New Design and Upgraded Security for Lari (GEL) Banknotes

9 March, 2016 | Living in Georgia | 8 seen

On February 1st, 2016 the National Bank of Georgia issued upgraded Lari banknotes. It was mid February when first upgraded banknote ended up im my hands, I got it at local Procredit ATM. 

My first thought was that I have probably by accident pressed EUR account instead of GEL and have taken my money from EUR account, but then I realized it's a new upgraded currency. After I took the following photo I shortly spent it on groceries at local Dezerteer Bazaar.

New 50 GEL banknote

According to National Bank of Georgia -  Firstly, upgraded banknotes in denominations of 20 and 50 Lari will be gradually issued into circulation. As for the upgraded 100 Lari banknotes, they will be issued into circulation later this year. National Bank of Georgia will inform society beforehand. 

Original and well-known Lari banknote themes have been preserved on upgraded banknotes, but at the same time, histories featured on the banknotes have been diversified with distinct, new elements. The modified design presents Georgian cultural and historical heritage with more precision and modern appearance.

The upgraded Lari banknotes are characterized with distinct color spectrum that is harmonically synchronized with dominant and contrast colors of the main plots.

Sizes of Lari banknotes have been upgraded as well. The diagonal and symmetric growth principle has been used for banknotes with respect to denominations.

The style of design, parameters and security features of the upgraded banknotes are modern, tested and consecutive for each denomination. Furthermore, the components of the design are maximally integrated into security features, which consequentially create a concept of the one family.

The upgraded Lari banknotes are protected with modern and high technological and security features that, at the same time, are easily intelligible to users. Furthermore, the banknotes still have the special improved features for visually impaired people.

The upgraded banknotes are made with special materials and security mechanisms that make them robust against contamination and natural wear-and-tear.

The banknotes in denominations of 5 and 10 lari will be upgraded later. 

The banknotes of the previous issues will remain in parallel circulation with upgraded lari banknotes.

Guest House Hapi in Jūrmala

8 March, 2016 | Hotel reviews | 7 seen

If there is a reason I will remember Hapi guest house in Jūrmala, then probably its green walls and super unprofessional staff attitude will be among top of them. 

Hapi guesthouse in Jūrmala

We stayed here for one night back in August 2015 and ... I can not even express my disappointment in words how unprofessional and meanwhile expensive this so called guest house was. We paid about EUR 40 for stay in this place... EUR 40 is not much, I agree - but you can stay for the same price in much more reputable Jūrmala hotels, yes that's right - hotels are not expensive in Jūrmala. Take for example hotel Dzintars (were I stayed a few months prior to stay at this guest house.)

Thus we had a confirmed reservation from Booking.com (and printed) after arrival at this place the person working there( it's hard to call him a receptionist, more some parking guard) informed that all rooms are already reserved, no more rooms for us. I showed him our printed paper, he scratched his nape and took some room keys from a desk. The room he gave us was small, bad ventilated with God knows what anything but bed.

At Hapi guest house

And yes green painted wall made the look even more dramatic.

Small window

Parking lot at Hapi

This place featured a free parking space, but the security guard was literally hunting me asking me to re-park car in other place (thus as you can see there were only two cars). Strange people and very strange guest house. Cannot recommend this time.

Lawn Mowing - The Never Ending Story Continues

8 March, 2016 | Home Remodeling | 5 seen

Our roof works were still in the middle, and I noticed that grass have grown again. It was just recently when I trimmed backyard territory, but this time I decided it's time to completely trim all our land (about 0.57 hectares).

I asked to our worker, could he handle this task in one day. He agreed, so in the next day - I took a day off from any home remodeling works, instead did some work for customers and photographed how grass is falling. 

Our veggie garden

Some time ago we planted some plants in wooden boxes (to save water) - and now our cabbages ripens. See: Our First Veggie Garden: Planting Plants in Boxes

Trimmer guy in action

Trimming around our small fish pond

Landscape beauty

Having such a wonderful views makes you to forget about all the hardships

Our rural house and new metal roof in front of it

See: Roof Works, Part 4 - Metal Roofing Arrives

Failed attempt to complete Tskneti - Turtle lake hiking route

7 March, 2016 | Outdoor Activities | 32 seen

About a year ago I discovered very cool hiking route in Tbilisi, heading from Turtle lake to Tskneti town. The total distance for this route was about 7 km and it offered very spectacular landscape views.

I have completed this route several times - last time together with my dad in May, 2015.

At the start of February I decided to offer this route as a possible photo / hike route for Georgia Expat Photographer club members, but before that I decided to check is it safe there (because of Tbilisi Floods 2015, I have heard that in Tskenti area there are landfalls. And just another reason - since I felt my photographer skills have improved a lot lately, I decided it would be a great experience to capture better photographs here. You can take a look of my previous photographs from this route here: Hiking Trails in Tbilisi - Turtle Lake (Kus Tba) - Tskneti

We decided to start hiking from Tskenti instead from Turtle lake, just to make sure - if there are any landslides - it would be better if we face them at the start of our trip and can turn back faster, instead of facing insurmountable obstacles at the end of our route and then turn back - hiking instead of 7km but about 14km.

So we took a bus #34 leaving from Station Square to Tskneti. We missed our stop (I was not able to identify exact location where to get of from bus) and decided to stay in bus until it reaches its final destination (Somewhere in Tskenti) and travel back. At the final stop we had to change our bus and wait for about 30 minutes for next bus.

Bus #34 in Tskenti

We left bus in Tskenti opposite to Kopola bowling center, I turned on Map My Ride app (Very useful for hiking trips as well), enabled GPS and we started walking

Small church in Tskneti

We turned right just after passed this church

Just before start of trekking trails in Tskenti

I played a little bit with panorama photography here 

Steep path near Tskneti

and very muddy path

Ruins and mud

First obstacles - landfall and fallen trees

A significant flood occurred in the Vere River valley in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on the night of 13 to 14 June 2015. It resulted in at least 20 human deaths and struck the Tbilisi Zoo. The Vere, a right tributary of the Mtkvari (Kura), runs through Tbilisi's Vake and Saburtalo neighborhoods. It is characterized by periodicflash floods, which had turned this normally small stream into a surging river, causing significant flooding in 1960, 1963, 1972, and 1995. In 1972, it resulted in several fatalities and completely flooded the Tbilisi Zoo.

Fallen trees near Tskneti

I submitted above image as my day 142 image for my 365 days photo project

Tskneti/Tbilisi panorama

We continued our road for some 500 meters more and were just surrounded by landfalls so we decided there is no chance we will actually complete this route and turned back to Tskneti

Fungi on stump

Played a little bit with close ups here

Landfalls near Tskenti

Now it was time to take the same muddy steep path to get back to the Tskenti town

Route map

Cafe Laboratory Review in Tbilisi

7 March, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 16 seen

Cafe Laboratory is located at the top floor at the high end shopping and business center Merani on Rustaveli avenue, Tbilisi. 

I was doing some photography in Vere neighborhood, when I received a call and invitation from my beloved one, she insisted we should meet at this place, enjoy some cup of tea/coffee, also she knew I'm with camera so most probably something good for my Tbilisi restaurant review series might happen

So I walked Rustaveli avenue to the Merani shopping center, got to the top floor - and there she was already. Story can be told now.

Stylish interior 

This cafeteria/restaurant features stylish interior, another great feature is an outdoor large terrace (not the rooftop, but still)

Menu at Laboratory cafe

Another great feature - very simple and straightforward menus - basically here you get - main dishes, crepes and sushi. Thus the prices are well above than in more casual Tbilisi restaurants. Cup of Turkish coffee - 4.5 GEL? No, thanks!

Large terrace

Got some ideas for our upcoming home remodeling tasks here.

Napkin holder - cliche, but sweet

Items for sale

Pretty expensive items, but if you are a slave for stylish elements you might end your day with a new china (I hope it's china) cup for 105 lari, for example

Cheese soup served with croutons

Now in above photography it looks better than is tasted on place, I didn't find there any molecule of cheese, for some reason large potato slices were added there and total absence oy any spices. This was one the the rare times in Georgia when I actually used salt cellar and I was able at least to improve taste of this so called cheese soup, on the other hand, this is one of the rare places where you can get croutons for your soup. 

Onion soup

All above written applies to this soup as well - no taste at all.

Bread with grated cheese

Technically speaking that cheese was meant to be melted... 

The Bottom Line

Probably the chef was absent in the day we visited this place (February 12, 2016), probably it's just as it is ... For two soups, coke and large teapot with fruit tea we paid about GEL 25, which is pretty normal, but I would be afraid to spend here more ordering something from main dishes. The best taste here was for coke and tea. Speaking of interior and location - just brilliant. I will most probably return here to give this place another try.

Now it is your turn, have you been to this place lately? Drop me a comment and a short review.

Restaurant Greppia in Verona

6 March, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 35 seen

It was a very cold, grey and rainy day in Verona, when on the way finding Juliet's Balcony I realized it would be great to find some local restaurant, order some meal and what's important to warm up.

I noticed a few signboards with direction arrows located around streets of Verona, when I decided to take the bait and actually followed those arrows. (A smart marketing from Greppia restaurant)

Greppia restaurant in Verona

We were not the only tourists following arrows, there was a queue in front of the restaurant entrance when we finally arrived. Luckily we got our table served fast.

Italian mineral water

I believe it's common to every mineral water producing nation, to serve their national mineral waters, Italy is no exception. Although I still prefer Georgian Nabeghlavi or Borjomi, but S.Pellegrino will be fine.

Pasta with octopus - or something like that

Ravioli soup

The Bottom Line

Restaurant Greppia is a tourist friendly, mid priced place in heart of Verona. We paid around EUR 50 for a main course and dessert (tiramisu) for two persons. It would be fun to return here in Summer time and enjoy a long evening here, perhaps drinking some Italian vine.

Rainy day in Verona

6 March, 2016 | | 18 seen

It was a damn cold, rainy and very grey day when we arrived to Verona, Italy. I was looking to photograph some nice looking pictures but found it very difficult to make any decent exposure today at all. 

Calendar told us it is January 2nd, 2016. We had made a long Italy trip and arrived here from Venice (where celebrated New Years eve). Our goal was to reach Juliet's balcony... We had not a single clue where actually in city it is located. 

Temperature was around zero (Celsius) - to keep us warm a little bit, we made a shopping in Verona. 

Square in Verona

The weather was against us today. I installed a tripod at one of the street corners in Verona, but rain a freezing hands didn't hold me long there

Verona Arena

Now I know, there is at least one other major tourist attraction in Verona besides Juliet's Balcony - The Verona Arena built in 1st century AD.

Verona Arena

The Verona Arena (Arena di Verona) is a Roman Amphitheatre in Piazza Bra in Verona, Italy built in 1st century. It is still in use today and is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind. In ancient times, nearly 30,000 people was the housing capacity of the Arena. Nowadays, for security reasons, the maximum attendance is of 15,000 people.

Now, if the weather would be a little bit better I most probably would enter this Verona Amphitheatre and who knows, probably made some great looking HDR photography. Now, we didn't wanted to stay a minute longer here and headed to find that Juliet's Balcony! Piece of Life after all.

Lurji (Blue) Monastery

5 March, 2016 | Churches and Monasteries | 30 seen

The Lurji Monastery also known as "Blue Monastery", is a 12th-century Georgian Orthodox church built in the name of Saint Andrew in the Vere neighborhood of Tbilisi, Georgia. The popular historical name lurji ("blue") is derived from its roof, adorned with glazed blue tile.

I first discovered this church by accident after went photographing another church (Russian Orthodox Church of St. John the Theologian in Tbilisi) and just on site I noticed there is a smaller Georgian church just across the street in distance of few meters from Russian church.

Blue monastery church in Tbilisi

The church stands in the central part of Tbilisi, at the Vere Park, on the right bank of the Mtkvari, not far from the mouth of the Vere River. The original edifice of the Lurji Monastery was built in the 1180s, in the reign of Queen Tamar. It was a domed cross-in-square design, with a pair of dome-bearing columns and an extended apse.

Signboard at Lurji monastery, written in Georgian and Russian

Bell tower and garden

A lengthy inscription in the southern tympanum, in the medieval Georgian asomtavruli script, identifies a sponsor, Basil, the former archbishop of Kartli. The heavily damaged church was restored as a three-nave brick basilica, without a dome, in the 17th-century. In the 18th century, the church was in possession of the Gabashvili noble family. In 1873, under the Russian rule, the church was reconstructed, according to Aleksandr Chizhov's project, with new brick walls attached and a new round dome, alien to the Georgian architectural forms, was added.

Inside interior at Lurji church

During the Soviet era, the Lurji Monastery building was used as a factory, a warehouse, and finally, as the Museum of Georgian Medicine. In 1990, the Lurji Monastery was restored to the Georgian Orthodox Church and Christian services were resumed. In 1995, the old dome was replaced with a new conical one which was more in line with traditional Georgian design. Of the original 12th-century structure, only an apse with large windows adorned with fretwork framing, lower half of southern wall, and a couple of stone rows of western and northern façades survive.

Georgian cross

• Used resources: Lurji Monastery

Russian Orthodox Church of St. John the Theologian in Tbilisi

5 March, 2016 | Churches and Monasteries | 106 seen

Church of St. John the Theologian (Russian: Церковь Иоанна Богослова) is located in Vere neighborhood, Tbilisi. Tis was already second Russian Orthodox church I have visited in Tbilisi. Read more about Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Tbilisi, and I know for sure there is another Russian church (at least in Tbilisi). I didn't enter inside this church, just tried to make some panorama photos here.

Located at the end of L. Kiacheli Street, a few meters away from the Blue Monastery (Lurji monastery). It was constructed with the order of the governor-general Golicin in 1898-1901. According to the saying, the St. John The theologian main temple (founded in the 7th century) was constructed on the very same place.

On the left side Blue Monastery

It was pretty hard to make a full frame picture here of St. John the Theologian church, so I decided to give it a try for panoramic photo, unfortunately tower is missing here.

The church belonged to Mtskheta-Tbilisi eparchy, though the liturgical ceremonies were conducted in Russian. Nowadays the liturgical ceremonies are conducted in Georgian. The brick church is whitewashed from outside, (the whitewashing tradition in Russia dates back to 18th century). The church has four entrances that are symmetrically disposed on east and west sides of the southern and northern walls, and the western door functions only.

The interior is simple, here the white and light blue plaster replace each other, enabling the arches, spherical dome and conch to be marked out. The golden iconostasis, erected in front t of the altar is perceived as a colorful spot. The wooden (choir) gallery is arranged on the east side of the northern arm to which the stone stairs, (fixed in the thickness of the wall) are directed. The space is concentrated under a wide spherical dome supported by the protruding of the conch and the northern and southern walls. The facades are divided by lancet arches, circles (made by the brick arrangement), slim columns, and semi columns. The ever changing shapes and the richness of the details, make the church differently perceivable from various sides and gives birth to a dynamic rhythm. The church is decorated with the central and four false domes that are supported by the narrow barrels.

The high bell tower, crowned with conical roof and ‘onion type head’ is built on the western arm of the church. The piece of Christ’s tomb, sacrificed by the general-lieutenant Leonid Teliakov is kept in the St. John the theologian church. Source: Saint John the theologian Russian church

Georgian and Russian churches standing next to each other in Tbilisi

Roof Works, Part 4 - Metal Roofing Arrives

4 March, 2016 | Home Remodeling | 7 seen

I'm continuing one of the most epic my life experiences I agreed to do - Replacing roof for an old and very bad managed rural house. 

It was about one week since previous roof works were done, roof replacement works resumed on August 12, 2015. Prior to that my 30th birthday happened and I decided to leave all the home remodeling works behind and visit Tallinn. See 14 Tallinn Trip Ideas your your next travel to Estonian Capital

Make sure you check out previous parts on Roof Replacement works. 

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Today the new metal roof I ordered some 3 weeks ago was meant to arrive, prior of actually installing the new metal roof, we had a very lot to do still - leveling beams, adding cross wind sheet and lathing. We had barely removed the old shingle roofing for just one side of the roof.

Roof works has resumed

We lost a chimney in Part 3, and one bearining beam - it took about half day to restore that beam from two smaller beams (the length of 7 meters)

Blue skies and a man on roof

A Super size cargo truck has just delivered the roof

By seeing such a Huge truck car I thought all of it's cargo is loaded with our new metal roof. 

I was wrong:

Unloading metal roof from the cargo truck

That was it - that thin object in the air (weighting about 2 tones) was all our metal roof - a total of 26 layers, each 7 meters long. The huge stack you can see in the background is our old shingle roof (actually just half of it) - it's just wonderful how technology have evolved in the last 100 years.

Lathing over cross wind sheet

It will take some more additional days and weeks, before the roofing works will be complete. Make sure you bookmark by blog and come back often to see the final result.

14 Tallinn Trip Ideas for your next travel to Estonian Capital

4 March, 2016 | Travel guides | 2 seen

Are you planing your first trip to Tallinn, trying to figure out what to see, where to go and where to stay overnight? In this guide I have added few cool Tallinn's attractions, shopping venue and really cool restaurants.

I spent two days in Tallinn, during Summer of 2015 to celebrate my 30th birthday. In those two days I reviewed 14 places where we headed to, stayed in or had a lovely meal.

Hope this guide might help you plan your next trip to Tallinn.

Map of Tallinn

Alternatively you can check my Estonia's travel guide here

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P.S. Here is my birthday cake

Birthday cake

You might find interesting my previous birthday guide to Armenian capital city of Yerevan: Celebrating Birthday in Yerevan, Armenia - Roundup

Cafe Cinema in Tbilisi

3 March, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 24 seen

Cafe Cinema is sharing one building with Carrefour store on the Kolhoznaya square (I know there is a new name for this square, but I never can remember the name). I have been going shopping for groceries time by time to this Carrefour store (although I prefer either Tbilisi Mall or recently opened East Point - both located in suburbs of Tbilisi), and just recently I discovered that there is not only Carrefour located in this building, but that there are actually some more boutique shops in store's second and thirds floors.

So I went to the second floor and discovered Cafe Cinema - I have no clue is there actually any cinema hidden in this building as well, but speaking of this cafeteria - it rocks. Prices are very affordable, atmosphere is great and they even have English language newspapers. And yes, this is a rare place where Coke is served with ice. Nice.

Menu at Cafe Cinema

Basically the menu is very simple, you can get crepes, wraps, cocktails, coffee and tea. Menu is written in Georgian only, but staff speaks both English and Russian. Menu is pretty illustrative so you can see what you are ordering.

Free issue of Financial 

Coke served with ice

The Bottom Line

Cafe Cinema just rocks, it is a safe haven were to spend some 30 minutes at least after you have done your shopping at the first floor's Carrefrour store. Grab a free issue of English language speaking newspaper and enjoy your Turkish coffee.

Giorgi Leonidze Park (Former Alexander Garden)

3 March, 2016 | Tourism objects | 66 seen

Ok, I just learnt this place is renamed after Georgian poet Giorgi Leonidze, although I most often call this park -  Alexander Garden. 

Parks of April 9 and Giorgi Leonidze (former Alexander Park) were cultivated in 1859 by the project of the architect O. Simenson. In 1865 the garden got its final form. It covered about 36.000 m2 areas. The garden was named in honour of the Emperor Alexander I. In the 30-eth of the XX century, after uniting the market and Dzneladze (present Tabukashvili) streets, the Alexander Park was divided into upper and lower platforms.

Monument to Giorgi Leonidze in Tbilisi

Giorgi Leonidze (December 27, 1899 – August 9, 1966) was a Georgian poet, prose writer, and literary scholar.

Leonidze was born in the village of Patardzeuli in the eastern Georgian province of Kakheti. He graduated from the Tbilisi Theological Seminary in 1918 and continued his studies at the Tbilisi State University. His first poems appeared in Georgian press in 1911, and then, briefly collaborated with the Symbolist group Blue Horns. His real talent emerged in 1925 with a series of nature lyrics, responding with Romantic animation to the landscapes of Leonidze’s native Kakheti. Throughout the Soviet period, he tried to pursue the "correct" political line; his poetry became more historical and patriotic, the eventful history of Georgia providing him with the colorful medieval imagery which Leonidze translated into impulsive rhythms and metaphors. He quickly established himself as one of the most popular poets of Georgia, but, when the purges of the 1930s took lives of many of his fellow writers and his own brother, microbiologist Leon Leonidze, he was forced to direct his talents into panegyrics to Joseph Stalin. This was an unfinished 1936 epic dedicated to Stalin’s childhood and youth, remarkable for its simulated verve and a total of absence of biographic details, factual or invented

For a short period of time we lived in this neighborhood back in 2012/2013 and I come here a lot, after wanderings at flea market I crossed Dry Bridge by foot and enjoyed lovely afternoon walk here.

Monument to the heroes of 1905 Revolution

At least that is written on the stone in Russian at the bottom. Numbers 1918 and 1921, makes me to think it's somehow related to the short lived 1st Republic of Georgia (1918-1921) as well.

View from the park

On the right side building there is another interesting object you might want to put your step in - Old Hotel London

Giorgi Leonidze park in Tbilisi

Carpe Diem Café in San Bonifacio

2 March, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 14 seen

I have never kept in secret my love for the local restaurants and cafes where tourists barely step their foot in. We did find a few great local Italian restaurants during a week long trip in Italy and when we arrived to San Bonifacio (checked in at our hotel, see Best Western Soave Hotel, San Bonifacio ) we decided to explore our options and find some great restaurant nearby.

It was alright late night on January 1st - and after some 20 minute driving around San Bonifacio it seemed we wont find any place that will be opened today. Luckily we noticed this place - meet Carpe Diem Cafe in San Bonifacio.

At Carpe Diem Cafe in San Bonifacio, Italy

A very few locals had been gathered here tonight and talked the usual stuff, locals usually do at such places.Some were looking to good looking waitress and ordered more bear so could just be in contact with her, and so on. The local cafe's rock!

We were hungry - and ordered a lot - nobody from the personnel spoke English but we understood each other by signs. 

Something superb delicious at Carpe Diem cafe

They are probably called Panini's - all I can remember from Italy trip - prosciutto rules.

Visitors can enjoy their drinks at the tables located outside the cafe

I believe this is because of a smoking ban in Italy (it' s not permitted to smoke inside) - and the here you go - even on freezing nights like this - people will go and smoke.

I photographed name of this place just after we left this cafe, just to remember and could found it latter on Google Maps and ad to my restaurant reviews

Carpe Diem cafe signboard

The Bottom Line

If there is a reason why I would love to return to San Bonifacio - Carpe Diem cafe is the reason for sure. Food served here was delicious, average prices (we paid around EUR 40 for a very good supper). Atmosphere is pleasant. Once in San Bonifacio, make sure you find this cafe, and don't forget to leave me a comment, how did it go!

Find out more on Facebook: Carpe Diem Cafe

Best Western Soave Hotel, San Bonifacio

2 March, 2016 | Hotel reviews | 12 seen

We booked this Best Western franchise hotel in San Bonifacio, Italy through secret deals on Hotwire, on January 1st, 2016, we chose this hotel because of it's close location to Verona and affordable price (about $60).

I love using Hotwire, in most cases there are great value deals, but it was not like this time. We got a small, bad equipped room from Hotel Soave. No, I'm not complaining, our stay was pretty OK. But it was far from the expected.

Hotel Soave is 200 m from San Bonifacio Railway Station and 800 m from the A4 motorway exit. It offers free parking, free internet, a fitness centre and a varied buffet breakfast.

Queen size bed

We made a mistake on reservation and selected queen size bed... when at the reception I asked could we get a King Size bed, thus it was our fault - receptionist didn't agree to change this room.

On booking.com it' s told that all rooms feature king size bed - well, in reality it's false

All rooms of the Soave Hotel feature a king-size bed, a 20" LCD TV with Sky channels, and an MP3 and DVD player. Playstation games are available to rent from reception.

Sky channels were hard to turn on on the small flat screen, it took some 30 seconds to turn the device on, and then some 30 minutes to understand how it works. Free channels were just some 16.

Small flat screen TV

Speaking about bathroom - it looked like stayed from some 60-ties... well for a quick shower it was OK. 

Bathroom

The Bottom Line

Can I recommend this hotel? Nope, I can't - I would never book this hotel again (well that's the downside of secret deals on Hotwire) - so I don't recommend this San Bonifacio hotel to you. Sorry!