Guest house / Viesu Māja 'Kuncīši' near Murjāņi

14 September, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 20 seen

Featuring free WiFi and a barbecue, Viesumāja Kuncīši Murjāņos offers accommodation in Murjāņi, 41 km from the center of Rīga. Free private parking is available on site.

We booked guesthouse Kuncīši for a one night stay in July 2019, we paid EUR 100 in cash and for the money got a separate guesthouse (for up to 12 people) - a sauna, small indoor pool and a grill to prepare a barbeque.

The evening spent here reminded me of our travels in Germany about two years ago when we were booking holiday homes. See: 3 day leisure trip to Germany (The Mossel Valley)

Guesthouse Kuncīši near Murjāņi

We got a separate house for up to 12 people. We were traveling 4 (3 adults and our baby girl)

Grill area

We had bought meat and charcoal already back in the city. As we arrived pretty late, I started to grill before even entering the house.

a dining /banquet/wedding hall at guest house Kuncīši

Such guesthouse like Kuncīši are quite popular to rent in Latvia for weddings. Tonight we dined at wedding hall lol

There is a fully equipped kitchen in the house that guests can use and a flat-screen LED TV is available. Sauna and cold pool are available upon request at a surcharge.

Traditional Latvian sauna at guesthouse Kuncīši

Cold pool

This guest house has ski-to-door access and bike hire is available. Guests can enjoy various activities in the surroundings, including skiing and golfing. Sigulda is 12 km from Viesumāja Kuncīši Murjāņos, while Cēsis is 41 km away. The nearest airport is Riga Airport, 49 km from Viesumāja Kuncīši Murjāņos.

Bedroom on the second floor

Baku Boulevard

12 September, 2019 | Tourism objects | 22 seen

Baku Boulevard also is known as National Park is a promenade established in 1909 which runs parallel to Baku's seafront.

Its history goes back more than 100 years, to a time when Baku oil barons built their mansions along the Caspian shore and when the seafront was artificially built up inch by inch.

I first visited Baku on August 2019, and Baku boulevard was our first stop after arriving at Baku Railway station. To get here we caught a street taxi

The park stretches along a south-facing bay on the Caspian Sea. It traditionally starts at Freedom Square continuing west to the Old City and beyond. Since 2012, the Yeni Bulvar (new boulevard) has virtually doubled the length to 3.75 km, extending the promenades to National Flag Square.

At the main entrance in Baku boulevard

In 2015 White City Boulevard added a further 2 km to the east of Freedom Square and reports have suggested that eventually, the boulevard might be as long as 26 km, including Bibiheybət.

Baku Boulevard

Originally the boulevard was established to connect the oilfields in Bibi Heybet as part of the urban development projects by Municipal Horticultural Commission.

Modern Architecture of Baku

Until the early 20th century, the avenue had mansions on one side and seafront on the other. There were no trees. Tons and tons of fertile soil were imported to enrich the soil quality. Baku's Mayor, R. R. Hoven, supported by the richest industrialists, passed a decree in the 1880s saying that all ships entering Baku harbors from Iran had to bring fertile soil with them. In reality, this was a kind of "tax" or "duty" imposed for the right to use the harbor and load up with oil. Within a very short time, enough soil was deposited, and the parks that characterize the city's seafront today were developed.

Manglisi Cathedral

8 September, 2019 | Churches and Monasteries | 17 seen

Manglisi Cathedral or Manglisi Sioni Cathedral is a 6th-7th-century Georgian Orthodox cathedral near the town of Manglisi, Tetritsqaro Municipality, Georgia.

For me, it was interesting to observe the traditional cross from the Russian orthodox church decorating the top of this cathedral. Also, the coat of arms with two-headed eagle from Tzarist Russia is featured on the facade of Manglisi cathedral.

Two-headed eagle from Tzarist Russia

According to sources the first church was built in 4th century. The current cathedral was constructed in 6th-7th century. The cathedral went through a huge restoration in 1002.

The arch gate is the main focus of the western façade. On either side of it are arches based on triple decorative semicircles and decorated with several types of ornaments. This gate was built in the 19th century, as indicated by a Russian inscription on the restoration, as well as a profusion of stone-cut stones. 

Russian inscription on the bell tower

In short, it's said that the bell tower was restored in 1852 

The dominant mass of the whole temple is a huge dome with a red tile. There are six windows cut into the ornamentation.

Manglisi Cathedral

 In general, the simplicity of the Russian icons in the interior indicates that the long-term possession of the Russian regiment has been affected. On this façade is an inscription marking the 11th-century rebuilding, and Ro-Mel is now damaged, but in time Marie Brosse failed to read it.

As a result of the XIX century restoration work, only the frescoes of the dome, which represent the grand composition of the Ascension of the Cross, have survived from the XI century painting of the entire temple.

The Christian tradition links the Zion of Manglisi with several important shrines, including the Lord's Tomb and portions of the Holy Cross. Here is the miraculous icon accompanying John Mangle - the Virgin of Mangle. According to legend, parts of Tevdore Kvelteli lie beneath the stone cross directly south of the entrance.

Hotel 'Keizarmezs' Review in Riga

7 September, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 12 seen

The Keizarmezs is located on the shore of Lake Kisezers in the Mezaparks district, a 20-minute drive from Riga’s centre. A private car park is available free of charge. 

We booked a couple of nights here in July 2019, during our visit to Riga hotel Keizarmezs offered lowest value deal price, for a 3-night stay we paid here about $70 (while most of the other Riga hotels asked around $300)

Now, the hotel is bit outdated, but the price compensates that.

A simple, little bit outdated room at hotel Keizarmezs

The rooms at the Keizarmezs Hotel have a bathroom and satellite TV. Irons and hairdryers are available at the reception. Room service is also available.

Bathroom at Hotel Keizarmezs

A bit rust here and there, but everything was clean at least.

Dining area at Hotel Keizarmezs

The price we paid for the hotel, didn't include breakfast, but we could dine all day for an affordable price at the hotel's restaurant - the food - nothing special, simple bistro style.

Spa facilities at Hotel Keizarmezs include an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a gym, and a steam bath. Massages are also available.

Though we didn't have a free breakfast, we got free access to the indoor pool, probably to the sauna and gym as well, but we used just a pool.

Riga Zoo, a children's playground and opportunities for horse riding are nearby.

Top Gurjaani Hotels & Guest Houses

6 September, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 13 seen

If there is a good reason to visit Gurjaani in Georgia's region of Kakheti, then tranquility, family-friendly trips, and clean air are the top 3 reasons according to Booking.com

Gurjaani is situated in the fertile Alazani Plain, at 415 m above sea level, and 110 km east of Georgia's capital of Tbilisi. It is the center of an important region of viticulture and wine-making. Important landmarks of the town are Akhtala, a historic spa, locally known for its mud bathes, and the early medieval Gurjaani Kvelatsminda Church, the only example of a two-domed design in Georgia. There are also several museums, the largest of which is the Gurjaani Museum of Local Lore and History.

There are not many fancy five-star luxury hotels in Gurjaani. In fact, there are none.

Though there is one great 4-star hotel (Akhasheni Wine Resort). In Gurjaani there are many guesthouses and holiday houses available for rent. The best, you should expect to pay about $14 per night at the lower budget guest house up to $120 per night at the more expensive Akhasheni Wine Resort

Please note: Hotels listed in this article contains affiliate links to Booking.com, and if you will click on them and make an actual booking I will earn an affiliate income from that

Akhasheni Wine Resort

Boasting free bikes and a restaurant, Akhasheni Wine Resort is set in Gurjaani. This 4-star resort offers a 24-hour front desk. Guests can chill out in the outdoor swimming pool.

Free WiFi is accessible to all guests, while certain rooms come with a terrace.

The resort offers a continental or buffet breakfast.

Akhasheni Wine Resort offers a barbecue. Cycling is among the activities that guests can enjoy near the accommodation.

Price: ~ $119 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Buto's House

Buto's House is located in Gurjaani and offers free bikes, a garden and a shared lounge. This holiday home provides air-conditioned accommodation with a patio.

The holiday home is located on the ground floor and is equipped with 2 bedrooms, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a fully equipped kitchen that provides guests with a dishwasher, a microwave, a washing machine, a fridge and an oven.

The holiday home features a children's playground and a terrace.

Price: ~ $31 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Role House

The Role House in Gurjaani provides accommodation with a shared lounge and a garden. Featuring luggage storage space, this property also provides guests with a sun terrace. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, a shuttle service, room service and free WiFi.

At the guest house, rooms come with a desk. At The Role House, each room has air conditioning and a private bathroom.

The accommodation offers a continental or halal breakfast.

Price: ~ $32 Book this hotel on Booking.com

GreenGate

Featuring a garden and barbecue facilities, GreenGate is located in Gurjaani. The accommodation provides a shared kitchen, a shared lounge and organising tours for guests.

All units in the guest house are equipped with a kettle. At GreenGate every room is equipped with a shared bathroom with a hairdryer and free toiletries.

A à la carte breakfast is available daily at the accommodation.

You can play darts at GreenGate.

Price: ~ $14 Book this hotel on Booking.com

House in the nature 

House in the nature is situated in Gurjaani and features a garden. There is a terrace and guests can make use of free WiFi and free private parking.

At the guest house, rooms include a wardrobe, a flat-screen TV and a shared bathroom. At House in the nature, all rooms are fitted with a seating area.

Price: ~ $17 Book this hotel on Booking.com​

Guest House With Museum 

Set in Gurjaani, Guest House With Museum features a garden. The guest house has family rooms.

At the guest house, all rooms come with a desk. The units feature a wardrobe.

Price: ~ $14 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Wine House Medagio 

Set in Gurjaani, Wine House Medagio offers air-conditioned accommodation with a patio and free WiFi. This homestay has a garden and free private parking.

The homestay has a flat-screen TV.

Guests at the homestay can enjoy a continental breakfast.

Wine House Medagio offers a terrace. Both a bicycle rental service and a car rental service are available at the accommodation.

Price: ~ $43 Book this hotel on Booking.com

August 2019 Dividend Income Report - $259.58

4 September, 2019 | Investments | 12 seen

Welcome to the twenty-eight (#28) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks and peer to peer lending in August 2019.

Last August, I turned 34. For this years birthday celebrations, we traveled to Baku, Azerbaijan and had some really good time there. 

Fairmont Baku hotel at Flame Towers (Read my review here)

As I've reached the age of 34, starting the next year  I will put aside at least 54% from my yearly income. Here is the formula = my age + 20 = 54%. I'm raising this number every year. 

Now, the last August was very good and even had a surprise dividend from Silvano Fashion Group. At the end of the month, I have collected $259.58 -what is about $100 more I was looking to get this month.  

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to mintos.com peer to peer lending and deribit.com options trading websites, by clicking on links on this page and by making investment mintos.com or derbit.com, I might earn affiliate income at no cost to you. Also, I'm not a financial advisor and I don't give you any advice, I'm just sharing my own experience. Investments in stocks, funds, bonds or cryptos are risk investments and you could lose some or all of your money. Do your due diligence before investing in any kind of asset. 

Sign up for Mintos.com here. By using my affiliate link for registration both you and I will receive — 1% of our average daily balance which should be paid in 3 installments for the first 90 days.

Additional $955.00 were made from options trading, but as options trading is not actually a passive form of making money while you are sleeping it wouldn't be fair to include them in dividend income report. Also, there were many roll forwards last month.

Last but not least, last August I traded options on cryptocurrencies using Deribit platform, which resulted in + 1.22 ETH ($206.93) and + 0.037 BTC ($353.94). In total $560.87

When counted all together (dividends + options + crypto options), it seems I have made $1,775.45 in total last month. Wow. 

Last month, income from dividends + options + crypto options helped to generate a 5.41% yield from the total value of the portfolio. That's about 64.92% annually. 

Market Sentiment

Before diving in the details of interest received, I  would like to introduce a new section  - Market Sentiment

Last August was a month of tweets, China-US trade war, G7 summit in France.

Because of the treats to put on additional tariffs on Chinese goods - my broker account for the first time experienced a margin call. In fact, it did so almost twice - at first at the start of the month, while I was on a trip in Azerbaijan, luckily I managed to pour in additional funds in my brokerage account to prevent a margin call, and second at the end of the month. In total 8 shares of CODI were sold to return my portfolio back to a positive balance. Not a huge loss, but still hurts. 

Anyway right now I have more than $20,000 put on Margin (for option trades) which is way more than I can actually afford and in the coming months I plan to decrease the margin down to 70% from my total stock portfolio, see: Investment Goal #8 - Limiting Margin to Max 80% from Stock Portfolio for Options Trades

S&P 500 Index chart August 2019

Uhh, what a roller coaster we had last month (I should note that I don't care much about S&P 500 as a dividend investor, it concerns me as an options trader). 

S&P 500 was in the range from high $2,938 to low $2,840

Interest income in August 2019

From the stocks and Mintos.com peer to peer lending  I got following income last month:

Ticker

Earnings

Mintos

€49.33

BGLF

€48.00

FGB

€40.79

SFG1T

€23.40

ETF

€17.56

NHCBHFFT

€15.60

EDF

€13.99

EDI

€11.74

CLM

€5.58

RA

€4.32

NCV

€3.88

AWP

€3.11

Total: EUR 235.98 / USD 259.58

In total there were 12 great companies paying us dividends in August, that's 6 companies more than in August 2019

Mintos has regained the first place in terms of interest income generated

Mintos.com Review After 24 Month of Investing in Peer to Peer Lending

The YoY growth rate for my dividend income in August 2019 was + 63.87% or  $101.27 more than a year ago in August 2018. That's the growth rate I really like.

Monthly income

My journey towards million dollars in savings account now is more than 2 and a half years old. The result, so far, looks quite good. Dividends are growing. 

Monthly Income chart as of August 2019

The cumulative earnings for 2019 now are $1,632.88 which is exactly 79.85% from my goal of 2019 ($2,045). On average, it would ask me to generate $103.03 every month for the next 4 months to reach my goal. Looks very easy. 

It's fun to note that last August the cumulative dividend income of 2019 surpassed the income I made in 2018 ($1466.83)

2018 in Review and Financial Goals for 2019

Goals for August 2020

This is my favorite part of the reports - trying to forecast/set goals for the next year. But before setting a goal for 2020, let's see what I forecasted/said a year ago (August 2018)

Now, when speaking about August 2019 - I will set a humble goal to crack $160. Shouldn't be problematic with adding more US monthly and quarterly dividend-paying stocks.

Wow, not only I reached $160, but I almost surpassed it by another $100. Awesome. As noted last year, because I have added more US stocks it was not a problem to reach this goal at all.

When setting goals for August 2020 - I will be quite optimistic -  I'm looking to crack $400. I hope to get there with more US monthly and quarterly stocks and also might use dividend capture strategy

Baku Central Railway Station

3 September, 2019 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 33 seen

Baku central railway station has gone through some serious modernization recently.

We booked a train to Baku from Tbilisi in early August 2019, and that's how I first visited this railway station.

Tbilisi - Baku by Train Ticket Information

According to RailwayPro - It took 2 years to renovate and modernize the whole capital’s rail station. The station has a shopping area on the second floor, the main building has been renovated and all the platforms been reconstructed.

Baku Railway building

Inside the building, there are modern facilities -  a shopping and dining area (a hint at Pizza hut they have a free Wi-FI). There is a few ATM located inside the building, I was able to withdraw 95 manats here from VISA card (the commission though was about 3 EUR)

Reconstructed platforms at Baku Railway Station

On the left there is a RVR train departing/arriving. 

Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca (RVR) is one of the largest machine-building plants in Latvia, founded in 1895 by the businessman Oscar Freywirth under the name Phoenix. RVR is based in Riga and was for many years the largest producer of electric and diesel trains and also tramcars in the former Soviet Union.

We took a street taxi from here to get to the boulevard for about 8 manats (It's a way too much, and I would recommend using Bolt app for hiring a taxi, see: How to Get around in Baku by using Taxi Mobile Application Bolt

It was planned that we will return to Tbilisi from this station, but we were not able to buy return tickets for our dates, and instead, we fled back with Buta airways, see: About Buta Airways Baku - Tbilisi fight

Georgia / Azerbaijan Border Crossing by train (Gardabani / Boyuk Kasik)

27 August, 2019 | Travel guides | 59 seen

When traveling by train from Tbilisi to Baku, there are two border checkpoints (one in Georgia, and one in Azerbaijan)  - the total border crossing procedure can take around 2 hours (an hour for each side) and you can stay inside the train during the checkups.

In this article, I'll share some notes from our latest trip to Baku from Tbilisi by train in the start of August 2019

Tbilisi - Baku by Train Ticket Information

It takes about an hour for the train to reach Georgia / Azerbaijan border at Gardabani. Police officers (border guards) will enter the train, collect passports and check if you have Azerbaijani e-visa.

Cold drinks on the Gardabani border checkpoint

During the border checkups toilets are closed inside the train. While in Georgian side you are allowed to left the train and try some cold drink at a lonely kiosk or visit really nasty though free toilet. 

Georgian side is not checking customs (obiviouly when departing Georgia) - just e-visa and passports.

Baku - Tbilisi train

Passports are brought back to the train, and the train departs for the Azerbaijan border checks at Boyuk Kasik.

Again, this time Azerbaijani border guards enter the train - every passenger is asked if he has been to Armenia, and if the answer is yes, the next question is about Nagorno-Karabakh. It turned out I have been to Armenia some 4 times (never been to Nagorno-Karabakh though).

You won't be allowed to enter Azerbaijan if you have been to Nagorno-Karabakh

It's not a problem having Armenian border stamp in your passport, as long as you haven't been to Nagorno-Karabakh.

Also border guards are asking about goods to be declared (nothing here, just personal items). This time train is inspected by border guards (probably seeking for some goods to be declared)

Passports are being collected and in a matter of minutes, an officer is inviting each passenger to the separate cabin for passport scaning and photographing and finally stamping passport.

The only question I got asked was - What is my purpose of visit to Azerbaijan?. I replied with a single word - Tourism.

Algeti National Park Visitor Center Manglisi

25 August, 2019 | Tourism objects | 30 seen

The main entrance of the national park is located near the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of Manglisi.

Algeti National Park Administration has a small infrastructural unit – a picnic area with auxiliary buildings and a forest adventure park. 

Algeti has been on our radar ever since we discovered Algeti water reservoir while hiking in Birvisi Canyon.

To get here we used Tbilisi - Kojori - Tsalka - Ninotsminda road

Day trip To Tsalka and nearby Villages

Forest adventure park at Algeti Visitors center

From first sight, the forest adventure park looks quite easy. During our visit here in the mid-August 2019, the adventure park didn't seem to be working.

Children playroom inside the visitors center of Algeti National Park

A tourist trail called “Sanepo Ridge” starts from the cathedral and includes a visit to the picnic area. It is possible to hire a guide and horses to enjoy the visit to its fullest. Visitors can visit the national park at any time of the year, though it is much more difficult in winter due to heavy snow.

Algeti National Park is located in Tetritskaro district. It comprises the southern slopes of the eastern area of Trialeti mountain range in the Algeti river gorge and is located at an altitude of 1,100-1,950 m above sea level.

How to Get around in Baku by using Taxi Mobile Application Bolt

24 August, 2019 | Travel guides | 36 seen

There is a very convenient way of getting around in Baku by taxi using mobile application Bolt (formerly known as Taxify). The best, if you have already installed Bolt for some other city, it will work internationally. 

How to Get around in Tbilisi by Taxify (Taxi Mobile Application)

Regular street taxi will ask at least 5 manat for shorter distance drive in the city (during my short 3 days visit to Baku, I caught regular street taxis a couple of times, first one  - from the Baku Railway station wanted 10 AZN to get us to the boulevard, I managed to bargain down to 8 AZN).

Next time I was already smarter and bargained down from 10 AZN to 5 AZN to get from the Fountain square to the hotel at Flame towers. While in the third time street taxi took from me 7 AZN to take me from Flame towers back to the Fountain square.

Once I opened Bolt app I was surprised to learn I could do all those trips for 2-3 AZN only. 

Using Bolt we were able to get to Yanar Dag (Burning Mountains) and back (some 25 kilometers from Baku) for ~ 20 AZN (round trip) and to the airport (also about 25 kilometers from Baku) for ~ 10 AZN (one way only)

Bolt will help both to save and get on time on desired locations. 

Use my invite code GGSPN and get a free Bolt trip up to 10€. Redeem it at https://invite.bolt.eu/GGSPN

Planing a trip to Azerbaijan: How to get a Prepaid SIM Card with Internet

22 August, 2019 | Travel guides | 73 seen

I traveled to Azerbaijan for about 3 days in August 2019, our final destination was the capital city of Baku. One of the reasons I was looking for prepaid sim card in Azerbaijan is quite simple - to call a taxi from mobile application.

Unfortunately, or for luck, this time I didn't actually take a sim-card with internet while in Azerbaijan (it was very quite possible to use public and hotel Wi-Fi during our stay in Baku), but I gathered some information, which might help.

There are three major mobile phone operators currently in Azerbaijan: Azercell, Bakcell and Nar . All three networks are widely modern and reliable with shops located in major towns and cities where one can purchase a sim card or get assistance if needed.

Azercell, Bakcell and Azerfon are often recommended to tourists due to the variety of tariffs available and the help available in a variety of languages. Other mobile phone operators include Aztelekom, AzEuroTel, Caspian Telecom and Catel Eurasiacom.

While in the Baku city center I visited Bakcell shop to learn more about my options, and here is what I was told:

At Bakcell you could get the starter SIM-Card with limited internet data for 25 manats (AZN), a passport is required before signing up. 

Bakcell offers different internet packages starting 50 kopecks per day, you could learn more here.

Top 19 AMD Ryzen Laptop Computers

19 August, 2019 | Laptop Reviews | 22 seen

AMD is not only great stock for writing naked puts or covered calls (the thing I've been doing lately) but AMD also offers great and budget-friendly processors for business and gaming laptops.

Just like Intel has branded their processors like Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9, AMD has Ryzen has 3,5 and 7. In today's article, I've listed top 19 AMD Ryzen Laptop Computers available for sale on Amazon.

Most of the AMD Ryzen powered laptops features full HD 1920X1080 display resolution, while there is a hot topic which is better intel vs AMD, the AMD Ryzen series offers some great and affordable gaming laptops. 

A quick note: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on Amazon site, I will earn an affiliate income at no cost to you. Prices for laptops listed on this page are retrieved using Amazon Product Advertising API and is updated daily. For actual prices please refer on the product page on Amazon.

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, Vega 3 Graphics, 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 in S Mode, A515-43-R19L

Powerful and portable, the Aspire 5 laptop delivers on every aspect of everyday computing. Housing the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Mobile Processor, this Aspire 5 can tackle any job no matter how complex. Creativity soars to new heights with sharp, crisp visuals showcased on the 15.6" Full HD IPS screen, while the thin bezel provides you more space to work with wherever inspiration strikes. It’s the perfect companion to take with you wherever you go!

• AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual Core Processor (Up to 3.5GHz) | 4GB DDR4 Memory | 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED backlit IPS Display | AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics
• 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Port, 2 USB 2.0 Ports & 1 HDMI Port with HDCP support
• 802.11ac WiFi | Backlit Keyboard | Up to 7.5 Hours Battery Life
• Windows 10 in S mode. Maximum Power Supply Wattage 65 W

List Price: [amazon B07RF1XD36 listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon

Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop, 14 Inch FHD (1920 X 1080) Touchscreen Display, AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Processor, 12GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD, Windows 10, 81SS000DUS, Black

• With a 1920 x 1080 Full HD touch screen Display and the powerful and efficient AMD Ryzen 5 3500U mobile Processor, you can work, stream, and game for hours, along with Radeon Vega 8 for fast video and photo editing. Includes HDMI, USB-C, and USB 3.1 inputs
• Comprehensive, built-in, ongoing protection with Windows 10 helps protect you against viruses, malware, and ransomware
• Convenient true block privacy shutter allows you to physically close your PC's webcam whenever you're not using it
• With the included active Pen, you can draw or take notes directly on the screen, anywhere you go
• Up to 8 hours of battery life with recharge Technology to power your laptop computer up to 80% in just one hour

List Price: [amazon B07TWHYTSQ listpriceformattedprice] Buy this laptop on Amazon

Asus TUF Gaming Laptop, 15.6” IPS Level Full HD, AMD Ryzen 5 3550H Processor, AMD Radeon Rx 560X, 8GB DDR4, 256GB PCIe Nvme SSD, Gigabit WiFi, Windows 10 - FX505DY-ES51

Featuring quad-core AMD Ryzen processors and Radeon RX graphics, TUF Gaming FX505 adeptly handles modern game titles while providing reliability and stability with anti-dust cooling and a red-backlit keyboard.

• Amd Ryzen 5 3550H Processor and AMD Radeon RX 560x 4GB GDDR5 for superior gaming performance and multitasking
• 15.6” IPS level FHD display with 6.5mm narrow bezel for up to 77% screen to body ratio
• Portable design with 1.02” thin profile and weight of only 4.85 lbs; Durable MIL STD 810 military standard construction gaming laptop
• Dual fans with anti dust technology. Red Backlit keyboard rated for 20 million keystroke durability
• 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD; 8GB DDR4 RAM. Battery 48WHrs, 3S1P, 3 cell Li ion
• Gigabit wave 2 Wi Fi up to 1.73Gbps with 2x2 802.11AC

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Dell Inspiron 5000 Series 15.6-Inch FHD Touchscreen (AMD Ryzen 5 2500U 2GHz, 16GB RAM, 1TB HDD, DVD-RW, Radeon Vega 8, Windows 10 Home 64-Bit) Laptop Computer Bundle with McAfee Antivirus 1-Year

• This Dell Inspiron 5000 comes with all the manufacturer accessories and a 1 year USA warranty along with a 3-piece bundle which includes a McAfee Antivirus 1-Year Subscription, Circuit City mouse and mouse pad.
• PROCESSOR: 2nd Generation AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Processor, 2GHz base frequency with boost up to 3.6GHz. For users who value crisp, reliable performance out-of-the-box, with built-in AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics so you don’t need a discrete graphics card.
• MULTITASK EFFORTLESSLY: 16GB system memory for advanced multitasking. High-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once.
• STORAGE: The Inspiron 5000 series is equipped with a respectable 1 TB hard drive. Should you need more space, you can connect additional storage solutions using its multiple USB ports as well as its SD media card reader.
• DISPLAY: Full HD (1920 x 1080) Truelife LED-Backlit Touchscreen. It’s even easier to scroll through footage, pause, and zoom in on the best clips. Best of all, no glare to ruin your perfect view thanks to the finish on the anti-glare display.

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Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6" Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, Vega 3 Graphics, 8GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 Pro, A515-43-R19L

• The manufacturer seal has been open to meet the advertised specifications. Professional service installation included.
• AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual-Core Processor (Up to 3.5GHz) | 8GB DDR4 Memory | 256GB SSD | 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Display | AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics
• 1 - USB 3.1 Gen 1 Port, 2 - USB 2.0 Ports & 1 - HDMI Port with HDCP support
• 802.11ac WiFi | Backlit Keyboard | Up to 7.5 Hours Battery Life
• Windows 10 Professional 64Bit. Maximum Power Supply Wattage - 65 W

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2019 Premium Dell Inspiron 15 5000 15.6 Inch HD Laptop (AMD Ryzen 5 2500U up to 3.6 GHz, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD(Boot) + 1TB HDD, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI, Windows 10 Home, Platinum Silver)

• 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) Anti-glare LED-Backlit Display, AMD Ryzen 5 2500U, Quad Core, up to 3.6 GHz, AMD Radeon Vega8 graphics
• RAM is upgraded to 8GB memory for multitasking Adequate high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once
• Hard Drive is upgraded to 128GB SSD(boot) + 1TB HDD provides massive storage space for huge files, so that you can store important digital data and work your way through it with ease. It gives you enormous space to save all of your files. Enhance the overall performance of the laptop for business, student, daily usage
• 1 X HDMI, 1 X USB 3.0, 1 x USB 3.1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x combo headphone/microphone Jack, SD Card Reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC)
• Windows 10 Home brings back the Start Menu from Windows 7 and introduces new features, like the Edge Web browser that lets you markup Web pages on your screen

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Lenovo ThinkPad E585 Home and Business Laptop (AMD Ryzen 7 2700U, 32GB RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD + 2TB HDD, 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080), AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, WiFi, Bluetooth, Webcam, 1xHDMI, Win 10 Pro)

The 15.6" IPS display has a FHD 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Visuals are handled by integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 graphics. You can also output to an external display via the HDMI port. The system is powered by a 2.2 GHz AMD Ryzen 7 2700U Quad-Core processor. It also has a 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM, a microSD media card reader, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.1, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, and USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports.

• AMD Ryzen 7 2700U 2.20GHz Processor (upto 3.80 GHz, 4MB Cache, 4-Cores) ; AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
• 32GB DDR4 SODIMM RAM; 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wifi, Bluetooth 4.1, Ethernet, 720p HD Webcam
• 15" Full HD (1920x1080) 16:9 non-Touch Display; 3-Cell 45WHr Battery
• 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 2TB HDD;, 1xHDMI, No Optical Drive, SD Card, 3.5mm Combo Jack
• Windows 10 Pro-64, 1 Year Manufacture warranty from MichaelElectronics2 (Professionally upgraded by MichaelElectronics2)

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ASUS TUF Gaming TUF505DU-EB74 (AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, 16GB RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD, NVIDIA GTX1660Ti 6GB, 15.6" Full HD, Windows 10) Gaming Laptop

• Display: 15.6" 120Hz IPS-Level Full HD (1920x1080) Anti-Glare Display | Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti 6GB GDDR6
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3750H Quad Core (2.3GHz-4.0GHz)
• RAM: 16GB (2x 8GB) DDR4 2666MHz | Hard Drive: 256GB NVMe SSD + 1TB 5400RPM HDD
• OS: Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit) | Warranty: 1-Year ASUS USA + Global Warranty Parts & Labor + Lifetime Tech Support from XOTIC PC

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Samsung 2019 Premium Notebook 5 15.6 Inch FHD Laptop (AMD Ryzen 5 2500U up to 3.6GHz, AMD Radeon Vega 8, 20GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Bluetooth, HDMI, Windows 10)

• 15.6" FHD LED Display (1920 x 1080),?AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Processor (2.00 GHz up to 3.60 GHz, 6 MB L2+L3 Cache).
• RAM is upgraded to 20GB memory for multitasking Adequate high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once.
• Hard Drive is upgraded to 512GB SSD provides massive storage space for huge files, so that you can store important digital data and work your way through it with ease. It gives you enormous space to save all of your files. Enhance the overall performance of the laptop for business, student, daily usage.
• 1 x?HDMI, 2 x?USB3.0, 1 x USB2.0, 1 x?Headphone out/Mic-in Combo, 1 x?RJ45 (LAN), 1 x?DC-in
• Windows 10 Home brings back the Start Menu from Windows 7 and introduces new features, like the Edge Web browser that lets you markup Web pages on your screen

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HP 15 Laptop 15.6", AMD Ryzen 5 2500U, AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics, 1TB HDD, 8GB SDRAM, 15-db0069wm, Jet Black

• AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Quad-Core (2 GHz base frequency, up to 3.6 GHz burst frequency, 6 MB cache)
• 15.6" diagonal HD SVA BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit (1366 x 768); AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics
• 8 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM (1 x 8 GB); 1 TB 5400 rpm SATA
• 802.11b/g/n (1x1) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 combo
• 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (Data transfer only); 1 USB 2.0; 1 HDMI 1.4b; 1 RJ-45; 1 headphone/microphone combo

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Lenovo - 330S-15ARR 15.6" Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 - 8GB Memory - 128GB Solid State Drive - Platinum Gray

• Processor Model AMD 2nd Generation Ryzen 5
• 8GB system memory for advanced multitasking
• 128GB solid state drive (SSD)
• 15.6" Full HD display The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Energy-efficient LED backlight.

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Dell 2-in-1 13.3" FHD TouchScreen High Performance Business Laptop, AMD Ryzen 7 2700U 2.2GHz, AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, 12GB DDR4, 256GB SSD, Webcam, Backlit Keyboard, HDMI, Windows 10, Era Gray

• AMD 2nd Generation Ryzen 7 2700U Quad-Core Processor @2.2GHz (up to 3.8GHz)
• 13.3-inch 1920x1080 Full HD LED-Backlit IPS Touchscreen Display; AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics
• 12GB DDR4-2400 Memory, 256GB Solid State Drive; No Optical Drive
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.1; Backlit Keyboard; Waves MaxxAudio Pro; Stereo speakers, 3-cel Lithium-ion Battery, 1x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0 w/ PowerShare, 1x USB Type-C, 1x HDMI, 1x SD Card Reader, 1x Headphone/Microphone combo jack
• Windows 10 Home 64-Bit; Weighs 3.84 lbs. and measures 0.7" thin; Color: Era Gray

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XPC TUF Gaming FX505 Gamer Notebook (AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, NVIDIA GTX 1650 4GB, 15.6" Full HD, Windows 10) Gaming Laptop

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 3750H Quad Core (2.3GHz-4.0GHz)
• RAM: 8GB DDR4 2666MHz | Hard Drive: 512GB NVMe SSD
• Keyboard: Illuminated Chiclet RGB Keyboard | Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)
• Display: 15.6" 120Hz IPS-Level Full HD (1920x1080) Anti-Glare Display | Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR5

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HP 15.6" HD Laptop Computer, AMD Quad-Core Ryzen 5 2500U up to 3.6Ghz (Beat i7-7500U), 12GB DDR4 RAM, 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD, DVDRW, 802.11AC WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, USB 3.1, HDMI, Windows 10 Home

• AMD Ryzen 5 2500U at 2.0 GHz, turbo up to 3.6 GHz, Performance is similar to i5-8250U, i7-7500U according to external website Notebookcheck
• 15.6-Inch diagonal HD SVA bright View WLED-backlit (1366x768) Display; AMD Radeon RX Vega 8, faster GPU performance than Iris Pro Graphics,
• 12GB DDR4 SDRAM, 1TB SATA Hard Drive + 128GB Solide State Drive; DVD-Writer
• 802.11 a/c (1x1) WLAN & Bluetooth 4.2; 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (data transfer only); 1 USB 2.0; 1 HDMI 1.4B; 1 RJ-45; 1 Headphone/Microphone combo
• Windows 10 Home; up to 7.5 hours Battery Life; full size numeric keyboard

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Lenovo ThinkPad E585 Home and Business Laptop (AMD Ryzen 7 2700U, 16GB RAM, 256GB PCIe SSD + 1TB HDD, 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080), AMD Radeon RX Vega 10, WiFi, Bluetooth, Webcam, 1xHDMI, Win 10 Pro)

The 15.6" IPS display has a FHD 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Visuals are handled by integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 graphics. You can also output to an external display via the HDMI port. The system is powered by a 2.2 GHz AMD Ryzen 7 2700U Quad-Core processor. It also has a 2400 MHz DDR4 RAM, a microSD media card reader, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.1, USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C, and USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports.

• AMD Ryzen 7 2700U 2.20GHz Processor (upto 3.80 GHz, 4MB Cache, 4-Cores) ; AMD Radeon RX Vega 10
• 16GB DDR4 SODIMM RAM; 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wifi, Bluetooth 4.1, Ethernet, 720p HD Webcam
• 15" Full HD (1920x1080) 16:9 non-Touch Display; 3-Cell 45WHr Battery
• 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD + 1TB HDD;, 1xHDMI, No Optical Drive, SD Card, 3.5mm Combo Jack
• Windows 10 Pro-64, 1 Year Manufacture warranty from MichaelElectronics2 (Professionally upgraded by MichaelElectronics2)

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Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop, 14 Inch FHD (1920 X 1080) IPS Touchscreen Display, AMD Ryzen 7 3700U Processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB NVMe SSD, Windows 10, 81SS0002US, Onyx Black

The Flex 14 is designed for you to handle any situation, anywhere. Use it in Laptop mode for everyday computing, Tent mode for sharing things, Stand mode for binge-watching, or Tablet mode for more intuitive interaction.

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• With fast 256GB NVMe SSD and 8GB DDR4 RAM, this versatile Lenovo laptop will keep up with your needs.
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• Online privacy matters. Keep your privacy more private With the convenient true block privacy shutter, letting you physically close your PC's webcam when you're not using it.

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Dell - Inspiron 15.6" Touch-Screen Laptop - AMD Ryzen 5 - 8GB Memory - 1TB Hard Drive - Platinum Silver

• 15.6" Touch screen for hands-on control; 1920 x 1080 IPS HD display; Energy-efficient LED backlight; AMD Radeo Vega 8
• AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Quad Core 2.0 GHz turbo to 3.6 GHz, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB HDD, NO OPTICAL DRIVE
• 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone output/Microphone input combo
• 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.1, Webcam, Media Reader, Backlit keyboard , MaxxAudio Pro
• Windows 10 brings back the Start Menu from Windows 7 and introduces new features, like the Edge Web browser that lets you markup Web pages on your screen.

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Weekend trip to Batumi and other cool places in Georgia

18 August, 2019 | Travel guides | 7 seen

This is a round-up post for places we visited and discovered during our latest weekend trip to Batumi and nearby seaside towns at the end of April 2019.

During this trip, we stayed at two 5-star hotels (Georgia Palace hotel in Kobuleti and Castello Mare hotel), visited the center of Batumi (did some small shopping there). On our way there and back dinned at local nice Georgian restaurants (Restaurant Antre Batono near Ubisa was amazing)

We also visited some interesting sites, like the Gonio fortress, unfortunately, we didn't find the Batumi Botanical garden this time (but as we have been there during our previous visits, not a big deal). Last but not least, on our way back to Tbilisi we discovered a huge and impressive Black Sea arena

For choosing a hotel in Batumi see: 16 Best Batumi Beach / Seaside Hotels, also see 16 Things to do in Batumi

Explore the beauty of Georgian Black Sea resort towns

Grill&Fish Jomas terase, Jūrmala

17 August, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 35 seen

Grill&Fish Jomas terase is another stylish restaurant located on central Jomas street in busy Latvian seaside town Jūrmala.

We visited this place in early May 2019, during a short  10 day trip to Latvia. 

Grill bar Lighthouse serves traditional seasonal Latvian cuisine and not only

Soup at Grill and Fish restaurant in Jūrmala

The Grill & Fish restaurant seems is quite popular among locals and visitors. Food choice is OK, prices are pretty high, but taking into consideration that you are dining in the heart of Jūrmala on Jomas street - they are quite ok

Grill $ Fish Jomas terase in Jūrmala

Heydar Aliyev International Airport Baku

15 August, 2019 | Airports | 15 seen

Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport is one of the six international airports serving Azerbaijan. The airport is located 20 kilometers northeast of Baku, connected to the city by a modern highway. The airport serves as the home base for national carrier Azerbaijan Airlines and Buta Airways.  

I've been flying from this airport back to Tbilisi with Buta Airways in early August 2019, see: About Buta Airways Baku - Tbilisi fight

Two passenger terminals and two cargo terminals operate at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.

There is Vanderlande baggage-handling system in Terminal 1, as well as L-3 equipment for thorough baggage inspection and scanners designed to obtain a layered image of the internal structure of the object.

Terminal 1 operates jet bridges capable of receiving 12 aircraft simultaneously. Two jet bridges are intended for accommodating the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380.

Terminal 1 total area is 65,000 square meters. The terminal is designed for 6 million passengers per year. It currently serves up to 3 million passengers annually. The total parking area is 20 000 m2 for 600 vehicles

Terminal 2 (much smaller) currently serves both domestic flights (South entrance) and international flights of low-cost airlines (North entrance).