The Nachlaot Pearl / King Salomon room is an apartment we booked via Airbnb for a two-day stay in Jerusalem on New Year's Eve of 2023. The price we paid seemed a bit high, paying about $350 for a small studio room,  but as we didnt know what to expect from Jerusalem rental market and were not into extensive reserach, we agreed to book this place. And the…

During our latest trip to Sri Lanka at the start of 2022, we visited this small and interesting Moonstone Mine - Beruwalage Gems & Jewelry.  We were taken here by our driver / guide we ordered back in the hotel for the day trip to Galle.  Moonstone is a fascinating gemstone that is found abundantly in Sri Lanka. This gemstone has been revered for…

There is a lovely French restaurant and bakery located on Paliashvili Street near Vake Park in Tbilisi. We keep heading here for delicious French-style desserts and one of my favorite vegetable soups. We come here occasionally, after visiting Vake Park or during the lunch break at the office nearby.  There are several Paul Restaurants located across the…

This time around, the stage was set between swimming pools, intense jiu-jitsu sessions, and explorations of two iconic Georgian towns - Sighnaghi and Mtskheta.The weekend kicked off with a perfect balance of fitness and fun. Picture this - a refreshing plunge into inviting swimming pools, followed by intense jiu-jitsu sessions. The rhythmic flow of water…

Our family trip began in Tbilisi, where we picked up our child from QSI international school in Zurgovani village. From there, we traveled to Natakhtari Airport, where we took a one-hour flight on Vanilla Sky to Batumi. Upon arrival at Batumi International Airport, we quickly booked a Bolt taxi through the app, and in just 15 minutes, we arrived at our…

I have traveled back and forth to Istanbul for dozen times, sometimes just by a connecting flight, sometimes just to spend a day or two in Istanbul. Most of the time, I have relied on shuttle services ordered from hotels or using public transportation. The last time when we visited Istanbul, via Sabiha Gokcen airport (May 2023) I noticed the price for one…

The highly anticipated new high-speed train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv via Ben Gurion Airport is now operating. The final destination of the Jerusalem train is Tel Aviv. The new Jerusalem to Tel Aviv train service is officially called King David Line. I have traveled by train from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem on New Year's Eve of 2023. The ticket price…

The Statue of Medea is located at Europe square in the Batumi city center. The Statue is dedicated to Medea, Colchian Princess from Greek mythology.  Statue was opened to the public back in 2007. I have visited for many times Europe square and the statue of Medea, especially in the recent years when a McDonalds is opened next to the monument, so I decided…

Grill Town restaurant in Batumi is among one of my best finds in recent years. Located close to the Sheraton Hotel on Rustaveli Avenue in Batumi.  We first discovered this restaurant in some of our previous Batumi trips, so this time it was a no-brainer to visit this place. During our latest visit here in April 2023, it turned out to be the restaurant 1…

Ben Gurion International Airport, is the main international airport of Israel. Situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod, it is the busiest airport in the country. It is located 45 kilometers (28 mi) to the northwest of Jerusalem and 20 kilometers (12 mi) to the southeast of Tel Aviv. I first visited it back in 2009, flying with Turkish…

Panorama Restaurant Batumi is located on the 36th floor of the Orbi skyscraper on 15b Sherif Khimshiashvili Street. We come here by recommendation in Mid-April 2023. Panorama Batumi is highly recommended because of the views, though the cuisine also is excellent. Places serve typical Georgian and European cuisine. Prices seem a bit above average but are…

Ramon Airport, named after Ilan and Assaf Ramon, also known as Eilat-Ramon Airport, is an international airport located in the Timna Valley in southern Israel. Ramon Airport is the second busiest in Israel (after Ben Gurion Airport) and has replaced the former Eilat Airport and Ovda Airport for civilian traffic. It also serves as the primary diversion…

Sarpi is a small village on the coast of the Black Sea of Georgia, on the border with Turkey. There is a border crossing point between Georgia and Turkey. Sarpi is the main land border crossing between the two countries and a major conduit for business travel, especially for Turkish companies doing business in Batumi. Sarpi is located about 12 km south of…

From fishing to flying drones, trying Georgian beer, and staying at a beautiful resort with hot pools, there's no shortage of exciting things to do in this picturesque region of Georgia. One of the highlights of your trip was undoubtedly the opportunity to visit Ekaterina Jinoridze's village and explore some of the best places nearby. With its stunning…

Metro City Forum is one of the largest shopping and entertainment centers in Batumi in terms of its area. The building, with an area of over 35,000 sqm, with a unique design is becoming a new landmark for the area.  A located bit outside of the city center, the shopping mall is reachable by public transport, taxi or if you prefer by walk.  I wouldnt call…