DIY Frame House in Latvia: Walls and Rafters Completed
At the end of June 2023, we traveled to Latvia for about two weeks, during which I continued work with our frame house and installed both walls and rafters.
In this article, I'm sharing notes and photos from the construction.
It was a huge surprise when arriving on site I saw a lot of overgrown grass.
It was just a few months ago, we come to Latvia to install this foundation on the grounds crews.
The Cost-Saving Way to Build a Frame House in Latvia: Our DIY Project (Screw Foundation Piles)
Just like in the Spring, I ordered wood from PATA Saldus, here is delivered wood both for walls and roof and also slats
I made the first frames myself, using just a hand saw and a drill. I…
Summer Solstice 2023
In case you wondered how we celebrated Summer's Solstice 2023 - we celebrated it at our rural country house some 25 km from Liepåja in Latvia. Having a lot of fun.
I invited my mom to join us for the little party. Just four of us.
We bought this little Dacha last year for just EUR 5,000 and now we have a place where to come and celebrate at least Līgo once in a year.
I had to spend a good evening trimming grass tonight
Having a property puts on a lot of responsibility, and my biggest fight for years - grass.
Small but hearty Līgo
Jerusalem in December: A Must-Visit Destination for the New Year Holiday
Jerusalem is a city steeped in history, culture, and religion, making it a fascinating destination to visit any time of the year. However, there is something particularly special about visiting Jerusalem in the weeks leading up to New Year's.
In this article, we'll explore some of the highlights of experiencing Jerusalem before New Year's eve. We arrivied to Jerusalem from Ben Gurion airport terminal and our discoveries could start. After booking nice apartment on Be'er Sveva street, we left exploring city, by visitng The Western Wall, Mahane Yehuda Market and even the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Later on we left Jerusalem for Eilat and returned back to Tel Aviv. …
Vialand Amusement Park in Istanbul
Vialand Theme Park is a huge amusement park and shopping mall located in Istanbul, Turkey.
We visited this theme park at the end of May 2023, during our weekend trip to Istanbul. We paid a 240 USD entry fee for a family of three (also kids pay full fare).
After visiting the park I was left with the feeling that the price might be way too overpriced for the attractions we actually used. As we were traveling with our 4-year-old daughter, we were using just the bare minimum. The total price of USD 240 for spending a few hours at this theme park. Well, it depends. The daughter was quite happy at least. and that is the most important thing!
For getting here, we used BiTaksi ride-sharing…
Hotel Baykal in Istanbul
Hotel Baykal is located on the shores of Golden Horn in Unkapani, Istanbul.
This hotel is located about 3 km from the historical Sultanahmet area. Free WiFi is accessible in all areas.
We booked Hotel Baykal for a 3-night stay at the end of May 2023 during our short trip to Istanbul. At the time of booking, we were just choosing the cheapest options available, and I have to say this was a bargain deal.
In total, we paid about USD 160 for our 3-day stay here, which is something really awesome. We could spend about $1,000 for a luxury stay, with access to swimming pools, a la carte restaurant, but this time we decided to save huge, and indeed this was quite a value deal.
For…
Ring in the New Year in Eilat: A Guide to the Top Attractions
Eilat is a city in southern Israel that is well known for its sunny beaches and vibrant nightlife. The city is especially popular during the New Year's holiday season when visitors flock to the area to enjoy the warm weather and festive atmosphere. In this article, I'll explore some of the highlights of visiting Eilat around New Year's.
We come to Eilat, especially for New Year's Eve, and booked Herods Boutique hotel, paying about USD 750 for a 2-night stay. Might be a bit expensive, but the stay was awesome and it was New Year's Eve. We chose Israil Air to fly from Ben Gurion Airport to Ramon airport near Eilat for getting here, additonaly a taxi service form the airport. The domestic…
Our frame house has suffered significant damage due to the strong winds
Over the past few weeks, I have been fully engrossed in the laborious task of constructing our frame house from the ground up. Unfortunately, amidst the hustle and bustle of the construction process, I have been remiss in updating our progress on this blog. However, I regret to inform you that our endeavors have taken a devastating blow.
This past weekend marked a significant milestone as we completed the roof installation and eagerly commenced the placement of the crosswind sheet. With each passing day, we inched closer to the realization of our dream home. Today, as I was in the midst of finalizing the order for the metal roofing, I received some profoundly disheartening news.
A…
Elia Monastery near Dedoplis Tskaro
Elia monastery is located in Kakheti, in the southern part of Dedoplistskaro, on a double-peak limestone mountain. The Temple of Saint Ilia Tezbiteli is located on Mount Elia since the sixth century. Many people gather here every August 2, on the day of the great prophet, Saint Ilia Tezbiteli. They overnight on a double-peaked mountain and pray at the bottom of the Elia rock.
I first learned about this beautiful place from our German friend Ralph, during the Vashlovani trip back in Summer 2021. Back then we didn't made a stop here, just passed it by and saw from the distance.
It was back in Summer of 2023 when we actually visited this place and I had a chance to make a few close-ups with…
How To Get pre-paid unlimited internet in Turkey with eSIM
Staying connected while traveling is crucial in today's digital age, and having access to mobile internet is essential for most people.
Turkey, with its rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes, is a popular destination for travelers from around the world. To ensure you stay connected during your trip, one convenient option is to use an eSIM (embedded SIM) for mobile internet.
During our latest independent trip to Istanbul, I was exploring my options for getting a sim card with internet for my phone and was very happy to learn that there is actually eSIM available with prepaid unlimited internet for Turkey.
Instead of actually visiting some phone store, buying a sim card, and…
The Top Beaches to Visit in Tel Aviv: Unwind and Relax by the Mediterranean Sea
Tel Aviv is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Israel, known for its vibrant culture, nightlife, and beaches. With over 14 kilometers of coastline, Tel Aviv boasts some of the most beautiful and accessible beaches in the country.
During our latest trip to Israel I had a chance to spend a day in Tel Aviv's beaches and was left with that white envy feeling, how lucky Israelis are, having such nice beaches just in front of their city. Just amazing.
Coming back from the trip, I was reasearching more about Tel Aviv's beaches and here's a guide to the top beaches in Tel Aviv.
Frishman Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Tel Aviv. It's located near the city center and…
Savanna Guest House in Dedoplis Tskaro
Savanna Guest House is located on Mosulishvili Street 51 in the town of Dedoplis Tskaro.
We booked this guest house for a one-night stay at the start of June 2023, paying about gel 150 for a separate house with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a shower, a living room, and a lovely outdoor space.
We keep returning to Dedoplis Tskaro because of the Eagle Canyon and this time we decided to extend our stay in the area by booking a guest house. and Savanna Guest house was our perfect match.
We had a free parking on the street. Little nice backyard and even a swing which made our 4-year old daughter very happy.
Very comfortable bed. The room even featured a desk, though I prefered to do my laptop…
Discovering Jaffa: A Memorable Day Trip from Tel Aviv
Jaffa is an ancient port city near Tel Aviv in Israel. Jaffa is known for its association with the biblical stories of Jonah, Solomon, and Saint Peter as well as the mythological story of Andromeda and Perseus, and later for its oranges.
Today, Jaffa is one of Israel's mixed cities, with approximately 37% of the city being Arab.
We had a chance to visit Jaffa and meet with our Latvian friend there at the start of 2023 during our latest trip to Israel.
Jaffa is a fascinating destination for a day trip from Tel Aviv. The city is steeped in history, and its winding alleys, colorful markets, and beautiful architecture offer a unique glimpse into the past.
Getting to Jaffa…
Rafting & Birthday
June marked a special occasion for the Caucasus Translations team as we embarked on an unforgettable adventure to celebrate Sandra's birthday. The chosen setting? The exhilarating waters of the Aragvi River, offering a unique and exciting rafting experience. Join us as we share the highlights of this action-packed day filled with mcvadi feasts, team building, and an abundance of positive vibes!The Aragvi River, with its twists and turns through the stunning Caucasus landscape, provided the perfect backdrop for our celebration. As adrenaline pumped through our veins, we navigated the river's rapids, each twist and turn adding to the thrill of the experience. The mesmerizing scenery of…
Hilton Garden Inn Tbilisi Restaurant on Chavchavadze
Hilton Garden Inn Tbilisi Restaurant on Chavchavadze Street (Vake district) is one of my favorite lunch places in the city - we keep heading to this place for dinner, as our company office is located just around the corner.
Also, the business quick & healthy lunch here is among the lowest priced in the city - you can get healthy and delicious food just for GEL 25 (prices as of 2023).
Guests can choose from soups, salads, and starters + get fresh homemade lemonade for free. The menu is updated once in a while.
Besides delicious food, I love to come here to read local English newspapers and journals, like Georgia Today, Finnachnel, and others.
If you are not into the lunch menu…
The Carmel Market in Tel Aviv, Israel
The Carmel Market (also, the Shuk Hacarmel) is the largest market, or shuk, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
It’s a vibrant marketplace where traders sell everything from clothing to spices and fruit to electronics.
Visiting the Carmel Market is a fascinating thing to do in Tel Aviv. The hustle and bustle, vibrant noises, and its reputation as the largest shuk in Tel Aviv all combine to make the Carmel Market a favorite.
I first visited this market at the start of 2023, during our New Year's trip to Israel.
Everyone from first-time tourists visiting the city to locals who come here to get the freshest fruit and vegetables till the alleyways.
The Carmel Market first opened in 1920, some…
Eagle Canyon and Dedoplis Tskaro (2023)
In early June 2023, my family and I embarked on another unforgettable road trip, this time venturing into the scenic wonders near Dedoplis Tskaro.Our first stop on this thrilling journey was the captivating Eagle Canyon, a true haven for birdwatching enthusiasts. The canyon, tucked away in the heart of Georgia, offered a breathtaking spectacle of nature's beauty. Surrounded by lush greenery and echoing with the melodies of diverse bird species, it was a paradise for anyone seeking solace in the arms of untouched wilderness.For our accommodation, we chose the Savanna guest house, a hidden gem itself. Nestled in the tranquility of nature, this charming abode provided us with a cozy retreat…
How to Install Drupal 10 with Nginx, PHP-FPM 8.1, MySQL, phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu 23.04 - Linode Guide
In this article, you will learn how to set up a webserver for serving Drupal websites running with Nginx, PHP-FPM 8.1, MySQL, and phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu 23.04
For the following tutorial, I used very much the information from my previous guide with 22.04, but I decided to rewrite it for Ubuntu 23.04 version as it is shipped with php8.1 version and will work with Drupal 10 (most probably with previous versions too)
If you need any assistance configuring servers or working with Drupal, consider hiring me at the Terramatris website
Prerequisites
Ubuntu 23.04
Root privileges.
You can get a cheap VPS starting at just $5/mo from Linode. That's what I did - bought…
Discovering Sri Lanka: A Journey near Indian Ocean from Colombo to Galle
At the start of 2022, we traveled to Sri Lanka for about a two-week-long life-changing journey.
In this article, I'm sharing my travel notes with listing places of interest we visited. Also, make sure to watch our short video from this trip: Sri Lanka, Colombo, Bentota and Galle
The Tbilisi-Doha flight was good, with plenty of legroom. The plane seemed a bit outdated, a Boeing A230. But for a less than 3-hour flight, it was very decent.
The biggest surprise came at the Doha Airport, where we had reserved a business lounge with an option to stay at the so-called cubicles. It turned out they were on a first-served basis. I thought, "Alright, we got scammed."
Nevertheless, after some…
Mayer House Hotel in Tel Aviv
Mayer House Hotel in Tel Aviv is located on Dizengoff Street 98. It featured an outdoor swimming pool, a terrace, a restaurant, and a bar.
We booked this hotel for a 2-night stay at the start of 2023, before returning back to Tbilisi. We paid about USD 430 for a 2-night stay here.
Thsi small hotel has an excellent location, from here we were able to explore the neighbourhood, visit the Tel Aviv beach and more.
The property is close to several well-known attractions, 400 m from Dizengoff Center, 800 m from Meir Park and 1.3 km from Shenkin Street. The property is 500 m from the city centre and less than 1 km from Frishman Beach.
The room was really tiny, thus it had…
Istanbul With Kids
In late May 2023, my family and I embarked on a spontaneous adventure to Istanbul, immersing ourselves in the lively atmosphere of this vibrant city.Our itinerary was filled with the thrill of amusement parks, where we embraced the joy of heart-pounding rides and laughter. Amidst the fun, we had the pleasure of meeting a dozen skilled Turkish mechanics, adding a unique touch to our journey. Engaging conversations and shared moments made this encounter a highlight of our trip.Now, picture this: singing Bruģis and belting out "Let It Go!" in the heart of Istanbul. Our musical escapade added a touch of spontaneity to the trip, creating memories that resonate with the vibrant energy of the city…