For 14 years, I've been documenting the Daugava embankment and Old Town promenades—the routes, the stories, and the practical details that make walking Riga's waterfront accessible and meaningful for everyone, especially retirees.
I grew up in Riga, and some of my best childhood memories happened on walks along the Daugava with my grandparents. We'd move slowly, stop often, and they'd point out buildings and tell stories about the city they'd known their whole lives. Those walks taught me something important: the best places aren't always the most famous ones. They're the ones where you can actually pause and breathe.
After finishing my degree in Cultural Geography at the University of Latvia in 2010, I joined the Riga Tourism Development Bureau. For five years, I mapped accessible routes and interviewed older residents about where they liked to walk. The conversations were incredible—people shared memories, explained what made certain paths comfortable or difficult, and revealed hidden spots that never made it into guidebooks. That's when I realized something was missing: detailed, practical information about riverside walks written by someone who actually understands what accessibility means.
So I started writing. Nine years of full-time work documenting these routes, walking them in different seasons, timing them, noting where the benches are, understanding the light at different times of day. I don't write from an office—I write from the embankment, from the Old Town streets, from the parks and promenades. That's where the real stories live.
My work bridges travel writing, heritage preservation, and practical accessibility guidance.
Detailed guides to riverside walks along Riga's most iconic waterfront. I document distances, elevation changes, rest points, and seasonal variations to help retirees plan trips that work for their pace and comfort level.
The stories behind Riga's architecture, bridges, and neighborhoods. I connect the physical places people walk with the historical context that makes them meaningful—turning a route into an experience.
Practical insights into how public spaces work for older adults and people with mobility considerations. Not theoretical—based on real conversations and direct observation of how people actually use these spaces.
I write about how cities can be explored on foot, with focus on making that exploration rewarding and sustainable. Routes that encourage real engagement with place, not just ticking off attractions.
Not a slowdown—a chance to explore differently. People in their 60s, 70s, and beyond have time, curiosity, and energy. They deserve places and routes designed with that reality in mind, not assumptions about what older adults can or should do.
A bench in the right place changes everything. So does knowing where the nearest restroom is, or understanding that this route gets muddy after rain. I don't gloss over practical details—they're the whole point.
A building isn't just architecture—it's connected to people, events, and moments in time. When you know those stories, the walk becomes something more than exercise. It becomes connection.
I don't write about routes I haven't walked. Multiple times, in different seasons, at different times of day. That's the only way to understand them well enough to guide others.
Intercloturesentinelle SIA, 2016–present
Leading content creation that bridges tourism, heritage preservation, and active aging. Specializing in accessible riverside tourism and heritage walking routes in Riga, with particular focus on the Daugava embankment and Old Town promenades.
Freelance, 2013–2016
Full-time writing focused on urban walking tourism and accessibility. Published extensively on how heritage sites and natural landscapes can be enjoyed safely and comfortably by people of all ages and mobility levels.
Riga Tourism Development Bureau, 2008–2013
Mapped accessible routes and conducted interviews with older residents about their favorite walking paths. Contributed to tourism infrastructure assessment and public space accessibility evaluation.
University of Latvia, 2010
Focus on urban landscapes, public space use, and heritage preservation. Thesis explored accessibility patterns in Riga's Old Town district.
Recent pieces exploring Riga's most rewarding walking routes.
A detailed guide to navigating Riga's most historic neighborhood on foot. I've mapped the best route for older adults, identified rest points, and documented the stories behind the buildings that make this walk unforgettable.
Read the guideEverything you need to know about walking Riga's iconic riverside. From seasonal variations to accessibility features, this is the comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to explore the embankment at their own pace.
Read the guideA hidden gem that combines riverside walking with urban green space. This route is less crowded than the main embankment but equally rewarding, with unexpected views and quieter moments.
Read the guide