Villa St Maria Boutique hotel Jūrmala

8 June, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 21 seen

Offering a sauna, boutique hotel Villa St Maria is set in the heart of Jurmala on the main pedestrian promenade Jomas street, some 400 m from Dzintari Concert Hall.

In summers guests can enjoy a lounge terrace on the rooftop of the hotel and an on-site restaurant with Japanese, Korean and European cuisine and drinks.

We booked this hotel for a short one night stay before departing back to Tbilisi in May 2019. We paid EUR 68 for a stay here.

Aparthotel Villa St Maria in Jūrmala

Every room at this hotel is air conditioned and comes with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.They feature an individual design and are equipped with a kitchenette, seating area and a private balcony or a terrace. Every room includes a private bathroom fitted with a shower or a bath. Extras include free toiletries and a hair dryer. A room specifically designed for disabled people is available as well.

Buffet breakfast at Villa St Maria in Jūrmala

Guests benefit from room service and green inner patio at the property. There is a rooftop lounge, where guests will find a grill bar and hookah lounge. In summer sunbeds are available. Spa…

May 2019 Dividend Income Report - $216.17

5 June, 2019 | Investments | 13 seen

Welcome to the twenty-fifth (#25) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks, peer to peer lending (both fiat and cryptocurrencies) in May 2019.

Summer is finally here in Georgia and more time we are spending outdoors.

Actually, at the start of May, we took a short 10 day trip to Latvia, trying delicious seafood at Jūrmala restaurants and more. I would love to feature some great landscape of Latvian nature here, but I missed it as most of the time I made nice family portraits instead.

Photo of the month - HDR clouds over Tbilisi

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

HDR clouds over Tbilisi

$216.17 was taken from dividend stocks and peer to peer lending in May 2019.

Additional $339.80 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…

How To Merge Vocabularies on Drupal (Taxonomy Manager)

4 June, 2019 | Drupal Development | 54 seen

A couple of years ago I launched the Piece of Life project in the frames of this blog. The idea was simple - instead of building a separate website for our photo stories, incorporate it in already established blog

After a quick brainstorming  - it was realized using additional content types and vocabularies

I decided to run this project as a separate entity inside the frames of my blog for two reasons: Firstly, I'm an author of about 50% of images made for Piece of Life, so yes I have a voice to be heard by the other 50%. Second - we could go with a separate photo project website, most probably beautifully built on Drupal, but here is the catch - I didn't wanted to spend a lot of time and effort by building a separate  website before my mine blog (the one you are currently reading) hasn't reached 100,000 unique visitors per month. Back then blog averaged at about 40,000 users per month. And by now it has grown to about 60,000 100,000 users per month.

By implementing Piece of Life on the blog - I was looking for a simple thing - to kill two birds with one stone…

Easy Weekend trip to Kakehti in Georgia

2 June, 2019 | Travel guides | 10 seen

This is a short recap of our travels to the region of Kakheti in September 2017.

I've got many times asked this question - what's the best time to visit Georgia? In short - it depends.

Among the many reasons to visit Georgia, I would recommend it during the rtveli time (grape harvesting) around September, see: Grape Harvest Rtveli in Georgia (Region of Kakheti)

As for this trip, we took a driver from Tbilisi (Book your driver here), headed to Chateau Eniseli, and for the rest, see itinerary below. 

Resort Ujarma

1 June, 2019 | Health & Wellness | 24 seen

Resort Ujarma is located on the banks of Iori river some 32 km from Tbilisi (about 40 minute drive with a car)

The main feature of the Resort Ujarma is healing water with iodine and bromine. The entire territory of the resort covered in forest. The climate is characteristic of the low mountains of eastern Georgia, relatively wet.

We discovered this interesting  - back to the USSR style, place on a lovely Saturday morning in early June 2019, after agreeing to drive after one of the most delicious barbeques you can find at Iosebis Duqani restaurant in Sasadilo village near Ujarma.

Additionally, the better side of me took a quick look at Google Maps to see, what's nearby - and that' s how Resort Ujarma popped up. We had additional interest in this place as it was said here psoriasis could be healed.

Once we were on site I thought - here you go another cool site to visit for those liking and enjoying Soviet Architecture, aka Brutal Tours, see Brutal Tours - Explore Soviet Georgian Architecture in Tbilisi, I won't hide that first impression were like  - OMG what is this? Some kind Chernobyl or what. I didn't believe this…

Top 5-star Luxury Hotels in Belek (Antalya /All - Inclusive)

31 May, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 68 seen

Belek is a popular travel destination in Turkey's Antalya province. 

Also, the town is one of the centers of Turkey's tourism industry and is as such home to more than thirty four-star and five-star hotels and other accommodation, services, and entertainment facilities. 

In this article, I have listed Top 5-star all inclusive Luxury Hotels in Belek for 7 days (night) stay

For a luxury stay in Belek, you should be ready to pay about $1,500- $7,000 for a week long stay

Disclosure: Hotels listed in this article contains affiliate links to Booking.com, and if you will click on them and make an actual booking I might earn an affiliate income from that at no cost to you

The all-inclusive, 5-star Calista Luxury Resort has a private stretch of Mediterranean beach, a Surf and Sailing school, and luxury spa facilities. There are 10 golf courses within 7 km.

All guest accommodations at Calista Luxury Resort have a private balcony or terrace, giving views of the sea or mountains. All rooms…

HDR Clouds Over Tbilisi

30 May, 2019 | | 31 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,…

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…

Secret Tunnel Near Tbilisi Sulfur Bath's

26 May, 2019 | Tourism objects | 146 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

Minimum Wages in European Union 2019

25 May, 2019 | Macroeconomics | 54 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. 

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…

Rebi Gurjaani Restaurant

19 May, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 30 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 | 14 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…

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 | 19 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…