chaos one bit — she jumped straight into the waves, splashing and laughing like the wind didn’t exist. The water was just 10°C (50°F), but apparently that wasn’t too cold for her to run from the waves. She loved every second of it.
At some point, I got sand in my eyes and mouth and probably everywhere else too. I stood there, half laughing, half spitting grit, thinking — how is it that I grew up here, and now I don’t even know how to behave in the dunes when the wind blows? I used to run around barefoot without a second thought. This weekend, I felt more like a clueless visitor than a local.
Still, it was good to be there. To remember. To laugh at myself. To get a little wind-bitten and reminded of just how powerful and playful the coast can be.
Ilze
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a day in the life of a latvian mom 
Lovely post, made me smile.
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Thank you, Julian! I still remember, sad in my teeth 🙂 I’m curious about your surname “Rota” – it sounds like Latvian!
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Italian in fact …
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Ah, I miss the Baltic Sea 🥰 so glad you had a good day,despite the flying sand 👋
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🙂 Thank you, Bee! This is technically a gulf of Riga… not the sea… but we call it a Baltic Sea 🙂
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It’s the sea for all intents and purposes. And it’s part of the Baltic Sea as far as I can tell 🤗
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Agree!
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All great memories!
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Thank you… I still feel sand in my teeth 😀
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Beautiful photos, Ilze! Your daughter is so full of energy! ❤️😊
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Thank you, John! 😊 Helmi definitely brought her full energy — she didn’t care one bit about the cold or the wind. I wish I had half her enthusiasm sometimes!
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Me too…
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Looks beautiful!
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Thank you! 💨🌊 It was wild, windy, and beautiful in its own way — definitely a place that stirs the soul, even if it messes up your hair!
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Our seas have been super wild.
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Sounds like our seas have been in sync! There’s something humbling and powerful about standing by the water when it’s in that wild mood, right? Usually it’s in autumn… well.. this summer has been like autumn…
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