Spring Break in Latvia 2024
| Travel guides | 54 seen
Welcome to our latest adventure: "Spring Break in Latvia"! We're thrilled to share with you the beauty and excitement of our recent journey through this enchanting Baltic country. From the vibrant festivities of Vilgāle to the tranquil landscapes of Puze, our trip was filled with unforgettable moments that we can't wait to recount.
Our journey kicks off in Vilgāle, where we were greeted by the electrifying sight of fireworks illuminating the night sky during the Easter holidays. The air was filled with excitement and joy as locals and visitors alike came together to celebrate this cherished tradition. From colorful parades to traditional feasts, Vilgāle truly knows how to embrace the spirit of Easter.
After the hustle and bustle of Vilgāle, we sought serenity in the quaint village of Puze. Here, we immersed ourselves in the serene atmosphere of a church visit, marveling at the beautiful architecture and soaking in the tranquility of this peaceful setting. Puze provided the perfect escape from the chaos of modern life, allowing us to reconnect with our surroundings and find inner peace.
No trip to Latvia would be complete without exploring its breathtaking…
Amber Fort, India
| Tourism objects | 97 seen
Amer Fort or Amber Fort is a fort located in Amer, Rajasthan, India. Amer is a town with an area of 4 square kilometres, located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.
Located high on a hill, it is the principal tourist attraction in Jaipur. Amer Fort is known for its artistic style elements. With its large ramparts and series of gates and cobbled paths, the fort overlooks Maota Lake,which is the main source of water for the Amer Palace.
We had a chance to visit Amber fort back in the end of 2023, during our about 3 weeks trip to India. As we were quite tired from Jaipur city tour, I insisted actually not to visit this site, but just to take a few photos from distance.
Amer Palace is great example of Rajput architecture. Some of its buildings and work have influence of Mughal architecture.
Constructed of red sandstone and marble, the attractive, opulent palace is laid out on four levels, each with a courtyard. It consists of the Diwan-e-Aam, or "Hall of Public Audience", the Diwan-e-Khas, or "Hall of Private Audience", the Sheesh Mahal (mirror palace), or Jai Mandir, and the Sukh Niwas where a cool climate is…
Puzes Lutheran Church
| Churches and Monasteries | 35 seen
Puzes Lutheran Church, a historic landmark, stands proudly in the village of Puze, located in the Ventspils Municipality of Latvia. Built in 1692, it has been a focal point of the community for centuries. The tower, added in 1806 following a devastating fire, rises above the picturesque landscape, serving as both a symbol of resilience and a beacon for worshipers.
My Godmather Raēla Rozīte is a priest of this church since 1989. I first visited Puze church and a worship service during Easter of 2024 when pastor Raēla Rozīte held a ceremony together with my mother, also pastor, Sarmīte Fišere.
Above the entrance, four stone coats of arms from 1692 adorn the facade, each bearing testament to the church's rich history and significance. Despite the passage of time, the church has undergone careful restoration, with efforts commencing in 1986 and the congregation being fully reinstated by 1988.
The church's magnificent organ, crafted in 1844 by the skilled hands of Hermanis Liepāja, fills the sacred space with melodious hymns. In 1990, the organ underwent comprehensive restoration and expansion, ensuring its continued presence as a cornerstone of worship.
…From Online Bid to On-Site Discovery: Our Journey to Unveil the Property in Saldus
| Real Estate | 44 seen
Embarking on a real estate investment journey often involves navigating through twists and turns, with each step bringing us closer to our ultimate goal. For us, the story of our property in Saldus began with a successful online bid back in 2022—a pivotal moment that set the stage for an adventure filled with anticipation and excitement.
Securing the winning bid for a property in Saldus was a testament to our dedication and strategic approach to investment. However, as months turned into years, the tangible realization of our acquisition remained elusive. Despite our best efforts, unforeseen obstacles hindered our plans to visit the property and witness its potential firsthand.
One such setback occurred last spring when our rental T-cross found itself ensnared in the mud, thwarting our attempts to reach the property. Despite the setback, we remained undeterred, viewing it as a temporary setback on our path to discovery.
And so, armed with determination and a renewed sense of purpose, we embarked on yet another attempt to unveil the property in April 2024. This time, our efforts bore fruit as we successfully navigated the terrain and arrived at our destination…
A Day of Building and Recording: Installing Hardwood Floor in Latvia
| Frame House | 45 seen
As the sun rose over the picturesque landscape of Latvia, I found myself immersed in a fulfilling day of both physical labor and creative expression. With the mission of enhancing our frame house, I embarked on the task of installing hardwood flooring. But Thursdays are not just for construction; they're also for sharing insights and knowledge with the TerraMatris community. Join me as I recount a day filled with craftsmanship and content creation.
The rhythmic sound of hammering echoed through the serene surroundings as I set out to transform our home. The process of installing hardwood flooring is not merely about laying down planks; it's a labor of love that adds warmth and character to any space. With precision and patience, each piece was carefully placed, creating a seamless tapestry of natural beauty beneath our feet.
As I worked, memories intertwined with the present moment. I recalled the advice of craftsmen past, passed down through generations, echoing the importance of attention to detail and craftsmanship. From measuring twice and cutting once to ensuring proper alignment, every step was executed with care and dedication.
Amidst the steady…
Rainbow restaurant in Jaipur
| Restaurant reviews | 317 seen
Rainbow restaurant in Jaipur was a restaurant we were talking by our tour guide after wandering around the city of Jaipur for a few hours.
Really delicious Indian cuisine and that KingFisher beer. As I was vegeterian and on intermittent fasting during our times in India I sticked with some simple fish masala and garlic naan accompanied by beer. Really delicious.
Simple but elegant interior at Rainbow Jaipur restaurant
If there is a thing I discovered in India - then garlic naan with fish curry is among the top.
After having our lunch break we continued our discoveries in Jaipur before returning back to New Delhi in the evening.
City Palace of Jaipur
| Tourism objects | 219 seen
The City Palace, Jaipur is a royal residence and former administrative headquarters of the rulers of the Jaipur State in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
I had a chance to visit city palace of Jaipur in India back at the end of December 2023, during our about 3 week trip to India. We came here by foot from the Jantar Mantar observatory of Jaipur.
The palace complex lies in the heart of Jaipur city, to the northeast of the very centre. The site for the palace was located on the site of a royal hunting lodge on a plain land encircled by a rocky hill range, five miles south of Amber.
Construction started soon after the establishment of the city of Jaipur under the reign of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, who moved his court to Jaipur from Amber, in 1727.
Jaipur remained the capital of the kingdom until 1949—when it became the capital of the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan—with the City Palace functioning as the ceremonial and administrative seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
Luckily I didn't saw any snake this time, but music coming out from the flute was absolutely brilliant. It
The construction of the Palace was completed in 1732 and it was also the…
France / Paris / Marseille / Disneyland
| Travel guides | 51 seen
In the summer of 2023, my family embarked on an unforgettable adventure through the heart of France. From the iconic landmarks of Paris to the serene lavender fields of Provence, our journey was a whirlwind of discovery, laughter, and cherished memories. But it wasn't just about experiencing the sights and sounds firsthand; it was about capturing those moments on film to relive and share with others.
Our adventure began in the City of Lights, where we immersed ourselves in the rich history and culture that Paris has to offer. From the majestic Eiffel Tower to the artistic wonders of the Louvre, every corner we turned revealed a new treasure waiting to be explored. With our camera in hand, we documented every awe-inspiring moment, from sipping espresso at quaint cafes to strolling along the Seine at sunset.
But our journey didn't end there. We boarded the high-speed TGV train and whisked away to the vibrant port city of Marseille. As we soaked in the Mediterranean charm and sampled the local cuisine, we couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the French Riviera. From the bustling markets to the historic landmarks, Marseille captivated our hearts and inspired us to…
How To Generate Captions (Text to Speech) in Adobe Premiere Pro
| Digital Photography School | 59 seen
Lately I have been amazed by the power of AI and its capabilities in converting gibberish text-to speech into usable and readable articles. I keep recording YouTube videos for our Crypto hedge fund channel, I like YouTube as it generates auto caption from my spoken text. I then re-use this text with ChatGPT, making readable blog articles.
Unfortunately, sometimes YouTube doesn't generate auto captions, don't know why, it happens. Thats how I discovered that Adobe Premiere Pro has function to export text to speech, which then can be reused again in the same Chat GPT, for example.
In this article I will share how to generate captions in Adobe Premiere Pro:
Open Adobe - > Create New project - > Import video -> Drag and drop your video to the timeline
Make sure your video is selected on the timeline, then from the actions windows (left upper corner) make sure to select Text and click on Create captions from transcript.
You will be prompted with a windows offering to customize your transcription settings, play around, or leave the default.
It may take few seconds to generate captions, now to make them…
Jantar Mantar observatory in Jaipur
| Tourism objects | 50 seen
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur is a collection of 19 astronomical instruments built by the Rajput king Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The monument was completed in 1734. It features the world's largest stone sundial, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is near City Palace and Hawa Mahal. The instruments allow the observation of astronomical positions with the naked eye. The observatory is an example of the Ptolemaic positional astronomy which was shared by many civilizations.
I first visited this observatory back in December, 2023 during our about 3 week trip to India. We were taken here by a tour guide and spent some good two hours here.
The monument features instruments operating in each of the three main classical celestial coordinate systems: the horizon-zenith local system, the equatorial system, and the ecliptic system The Kanmala Yantraprakara is one that works in two systems and allows transformation of the coordinates directly from one system to the other. It has the biggest sundial in the world.
The monument was damaged in the 19th century. Early restoration work was undertaken under the…
How To Sell Covered Calls with Solana on ByBit
| Options trading | 312 seen
ByBit is my new favorite crypto trading platform, I switched from Deribit to ByBit around August 2023, with the launch of TerraMatris crypto hedge fund.
I like trading on Bybit because, unlike on the Deribit, options are settled in USDC, not in crypto itself, which makes it much easier to calculate and actually grow the portfolio.
In this article I will shed some light on how I'm selling covered call options on Solana using ByBit trading platform.
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Before that, make sure to check out my previous articles about options selling with Solana
- I'm making $0.21/daily* by selling covered calls on Solana coin
- How to Sell Covered Call Options with Solana on Deribit?
First things first - ByBit re-introduced Solana options on March 6, 2024, about a week ahead the Deribit, despite Deribit was the first announcing Solana options, already back in October 2023. In short both Deribit and ByBit already had Solana options, but they stopped issuing new contracts shortly after FTX crash back in November 2022.…
Hawa Mahal / Pink Palace in Jaipur
| Tourism objects | 127 seen
The Hawa Mahal is a palace in the city of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. Built from red and pink sandstone, it is on the edge of the City Palace, Jaipur, and extends to the Zenana, or women's chambers.
We visited this place at the end of December 2023, during our about 3 weeks trip to India, in the frames of our golden Triangle trip. Hawa Mahal was among our first stops in the city of Jaipur.
Area around the palace is quite busy, just like everything in India
The structure was built in 1799 by the Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, grandson of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh, the founder of the city of Jhunjhunu in the state of Rajasthan. He was so inspired by the unique structure of Khetri Mahal that he built this grand and historical palace.
It was designed by Lal Chand Ustad. Its five-floor exterior is akin to a honeycomb with its 953 small windows called Jharokhas decorated with intricate latticework. The original intent of the lattice design was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life and festivals celebrated in the street below without being seen.
This architectural feature also allowed cool air from the Venturi effect to pass through, thus making…
Minimum Wages in European Union 2024
| Macroeconomics | 242 seen
In 2024 there were 22 out of 27 European Union member states with an official minimum wage set by the government.
Turns out this is already the tenth (#10) article about minimum wages in European Union featured on the blog. To keep it up, here is the raw data for minimum wages across European Union in 2024.
Please don't judge too hard, data are taken from this article on Wikipedia, and applied some basic calculations for yearly growth.
CountryGross 2024Gross 2022Change EURChange %1Luxembourg€2,570.93€2,202.00€368.9316.75%2Netherlands€2,300.00€1,701.00€599.0035.21%3Germany€2,151.00€1,976.00€175.008.86%4Ireland€2,146.30€1,775.00€371.3020.92%5Belgium€1,994.18€1,626.00€368.1822.64%6France€1,766.92€1,645.00€121.927.41%7Spain€1,323.00€1,166.00€157.0013.46%8Slovenia€1,253.36€1,074.43€178.9316.65%9Poland€971.00€655.00€316.0048.24%10Portugal€956.66€822.00€134.6616.38%11Lithuania€924.00€730.00€194.0026.58%12Greece€910.00€832.00€78.009.38%13Cyprus€885.50 €885.50 14Malta€854.16€822.00€32.163.91%15Croatia€840.00€631.00€209.0033.12%…Royal Orchid Central Jaipur Hotel
| Hotel reviews | 51 seen
Royal Orchind Central hotel in Jaipur, India is a decent 4 star hotel.
We stayed here for one night at the end of December 2023, during our about 3 week trip to India. We got here transferred from Agra after visiting Taj Mahal by a private Golden Triangle tour company, we didn't paid directly for booking here, instead tour operator did. But seems the price per one night is about $35-$40 which is very good price for this hotel.
A short walk from Gandhi Nagar Railway Station, Royal Orchid Central Jaipur, Bani Park has a rooftop pool. Its rooms feature 26-inch flat-screen TV and city views.
Centrally located in Jaipur City, Royal Orchid Central is just 14 km away from Jaipur International Airport.
Fitted with wooden flooring, rooms at Royal Orchid are equipped with air conditioning, internet access and DVD player. They each come with a tea/coffee maker and a safe.
Guests can relax and dine at the hotel’s new-age lounge and restaurant, Pinxx. Alternatively, Ginseng Restaurant serves a variety of Asian dishes. Room service is available.
Jaipur’s Royal Orchid Central offers valet service and free parking. For the convenience of guests,…
Greece / Athens
| Travel guides | 25 seen
Lights, camera, action! In mid-January 2024, a small team from Caucasus Translations embarked on an unforgettable adventure to Athens, Greece, leaving behind the picturesque landscapes of Kutaisi airport in Georgia for the vibrant streets of the Greek capital.
Our mission? To immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of Greek culture, indulge in delectable cuisine, and foster connections with both locals and family members alike. And let me tell you, our trip did not disappoint!
From the moment we touched down in Athens, we were swept away by the city's timeless charm and infectious energy. Our itinerary was packed with visits to iconic landmarks, including the awe-inspiring Acropolis and the bustling Ancient Agora. Walking in the footsteps of ancient philosophers and statesmen, we couldn't help but marvel at the sheer magnitude of history that surrounded us.
But our exploration didn't stop there. No trip to Greece would be complete without indulging in some traditional delicacies, and boy, did we indulge! From sipping on refreshing mimosas made with prosecco and freshly squeezed orange juice to sampling succulent octopuses and flavorful dolmas, our taste buds…
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