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Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča

Lelde combines an education in journalism with a background in destination marketing. She is a Riga-based communications professional and runs LifeInRiga.com, which she defines as the hybrid of an expat blog and guidebook. Latvian by nationality, Lelde grew up in Australia, went to school in Latvia, studied and worked in several countries before happily settling in Riga. Anything Lelde does, she does with a deep dedication.

Esotiq summer 23 campaign with Marcelina Zawadzka

The Latvian Capital of Lingerie 

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
15 April 2024
Latvia/Business/Culture

People all over the world wear pants, bras, and pajamas made in Latvia. A lot of the garments originate from Liepāja. How did this coastal city become the Northern country’s unofficial capital of lingerie?

Azeron

The Latvian Company Enhancing the Gaming Experience

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
19 February 2024
Latvia/Business/Tech

One revolutionary Latvian company has improved the gaming experience for hundreds of happy customers around the world. With Azeron's ergonomic keypads, gaming is more comfortable.

Vilhelms Purvītis. In Spring (Springtime). Ca 1933–1934. Oil on cardboard. Collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art.

Vilhelms Purvītis: the Latvian Philosopher of Snow

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
28 January 2024
Latvia/Culture/People

Vilhelms Purvītis laid the foundations for Latvian landscape painting. His emotive works capture the fragile beauty of nature throughout the seasons in unrivaled detail. Still today, he is a revered cultural figure.

Grey peas with bacon and onions, the national dish of Latvia

The Celebrated Gray Peas of Latvia

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
20 October 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

Nutritious, versatile, and flavorful, Latvia's big gray peas are a long-term hero of national cuisine. Today, they even stand in for chickpeas in localized versions of hummus and falafel.

Janis Siders, founder of STAPES

The Latvian Company Enabling People to Feel Sound

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
5 September 2023
Latvia/Business/Tech

Is hearing the only way one can enjoy sound? No. Latvian startup Stapes is working on a sophisticated piece of tech to allow people to feel it through their bones. This multi-sensory experience brings deep relaxation.

Camping “Melnsils” is a place to enjoy peace and silence by the sea and nature.

At Melnsils, You Can Sleep in a Boat, Barrel, or Bunker

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
25 August 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

This campsite in Latvia offers much more than just a bed for the night. Inspired by the sea, local history, and traditional lifestyles, Melnsils has built several unusual cabins for immersing oneself in the rugged coastal landscape.

Decorative sticks in the the park.

The Iconic Sigulda Walking Stick

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
2 August 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Culture

While still a practical mobility aid for seniors and hikers, the generously patterned and colorful wooden walking stick has also become a symbol of the Latvian town of Sigulda. It is a much-loved souvenir item, and you can even make your own version.

A steam locomotive pulls away from the station.

All Aboard the Bānītis – North Latvia’s Steam Train

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
16 July 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

A historical narrow-gauge railway in North Latvia connects the towns of Gulbene and Alūksne and charming villages along the way. This part of the country is an ideal destination for railway-themed trips.

Womem in traditoonal orange-color cothes with flower crown. Photo: Dzintars Leja

The Suiti: A Catholic Island in a Lutheran Sea 

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
10 June 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Culture

A 17th-century love story between a German nobleman and a Polish aristocrat sparked the formation of a unique Catholic community that still exists in Latvia today. The Suiti are a remarkable and hardy people.

A huge soviet radio telescope near abandoned military town Irbene in Latvia. Former super-secret Soviet Army space spying object. Now largest radio telescope in northern Europe and the world's eighth largest.

Former Spy Facility Turned Space Research Center

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
6 June 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Business

Once home to Soviet army officers tasked with spying on the West, today the Latvian town of Irbene is the site of advanced space research. The VIRAC has given a new lease of life to the two giant radio telescopes it inherited.

The stork in the Venta river eats lamprey.

Lamprey-Loving Latvians

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
28 May 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

This eel-like creature in Latvia is much more than a simple food item. The lamprey contributes to the identity of some coastal towns. Every year, locals and visitors indulge in festivals dedicated to the fish.

father and son in amphibious on water

3-in-1 Solution for Camping on Land and Water

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
27 May 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food/Business/Tech

If only camping trips weren’t so challenging… Latvia’s BeTriton has a solution! Their amphibious electric vehicle allows crossing terrain and water at ease and eliminates the need to pitch a tent at night.

Chilled beatroot soup with egg, dill and potato

The Taste of Summer Along the Baltic

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
27 May 2023
Poland/Latvia/Travel & Food/Lithuania

A distant relative of Spanish gazpacho, the cold soup of Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia involves beetroot instead of tomato. The one ingredient they do share is cucumber. Both suit their respective climates at either end of Europe.

Close-up shot of microscope with metal lens at laboratory.

The Latvian Startup Engineering Organs-on-a-Chip

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
11 May 2023
Latvia/Business/Tech

Organs-on-a-chip are not a thing of nightmares. Quite the contrary, Latvian startup, Cellbox Labs, is pioneering a way for this smart technology to revolutionize drug discovery.

Raimonds Pauls

Raimonds Pauls: The Latvian Master of Melody

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
6 May 2023
Latvia/Culture/People

A man of many talents, Raimonds Pauls is best known for his work as a composer and pianist. Fast approaching 90 years of age, the acclaimed Latvian musician still performs, charming audiences with his catchy melodies.

Valga Central Square from a bird's eye view

One City, Two Countries

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
21 April 2023
Latvia/Estonia/Travel & Food

Residents of Valka, Latvia, and Valga, Estonia, come and go freely, living in one country and shopping, studying, or working in the other, illustrating the human value of open borders. Visitors can explore both within a day or two.

Latvian blue cow on the field on sunny day.

The Colorful Cows of Latvia

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
19 April 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

You could be forgiven for thinking a blue cow is something out of fiction. But it is, in fact, real and roams the fields of Latvia along with another local breed – the Latvian Brown.

Anda Penka and Oksana Dāve, co-founders of Fermentful

Buckwheat and Kefir: A Match Made in Heaven?

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
15 April 2023
Poland/Travel & Food

In true start-up fashion, Fermentful took two existing products – buckwheat and kefir – and found how they could work together to create something new. Their plant-based drinks are a gut-and-planet-friendly alternative to the original dairy beverage.

latvian rye bread

Rye Bread – The Building Block of Latvian Cuisine

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
8 April 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

Rye bread is a staple of the Latvian diet. Delicious by the slice, it's also a key ingredient in several unusual sweet and savory recipes. You can try many of them at themed festivals and stops along the Rye Road tourism route.

Interior of the National Library of Latvia in Riga

The Castle of Light Shining Over Riga

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
5 March 2023
Latvia/Travel & Food

The emotive architecture of one of Riga's most prominent buildings speaks of the Latvian nation's strength, courage, and endurance. This is the home of the National Library of Latvia – a contemporary center of knowledge and culture.

Wood Is Not Just Future Building Material

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
2 March 2023
Estonia/Travel & Food

Some of Riga's wooden buildings date as far back as the 18th century. Witnesses of wars, power struggles, and transformation, the sturdy structures are a living archive. What is their status today?

Closing Concert "Following the Starry Path" during The Song and Dance Celebration

Latvian Song Becomes the Unofficial Anthem of Catalonia

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
4 February 2023
Latvia/Culture

A song, which some Latvians would like to see become the national anthem, has become an unofficial anthem of a faraway place - Catalonia. The Catalan independence movement gave the song new lyrics and meaning with the composer's blessing.

ointment with natural beeswax component on light grey stone table

The Curious Case of Evija Ointment, Beloved by Latvians

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
31 January 2023
Latvia/Culture

Found in bathroom cabinets around Latvia, the ointment is said to help ease colds and soothe burns and muscle aches in humans and pets. While several products co-exist on the market, only one claims to be the real Evija.

RAF-22031 Latvija

A Legendary Minibus for the Masses 

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
29 January 2023
Latvia/Culture

The RAF Latvija minibus, a close relative of the Volkswagen Type 2, never managed to achieve the same legendary status as its competitor beyond the borders of the Soviet Union. But then again, it was little more than an inferior copy, after all.

Holiday Gold place setting, funny Christmas table with ornaments and natural berries on wooden table

Why Latvians Need a Big Table for Christmas

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
21 December 2022
Culture/Romania/Travel & Food

Never ones to leave their guests hungry, on one particular day of the year, Latvians load the table with nine foods. Traditionally, this was Yuletide to mark the winter solstice. Today, many celebrate Christmas but still keep up with tradition, too.

Ripe, fresh sea buckthorn, Hippophae in a tin mug. Harvesting, vintage style. Selective focus

Immunity-Boosting Sea Buckthorn Thrives in Latvian Soil

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
25 November 2022
Latvia/Business/Culture

Developing since the 1980s, Latvia's sea buckthorn industry is now well and truly ripe. Not only is export on the rise, but growers are creating new products to introduce people to the vitamin-packed berry and its powers.

coffee crounds

Coffee Grounds Provide Alternative to Burning Wood 

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
28 October 2022
Latvia/Business/Tech

Koffeco, a sustainably-minded science-based startup from Latvia, sees spent coffee grounds as a resource. The team transforms organic waste into new products, contributing to a circular economy.

People gather in the graveyard to remember the dead relatives

Far From Morbid: Latvia’s Cemetery Festival

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
19 September 2022
Latvia/Travel & Food/Culture

A ritual of great importance on Latvian family calendars, the Cemetery Festival gathers relatives from near and far. The curious day’s events are less about mourning and more about celebrating life and togetherness.

apple cider

Can Cider Be to Latvia What Wine Is to France?

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
26 August 2022
Croatia/Travel & Food

Far from a centuries-old tradition, cider making in Latvia arose in the 1990s. Since then, the industry has blossomed, and cider makers and pub owners have united to create a local Cider Route - a rival to the wine routes of Western Europe?

Gardens of Sporta Pils

Cultivating Kale, Cucumbers, and Community Spirit

by Lelde Beņķe-Lungeviča
4 August 2022
Green Transformation/Latvia/Business

What to do with an overgrown piece of land in a bustling capital city whose residents live mostly in apartments? One active community in Riga founded urban gardens, illustrating the potential of transforming derelict plots into added value for a city.

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