HDR Clouds Over Tbilisi

30 May, 2019 | | 30 seen

We are the lucky ones living in an apartment in Tbilisi with some of the most spectacular city views one could think about.

Tbilisi TV tower, mount Mtatsminda, Biltmore hotel building (listed as one of the top 10 luxury hotels in Tbilisi), and many more cool sights

Time after time I love to install a tripod at one (out of three) of our balconies and play with DSLR camera.

Depending on the season the result might vary a lot.

Tbilisi by day (New Apartment Version)

Here is the regular shot:

View towards Tbilisi TV tower

And here is the version with clouds in HDR

Clouds over Tbilisi in HDR

High-dynamic-range imaging (HDRI) is a high dynamic range (HDR) technique used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity than is possible with standard digital imaging or photographic techniques. The aim is to present a similar range of luminance to that experienced through the human visual system. The human eye, through adaptation of the iris and other methods, adjusts constantly to adapt to a broad range of luminance present in the environment. The brain continuously interprets this information so that a viewer can see in a wide range of light conditions.

Grill Bar Lighthouse Jūrmala

29 May, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 15 seen

Grill bar Lighthouse is centrally located on Jomas street in Jūrmala. 

We visited this place in early May 2019, during a short  10 day trip to Latvia. Before diving in details - I should note - grill bar Lighthouse is a kid-friendly place, our then 9-month old daughter enjoyed here a lot

Grill bar Lighthouse serves traditional seasonal Latvian cuisine and not only, but you will also find seafood like shrimps and tuna.

Grill bar Lighthouse in Jūrmala

Grill bar „Lighthouse” is a familial, comfortable and opened place. The light interior with elements of homely design is simple and sophisticated at the same time. The restaurant is friendly to families with children because it provides them with children’s corner and different activity opportunities as well as the furniture necessary for babies.

The menu at grill-bar Lighthouse

Pretty large choice of menu. We opted for some classical Caesar's salad and some meat. 

The excellent chef cook Olga Artemjeva believes that the most important principle when cooking is to cook with love and soul. With her professional skills she makes each meal a special peace of art. Together with grill bar Lighthouse kind staff, you will get the chance to taste not only the traditional and seasonal Latvian food, but also seafood dishes, our own smoked fish and meat, as well as in Latvia produced wine and toasted coffee.

Dinner at grill-bar Lighthouse in Jūrmala​

Secret Tunnel Near Tbilisi Sulfur Bath's

26 May, 2019 | Tourism objects | 144 seen

Ok, probably this tunnel is not so secret after all.

In fact, I was more than 100% sure that the name of this place is Kolga Tbilisi Photo Tunnel, as I have seen a photo exhibition at this tunnel, but Kolga.ge is stubbornly silent on this matter.

Turns out the name for this place is "Leghvtakhevi Tunnel" and the owner of the place is Meidan Group. (see comments)

Kolga Tbilisi Photo organises exhibitions throughout the city, but it doesn't mean that Kolga Tbilisi Photo owns the tunnel, Baratashvili Bridge, galleries and etc.

Located on one level with the river flowing through the Sulfur bath district

Tbilisi sulfur bath district

Abanotubani is one of the most attractive neighborhoods in Tbilisi. It's famous for its public sulfur baths, and very spectacular views.

I believe Tbilisi Sulphur bath district is one of the most iconic Tbilisi sights. Personally, I doubt there are many tourists who have not seen Abanotubani (Tbilisi bath district) while visiting Georgian capital

Kolga Tbilisi Photo exhibition at Leghvtakhevi Tunnel

Photo exhibit in the tunnel

The tunnel is quite interesting and a real hidden gem of Tbilisi. Bypassing tunnel you can reach a small pier with a great view towards Metekhi church.

View towards Metekhi church

Minimum Wages in European Union 2019

25 May, 2019 | Macroeconomics | 50 seen

In 2019 there were 22 out of 28 European Union member states with an official minimum wage set by the government.

Also, it turns out this is already the sixth (#6) article about minimum wages in European Union featured on the blog.

Traditions must be continued and here comes the latest article with the latest data for 2019 about minimum wages in the European Union.

As it happened in the previous year, for this years article, I was able to pull data both for gross and net minimum wage values across the European Union. 

Data source: List of European countries by minimum wage

It should be noted: The calculations are based on the assumption of a 40-hour working week and a 52-week year, with the exceptions of France (35 hours), Belgium (38 hours), United Kingdom (38.1 hours), Ireland (39 hours), and Germany (39.1 hours). Most of the minimum wages are fixed at a monthly rate, but there are countries where the minimum wage is fixed at an hourly rate or weekly rate.

Minimum wage map in European Union 2019

When visualizing data on the map, its' clearly visible that higher minimum wages are set in the Western European countries, despite the higher growth rates are found in Eastern European countries.

Opted for 3rd Pension Pillar

23 May, 2019 | Investments | 9 seen

On May 22, 2019, I opted for the 3rd pension pillar at SEB bank Latvia.

The main reason to sign up to this voluntary pension pillar is the hefty 20% tax refund once a year for the sums invested* (strings attached though)

For now, I have decided to start small and invest really small amounts of money to get my foot wet.

As I already have SEB bank Latvia account (I'm using it for holding Baltic stocks and getting dividend payments from the NASDAQ Baltic listed companies) it was not a brainer to signup for the 3rd pension pillar there

Here is what it's all about

• Supplement your savings with amounts and at times you can afford – regardless of your income level
• Contributions are invested to increase the value of savings in a long-term perspective
• Obtain your savings starting from the age of 55

Now, regarding tax refund:

*You can get your personal income tax refund in the amount of 20% from the contributions made in 3rd pension pillar not exceeding 10% of your gross annual income (salary before taxes). You will receive the reclaimed amount on your current account, and you can redirect it to the existing savings by increasing the amount of your savings.

• For 2019 I plan to invest EUR 304 (could claim tax refund 20% or EUR 60.8)
• 2020 - EUR 876 (tax refund 20% or EUR 175.2)
• 2021 - EUR 1536 (tax refund 20% or 307.2)

When planning retirement I'm looking on a healthy mix of savings instruments available, and 3rd pension pillar is just one of it - currently, I invest in high yield dividend stocks, peer to peer lending and even cryptocurrencies, which all combined already generates still humble, but the decent monthly income.

I believe 3rd pension pillar won't take more than 5-10% from my million dollar retirement savings account (which I plan to enter in 2045), on the other hand, the earliest I will be able to withdraw funds from a 3rd pension fund is in 2040 or 21 year to go. 21 year is plenty of time to build up some serious wealth.

Rebi Gurjaani Restaurant

19 May, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 27 seen

Rebi Gurjaani is a restaurant located in Gurjaani, we discovered back in September 2017, while returning from a weekend trip to Kakheti back to Tbilisi. Seems Rebi Gurjaani is not only a restaurant but also a hotel. In case you are traveling to Gurjaani, consider Rebi.

Now, regarding restaurant - this place serves typical Georgian cuisine for very affordable money.

The huge outdoor terrace at Rebi Gurjaani restaurant

Menu at Rebi Gurjaani

Kababs and mcvadi at Rebi Gurjaani restaurant

Castello Mare Hotel & Wellness Resort

14 May, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 13 seen

Located at the seafront, Castello Mare Hotel & Wellness Resort is located between Kobuleti and Chakvi seaside villages in Western Georgia. The hotel offers spa facilities, an indoor pool tennis court, and a fitness center.

We booked this hotel for a one night stay via Booking.com at the end of April 2019 and paid about GEL 160. 

The hotel offers spa facilities, indoor pool tennis court and a fitness center.

Room with a seaside view

Each unit in all three buildings features sea view. Modernly furnished, the rooms of Castello Mare Hotel&Wellness Resort include flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer. Some rooms also offer a private balcony or a terrace.

We got a room with a balcony giving great views towards the rocky beach of Black Sea

Pine & Palm beach 

Explore the beauty of Georgian Black Sea resort towns

The restaurant serves meals with à la carte and buffet options. There is also a bar on site.

Batumi is 12 mi from Castello Mare Hotel&Wellness Resort, while Hopa is 34 mi away. The nearest airport is Batumi International Airport, 16 mi from Castello Mare Hotel&Wellness Resort.

Castello Mare Hotel&Wellness Resort

Cabo Cafe

12 May, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 7 seen

Cabo cafe is a cafe with a unique charm, located in Mežaparks, on the very shore of lake Ķīšezers.

Cabo cafe serves burgers, french fries, and delicious shashlik. First discovered by a recommendation from a friend. Now visited pretty regular once in Riga.

Grilled meat at Cabo cafe

Cabo cafe neat Ķīšezers in Riga

Chateau Eniseli

11 May, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 14 seen

We booked a stay at Chateau Eniseli back in September 2017.

During our stay here we had a great opportunity to enjoy the rtveli or grape harvesting, see: Grape Harvest Rtveli in Georgia (Region of Kakheti)

Wine cellar at Chateau Eniseli

Offering tours of the historical vineyard and winery at the property, Chateau Eniseli provides hotel accommodation located in the heart of the Kakheti countryside. Free WiFi is available.

Rooms at Chateau Eniseli feature air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a sofa. They also have a private bathroom with shower. Some rooms also have a balcony.

Room at Chateau Eniseli

As we were traveling in a large company, I had to book 3 rooms for our stay here.

Every morning a hearty continental breakfast is served with lots of fresh produce such as homemade jams and honey. There is also a hotel restaurant providing authentic and delicious regional specialities.

The dining hall at Chateau Eniseli

For additional money, we ordered a supper here.

Guests are welcome to relax in the pleasant gardens at Chateau Eniseli, where they will find a furnished terrace. It is the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of locally-produced wine.

Chateau Eniseli

The Gremi historical complex of the Royal Citadel and Church of the Archangels is just 3 km from the property. Tbilisi can be reached in less than 2 hours by car from Chateau Eniseli. Free private parking is available.

April 2019 Dividend Income Report - $164.24

8 May, 2019 | Investments | 10 seen

Welcome to the twenty-fourth (#24) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks, peer to peer lending (both fiat and cryptocurrencies) in April 2019.

Despite Spring is in the full blow here in Tbilisi, we still managed to catch a little from winter at the start of the Month when traveled to the Stepatsminda village (this village has a Google Market) in the footsteps of Mount Kazbek

Mount Kazbek and Gergeti church in Georgia

$164.24 was taken from dividend stocks and peer to peer lending in April 2019.

Additional $214 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 it in dividend income report. On the other hand option income is a nice way to give a boost to the overall portfolio. 

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to mintos.com peer to peer lending website, by clicking on links on this page and by making an investment on mintos.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. 

Both individuals and entities can invest through Mintos. Individual investors must be at least 18 years old, have a bank account in the European Union or third countries currently considered to have AML/CFT systems equivalent to the EU, and have their identity successfully verified by Mintos. At the moment, US citizens or taxpayers cannot register as investors at Mintos.

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.

Interest income in April 2019

From the stocks, Mintos.com peer to peer lending and from cryptocurrency lending on Poloniex.com I got following income last month:

Ticker

Earnings

Mintos

€43.54

TKM1T

€38.97

ATRS

€13.50

NRZ

€10.22

PNNT

€9.68

CODI

€7.77

EDF

€6.82

CLM

€5.44

EDI

€5.15

AWP

€3.79

Poloniex

€1.74

Total: EUR 146.64 / USD 164.24

In total there were 11 great companies paying us dividends in April

Mintos continues to be #1 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 April 2019 was + 72.03%. or  $68.77 more than a year ago in April 2018. That's the growth rate I like.

Monthly income to the date

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

Monthly Income chart as of April 2019

The cumulative earnings for 2019 now are $610.56  which is exactly 29.86% from my goal of 2019 ($2,045). On average, it would ask me to generate $179.31 every month for the next 8 months to reach my goal.

I'm pretty confident reaching this goal, as there are already several months planned to have dividend income at the level of $200/mo.

2018 in Review and Financial Goals for 2019

Goals for April 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:

When looking on April 2019 dividend income, it would be cool to reach $150/mo a year after. 

Wow, I just did it, not only I reached $150 in dividend income, but also cracked this goal by humble 14 dollars. Awesome.

When setting goals for April 2020, I will say I want to increase dividend income by at least $70 - it translates in $234. Let's keep odd number. I like them. lol

I guess I will try to double / triple positions in following stocks - NRZ, PNNT, CODI, EDF, EDI, AWP and more - to get there

Restaurant by Plane Tree / Telavi

5 May, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 11 seen

Restaurant by Plane Tree in Telavi is located next to the Giant Plane Tree.

Because of a touristic spot, prices at this restaurant is well above the average, though the food is delicious.

Restaurant by Plane Tree

Cucumber/tomato salads

Autosole Economy Motel in Riga

4 May, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 14 seen

Autosole Economy is set in a wooden building, 3 km from Riga’s Old Town.

We booked Autosole Economy for one night back in September 2017, paid for a stay here ~ EUR 60. 

Despite a week ago we stayed at 4-star Park Hotel by Radisson hotel in Riga, we booked Autosole motel, because it's a rare pet-friendly hotel in Riga, we had a flight next morning to the Tbilisi and we were traveling with both of our cats.

Free parking in front of the motel at Autosole Riga

All rooms at Autosole are decorated with light and warm colours. Each features a TV with satellite channels, a refrigerator and a desk. Every private bathroom comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Some rooms boast a sauna.

Sauna at AutoSole economy 

We paid an extra some EUR 20, just to have sauna. Really amazing feature. Not to speak this room included a hot tube also.

Breakfast at Autosole economy motel in Riga

Breakfast is served daily at Autosole Economy and it is possible to order snacks and drinks 24 hours a day. Guests can relax in a garden or at a terrace on site. It is also possible to store the luggage, free of charge.

The Autosole is situated 6 km from Riga Airport and the airport shuttle is available at a surcharge. Saliena Golf Complex is 13 km away. The resort city of Jurmala can be reached in 15 minutes by car.

Restaurant Antre Batono Ubisa

30 April, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 18 seen

Restaurant Antre Batono Ubisa is located near the Ubisa village in the region of Imereti, Georgia some 170 km from Tbilisi.

We made a stop here and discovered this lovely place, while traveled to Batumi via Tbilisi - Senaki - Leselidze highway at the end of April 2019.

This place serves typical Georgian cuisine, VISA is accepted and last, but not least prices are considerably lower if compared to the Tbilisi restaurants.

The outdoor territory at Antre Batono

Lovely reminds me of the places seen in Greece or Spain

Fresh cucumber/tomato salads

Restaurant Antre Batono near Ubisa

Restaurant Marani in Vertkvichala

29 April, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 5 seen

Restaurant Marani Vertkvichala is located near the village Vertkvichala on Tbilisi - Senaki - Leselidze highway some 160 km from Tbilisi in the Imereti region of Georgia.

We stopped here for a brief stop to take a meal and have some rest before heading back to Tbilisi (from Batumi)

Restaurant Marani

The place looked like a lovely B&B to me, as I noticed there are some hotel rooms, but when asked the waiter, he denied that there is a hotel (not sure now)

Restaurant Marani

The food we ordered here, was kind of nothing special, but next time I would avoid ordering mcvadi here - this was the worst (still edible though) mcvadi I have tried lately. The rest was brilliant.

Meal at Restaurant Marani

Day trip To Tsalka and nearby Villages

28 April, 2019 | Travel guides | 30 seen

Originally it was planned as a two day trip to Ninotsminda in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti.  For the first day, it was planned to make stops at Tsalka reservoir, Paravani lake with an overnight in Ninotsminda.  For the second day, there were plans to visit nearby Russian Doukhobor villages of Gorelovka, Orlovka, and probably some others.

Unfortunately, once we reached Tsalka, the road literally ended, we spent about an hour of offroad driving through the villages of Sameba, Tikilisa, Sakdrioni, Aiazmi until to the turn to Nardevani village, just to discover that road has been closed by the patrol. It turns out, that during the winter time, the road is kind of always closed, and you could learn that if you would drive here from the Marnueli side, which we didn't.

There are four roads heading to Tsalka from Tbilisi side:

• Tbilisi - Tskneti - Tsalka
• Tbilisi - Kojori - Tsalka
• Tbilisi - Koda - Tsalka
• and Marnueli - Tsalka

We took the third one, or we turned right at Koda. If we were followed the Marnueli route for just some extra kilometers, we would probably learn that the Tsalka - Ninotsminda road is closed (at least that's what in the evening told me the polite guy from the hotel in Ninotsminda).

Horses on pasture 

Anyhow, it was fun and really beautiful, if there wouldn't be the offroad driving through the villages after Tsalka (which kind of already looked like Doukhobor villages to me) I wouldn't complain at all.

Road to Tsalka

During this trip, we discovered interesting former German colonist settlement in Georgia Asureti / Elisabethtal, drive-by Algeti reservoir and Birtvisi canyon, for me, it was interesting to learn about Mount Arejvani, and of course, reaching Tsalka and Tsalka reservoir 

Road to Tsalka

About 5 years ago seems we took the same road, during our 2-day rafting in Georgia, see: Rafting in Georgia - Khertvisi - Aspindza - Borjomi

Road to Tsalka

We did this trip with our brand new VW Touareg on January 19, 2019. I would like to say a huge thanks to the Hotel Sonya in Ninotsminda folks, for understanding and free booking cancelation.