How To Recover Permanently Deleted Files (Canon CR2, JPG and more) on Windows

24 October, 2016 | Digital Photography School | 12 seen

In this article you will learn that not all is lost (in most cases), and it's still  possible to recover accidently deleted Canon CR2 files (I'm writing about Canon, as I'm writing from my own experience).

Here is my case study: I bought a new Asus laptop about a year ago, it did came with a 500GB built in HDD storage, the main purpose for this laptop was to perform some everyday computing and post-processing RAW images in Adobe Lightroom. If you are a photographer - you get the point.

It took me about one year - when I noticed I'm running out of disk space - most of my 500 GB disk space was occupied with images (Raw files), the photos kept rolling in, I was busy with my home remodeling works, and had no chance to visit city to buy an external HDD to make a backup of my image library, and for that moment it seemed a bit too pricey to buy a separate server (well what else a server architect could do, as to look for ways to build my internal/external cloud). For now I'm running few VPS on Linode spending about $100/mo. The disk space on all those servers combined, doesn't exceed 200GB, so to build a cloud on Linode for storing images only would…

How To Password Protect Your site with Nginx on Ubuntu 14.04

23 October, 2016 | Servers | 18 seen

I was working on a new customers website, and I was looking for ways to showcase current development stage to the client, meanwhile hiding contents from others. Sounds familiar? In this server series guide I will provide info how to set up basic HTTP authentication with Nginx on Ubuntu 14.04.

Most details for this article are taken from Digital Ocean's guide: How To Set Up Basic HTTP Authentication With Nginx on Ubuntu 14.04 with few minor adjustments.

As I'm serving more than just one domain from this development server, I had to take an extra step and configure following domain to be default on this machine, as I will provide just the IP address to customer. For setting up default domain on Nginx, see this article: How To Setup Ngnix Default Domain For Not Configured Domains or IP Address

You'll need the htpassword command to configure the password that will restrict access to the target website. This command is part of the apache2-utils package, so the first step is to install that package.

Sighnagi Museum

22 October, 2016 | Museums | 18 seen

The Sighnaghi Museum is located in the charming Sighnagi town, region of Kakheti, Georgia.

I have paid many, many visits to Sighnaghi, but for the very first time I visited this museum just at the end of 2016. It was cloudy day, instead of beautiful landscapes and street photography we were left with no option, but to visit a museum. Well, few weeks ago I familiarized with famous Georgian painters Niko Pirosmani works and life, I was so impressed that I even ordered an artist to paint a reproduction of one of the most famous Pirosmani works- The Fisherman (The work is still not ready)

Sighnagi museum

The Sighnaghi Museum was founded in 1947. The first exhibition opened on December 31st, 1950, comprising seven hundred artifacts. The Painting Gallery was founded at the museum in 1967, furnished with donations from well-known and beginner artists. Today, the ethnographic collection features five thousand artifacts, including textiles, copper and wooden domestic items, agricultural instruments, materials corresponding to viniculture, goldsmith works, different types of working instruments, and musical instruments…

Gergeti Trinity Church

21 October, 2016 | Churches and Monasteries | 31 seen

Gergeti Trinity Church is a must have to visit destination in Georgia. The church is located at an elevation of 2170 meters, under Mount Kazbegi some 160 km North from nations capital Tbilisi.

I have visited Gergeti church for some 3 times during my stay in Georgia, and always have hired either Jeep (Lada Niva) or Delica cars to get to the final destination. Let me explain - the road until the Gergeti village is pretty fair, but from the village there is a really bad road heading up to the church, and not many will drive up in the hill with their own cars - on the other hand, once at the destination, there are many experienced drivers available with Delica or Lada Niva cars - taking you up for 50-60 GEL (per car, not person). On the other hand I have noticed many hikers there, and actually I wouldn't mind to hike next time to Gergeti church - as I believe it's should be one of the most amazing experiences. 

Here is a joke from our latest trip - nobody from four of us wouldn't agree to drive up not for 50 lari or 100 US dollars. 

Our Delica car

We hired this Delica car…

How To Setup Pretty URL's For Drupal 8

20 October, 2016 | Drupal Development | 23 seen

It seems just yesterday I wrapped a simple Drupal tutorial on how to enable pretty URL's for Drupal 7 site. Turns out already three years have passed. Time flies, newer versions of Drupal emerges, but the question remains pretty popular. I could point you to the previous article, but things have changed a little bit in Drupal 8, thus the principles stays the same.

Today I will provide a simple tutorial on how some (perhaps you) can enable pretty URL's for Drupal 8 site. 

One of the most common Drupal tasks is to setup - Drupal friendly URL's - friendly both for humans and SEO. In fact - friendly URL's have been one of the main SEO strategies for the past decade (at least).

Default Drupal path structure is like this - node/4803, which is nice - but if you would like to convert node/4803 to /my-awesome-title, you will need to download and enable Pathauto module.

• Download Pathauto module (with it's dependencies - Ctools and Token modules)
• Extract them to /modules folder 
• Enable Pathauto from Extend section (admin/modules)

Installing…

Theming Drupal 8: How To Include the Facebook JavaScript SDK

19 October, 2016 | Drupal Development | 18 seen

That time have come - and I have started to officially develop my first Drupal 8 site - I won't go into details by comparing Drupal 8 vs Drupal 7 or Drupal 6 (as I think that's a topic for another article).

Today I will show how one (perhaps you) can include default Facebook JavaScript SDK library to your Drupal 8 site. I'm working on simple business website, which has a Facebook business page, and we want to include Facebook page plugin into site's sidebar.

For getting actual code, you must first visit Developers Central on Facebook and customize your Page plugin according to your need, next you must copy/paste two sections of code. First - include SDK library, second paste actual code to generate Facebook page plugin on your Drupal site.

Include the JavaScript SDK on your page once, ideally right after the opening <body> tag.

Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument

18 October, 2016 | Tourism objects | 221 seen

In fact I had to open a Wikipedia to learn the name of this place, as I mistakenly thought this is just some cool viewing platform located high in the Caucasus mountains, built by Soviets. Turns out it's not only built by Soviets, but bears the name of The Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument

Located on the Georgian Military Highway between the ski resort town of Gudauri and the Jvari pass, the monument is a large round stone and concrete structure overlooking the Devil's Valley in the Caucasus mountains.

Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument

This monument has been built in 1983 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Treaty of Georgievsk and ongoing friendship between Georgia and Soviet Russia.

Soviet design

Inside the monument is a large tile mural that spans the whole circumference of the structure and depicts scenes of Georgian and Russian history.

But what's cool - a spectacular view can be observed from this viewing platform:

Caucasus Mountains

For the history lovers - Treaty of Georgievsk

The Treaty of…

Zhinvali Water Reservoir, Georgia

16 October, 2016 | Lakes | 69 seen

Zhinvali, also Jinvali, is an artificial water reservoir located on the river Aragvi in Georgia. The building of the hydroelectric dam formed the Zhinvali Reservoir. The dam has been built in 1986.

You have probably noticed this perfect blue surface lake, if traveled to Gudauri or mount Kazbegi (Gergeti church) via Georgian military road. If not, and you are still planing your trip to this area, the chances are you will make a stop at Ananuri castle complex (which is located near Zhinvali water reservoir), but there is a small watching platform when approaching from Tbilisi - a perfect place for a group photo or as I prefer - landscape photography.

Zhinval water reservoir

We were on a trip to mount Kazbegi (Stepantsminda) and I decided to make a short 10 minute stop here, so I can experiment with a HDR photography

Zhinvali water reservoir

See also: Algeti Reservoir in Georgia

Tbilisoba (Tbilisi City Festival) 2016

15 October, 2016 | Living in Georgia | 14 seen

Tbilisoba or Tbilisi City Festival is an annual October festival which celebrates the diversity and history of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. If you are planing your first trip to Georgia - consider your trip here during city festival and try local cuisine and that awesome Georgian wine. 

Tbilisoba 2016 were held on October 15-16 in the streets of ..you are right - Tbilisi. As usual I took my camera and went for a photo walk, starting Rike Park, ending at the right embankment of Mtkvari. My best finds this year was: Dzin Chao food tent and mcvadi from farmers. 

Raft in th River of Mtkvari

There is a tradition to ride a raft during Tbilisi City Festival. 

Colorful balloons at kid zone

This year the kids zone were set at Rike park.

Tbilisoba was first held on October 28, 1979, and has since become an established tradition. The festival features open-air concerts of traditional music and dancing and various cultural events, centered on Old Tbilisi, the historical part of the city. Beyond celebrating the city's past and present, people from all over Georgia represent…

Green (Mtsvane) Monastery

14 October, 2016 | Churches and Monasteries | 35 seen

Green Monastery (The Chitakhevi St. George's Monastery) is located in a picturesque place in the Borjomi valley. People called it lovingly “The Green Monastery”, because all the trees in the valley are of a special green color. The stones, with which the church is built, are also green, but some are dark and some are light.

I have visited Green monastery few times, and always have messed up with good photography - last time I visited it (October, 2016) - I was too lazy to switch lenses and ended up with telephoto photography. 

Alley leading to the Green Monastery

Make sure you switch your lenses before approaching closer - as to make an ideal photography - you should composite both the tower and church building into one frame - due to my laziness I ended up with two separate images.

Church building

Scientists believe that the church was built by Christopher and Theodore, the disciples of the famous Georgian figure, St. Gregory Khandzteli.

In the 16th century, during the invasions of Shah Thamaz, this monastery was raided. During this time dozens of monks were killed or tortured. The blood which…

Restaurant 'Porto' Near Plunge, Lithuania

13 October, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 7 seen

Restaurant 'Porto' near town of Plunge in Lithuania is place were we stopped for about an hour to book a nearby hotel, using restaurants Wi-Fi and of course tried local cuisine. 

It turned out that "Porto" is not only a restaurant but hotel as well. Thus, the hotel / restaurant is located next to the highway - it didn't seemed an option for this night, we decided to use online booking to check some other hotels and we ended booking hotel in Telsiai.

Hotel / Restaurant Porto near Plunge, Lithuania

There is a bowling hall located inside - Porto seems very popular place among locals.

Speaking of local cuisine - we ended with Pizza and some mushroom soup.

Pizza with horseradish

At first I was really surprised of horseradish topping, but later I even enjoyed it. Pretty Awesome, not a typical Italian pizza.

Cardinal points indicator 

Lovely interior at Porto restaurant.

Žemaitė Memorial Museum, Bukantė Manor Homestead

12 October, 2016 | Museums | 17 seen

If you love rural tourism, you will love this place, which name is really hard to even spell - but here is the name: Žemaitė Memorial Museum, Bukantė Manor Homestead

Located in the Zemaitojos national park, district of Plunge, Lithuania. As usually we discovered this place by accident, making our trip to Vilnius, after making stops at Mosedis Catholic church and Idol Hill near Salantai we followed some God knows what road signs and found ourselves at this lovely Lithuanian farmstead/ museum 

Wood sculpture 

Bukantė village is known in Lithuania as the place of birth of the writer Žemaitė. Presently homestead was reopened (2012) and reconstructed with new expositions which offer:

• New exposition of writer`s belongings;
• Exposition of wooden art of S. Riauba;
• Cross-works. Folk art exposition of region Plungė. 

Lithuanian farmstead

If you are fond of wooden architecture - you will enjoy it. 

Zemaite Memorial Museum

Žemaitė (literally female Samogitian) – a pen name of…

Best of Armenia in Two days (Yerevan and Beyond)

11 October, 2016 | Travel guides | 9 seen

Armenia has been on my travel map since 2014 when I first visited it on a day when Visa-Free travel was enabled for European Union pass holders.

I arrived from Georgia (the country I have been living since 2011). Since then I have visited Armenia several more times, and all of them have turned out to be just another great trip experience. 

See how I started a blog series on celebrating a birthday each year in another country: Celebrating Birthday in Yerevan, Armenia - Roundup or One Day Trip To Armenia (Lori Province)

Today I will tell a story (list places) I visited during my latest two day trip to Armenia in mid-March 2016. Here are top three places that impressed me most: Khor Virap monastery, the Temple of Garni and Geghard monastery complex.

Alternatively, take a look at my Yerevan Restaurant reviews or see a complete map of tourism objects I have discovered in Armenia.

Dear travelers, Armenian friends or expats living in Armenia, leave me a comment - which sites should I visit during my next trip to Armenia - as I will return very soon!

Three Year Blog Anniversary

10 October, 2016 | Blogging | 3 seen

On October 10th, we are celebrating already third blog anniversary of ReinisFischer.com. What have started as a simple experiment have turned out to be a successful business venture.

It's just amazing how fast time can fly, it feels just yesterday I wrote an article on second blog anniversary and day before yesterday I wrote summary for the first blogging anniversary, and just last week I launched this blog. Three years, three freaking years. Amazing and scary.

If I launched my blog from my Cozy Tbilisi apartment, reviews for the first and second year reviews I wrote from the same apartments (just different rooms), then now I'm finishing an article at Riga international airport, waiting for my flight back home to Tbilisi. That's actually strange, because most of my articles I produce either back in Tbilisi or at our lovely country house - see home remodeling. I don't like to write or even think about blogging when on travels - and I have developed a nice cheat - scheduled posts. Unfortunately I'm missing a post on October 10th, and double bad is - that's a blog's birthday. So here you go:

I started this blog thing with a simple goal - To…

Idol Hill (Alkakalnis) near Salantai, Lithuania

9 October, 2016 | Tourism objects | 10 seen

God's path are untraceable, without a strong reason we made our first stop in Lithuania at Mosedis catholic church, then left Mosedis and continued our road just straight (without any directions yet in our minds), when we noticed a road sign "Alka Kalnis 2km" and decided to take that turn and visit ancient Lithuanian pagan ritual place. Well what else could Alka Kalnis stand for? From my short Lithuanian knowledge Alka could mean Idol and kalnis goes for hill. Turns out an Idol Hill. 

This place is located close to Salantai, and actually from the top of the hill pretty spectacular scene can be seen towards Salantai.

Alkakalnis

​

A small altar

Parking lot near Alkakalnis

You can get more info about this object on Lithuanian Wikipedia using Google Translate, see: Alko alkakalnis