LEGOLAND Berlin Review: A Fun Family Activity in the German Capital
When planning a family trip to Berlin with children, most travelers immediately think about the Berlin Zoo — and rightly so. But if you are spending a few days in the German capital with younger kids, another solid half-day activity is the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre BerlinWe visited it in April 2026 together with our 7-year-old daughter during our Berlin trip. Alongside the zoo, it turned out to be one of the easier and more relaxed family activities in the city center.Interestingly, this was already our second LEGOLAND experience. The first one was in Turkey a few years ago. To be honest, our daughter seemed much more obsessed with LEGO back then. Kids change quickly, and at age seven the…
Ādģēri: The 30K Mistake That Turned Into a Long-Term Experiment
In 2023, we bought Ādģēri in an online auction.Price: just over €30,000.Financing: ~6% interest.Total expected payment over ~5 years: ~€40,000.Status (April 2026): more than half already paid.On paper, it was a bad deal.Realistically, we overpaid by at least 5–6× relative to what the property was objectively worth at the time. No serious buyer would justify that valuation based on fundamentals: location, condition, income potential—none of it supported the price.But auctions don’t run on fundamentals. They run on adrenaline.And that’s the whole point.What We Actually BoughtStrip away the imagination, and here’s the asset:~1.24 hectares of landAn old house (not really a manor, despite the…
Week 58 / NVDA Surge, NFLX Credit Spreads, and a Record $245 Premium Income
This week produced the highest options premium income since I started tracking the portfolio.While the portfolio gained a relatively modest 0.36%, the underlying trading activity was considerably more interesting. A sharp rally in NVIDIA, the introduction of Netflix bull put credit spreads, and a strategic shift away from Pfizer all contributed to a record premium-generating week.NVDA Continues to Drive the PortfolioThe biggest story this week was NVIDIA.At one point, NVDA shares traded above $230, extending an already impressive rally. Strong stock performance is generally welcome, but it also creates an interesting challenge for covered call sellers.Our existing NVDA covered call had…
Berlin Zoo and Aquarium: One of the Best Things To Do in Berlin With Kids
At the start of April 2026, during our roughly five-day trip to Berlin, we finally visited the famous Berlin Zoo for the first time - or at least the first time I can actually remember. There is a chance my mom might have taken me here sometime in the early 1990s, but if so, those memories are long gone. This visit felt completely new, and honestly, it turned out to be one of the highlights of our Berlin family trip.Berlin offers countless museums, historical landmarks, and trendy neighborhoods, but if you are traveling with kids, the Berlin Zoological Garden (Zoologischer Garten Berlin) should absolutely be on your list.Easy To Reach And Surprisingly AffordableWe took a Bolt taxi from our…
Berlin Brandenburg Airport
In April 2026, I had my first experience with Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) while flying the Riga–Berlin–Riga route with airBaltic. This was my first time using Berlin’s main international airport, and overall, it left a solid impression—modern, functional, and relatively easy to navigate. About a decade ago, I had the chance to travel through the now-closed Schönefeld Airport.Landing at BER was straightforward. The airport is clearly designed with efficiency in mind—wide corridors, good signage, and a layout that doesn’t feel chaotic despite Berlin being a major European hub.From the airport, I opted for convenience over cost.I ordered an Uber to reach our hotel on Chausseestraße. The…
Mumbai & Goa / India Trip
It has already become something of a tradition for us - escaping the cold during our daughter’s winter school break and trading grey skies for warmth, color, and a slower rhythm of life. Each year, we carve out about three weeks to leave Tbilisi behind and head somewhere sunnier. And more often than not, that “somewhere” turns out to be India.Our latest trip follows a familiar yet always exciting route: from Tbilisi to the buzzing metropolis of Mumbai, before retreating to our beloved Palolem Beach in South Goa. Another three weeks in India — and once again, it proves why we keep coming back.The journey itself feels like a transition between worlds. Leaving behind the quiet, wintery streets…
RWA Tokenization in Georgia: Key Takeaways from DGFI & Forbes Conference in Tbilisi
On April 24, 2026, DGFI, in collaboration with Forbes Georgia, hosted a conference on Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization at the Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel in Tbilisi. The event brought together representatives from financial institutions, regulators, brokerage houses, and emerging fintech players to discuss the evolving landscape of tokenized finance in Georgia.I attended primarily to track local initiatives, assess institutional direction, and expand my network within the Georgian financial ecosystem.The dominant focus of the conference was not real estate tokenization - as one might expect from broader global RWA narratives—but rather:Tokenized bonds and debt instrumentsRegulatory sandbox…
Building a Frame House in Latvia: Kitchen Installation, Ground Tilling & IKEA Trip
As usual, we planned our spring around the school break at BIST (British International School of Tbilisi). This year we again split the time — one week in Latvia working on the frame house in the west, and the other in Berlin for business meetings related to the translation company.Returning after winter always comes with surprises. This year didn’t disappoint.The biggest “welcome back” moment: a broken bathroom faucet. Not a minor drip — water was shooting out from the side under full pressure. That turned into an emergency replacement before anything else could move forward.Not exactly how you want to start a work week, but typical for a house that’s still in progress.This year we finally…
New Synagogue Berlin
The New Synagogue in Berlin is one of the city’s most recognizable historical landmarks, located on Oranienburger Straße, within walking distance of Alexanderplatz. Its striking golden dome rises above the surrounding buildings, making it visible from afar and hard to miss even during a casual walk through the neighborhood.Originally inaugurated in 1866, the synagogue was once the largest in Germany and a central place of worship for Berlin’s Jewish community. Designed in a Moorish Revival style, its architecture stands out from typical European religious buildings, blending oriental elements with modern 19th-century engineering. At its peak, it could accommodate over 3,000 worshippers,…
Book Reading Afternoon in Tbilisi
At the start of March, it was Book Week at the British International School of Tbilisi. Year 3 students were given a fun assignment: create a short video about their favourite book and take photos of themselves reading in unusual places.We slightly misunderstood the task and ended up focusing entirely on reading in unusual places, turning it into a little family adventure around Tbilisi. What started as a simple school project became something much more fun than expected.During filming we had several unexpected moments along the way — we even bumped into the Danish national basketball team, rode the Tbilisi Funicular, and enjoyed some delicious ponchiki while exploring the city.In the end,…
Week 49 / Markets Shake, Premium Flows: NVDA Credit Spreads During the Iran War
Portfolio Value: $11,141Weekly Change: -0.63%YTD Return: +9.09%Options Premium Collected: $77As of March 13, 2026, our options income portfolio declined by -0.63%, closing the week at $11,141.This marked the second consecutive week of declining portfolio value. However, the decline was driven largely by currency fluctuations rather than significant weakness in the underlying investments.Because part of the portfolio reporting is sensitive to the euro, movements in the EUR/USD exchange rate can have a noticeable effect on the reported value. During the week, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro, with EUR/USD trading near 1.14.Despite the weekly decline, the portfolio remains up 9.09…
Week 48 / Rolling a Cash-Secured Put for Credit and Generating $99 in Options Income
Portfolio Value: $11,211Weekly Change: -1.16%YTD Return: +8.00%Options Premium Collected: $99.90As of March 6, 2026, our options income portfolio was valued at $11,211, representing a weekly decline of -1.16%.The decline was driven primarily by currency fluctuations rather than significant weakness in the underlying holdings. Because part of the portfolio reporting is sensitive to movements in the euro, the stronger U.S. dollar had a noticeable effect on the reported value. During the week, EUR/USD traded near 1.16 as the dollar strengthened against the euro.Despite the weekly decline, the portfolio remained up 8.00% year to date. Over the same period, the S&P 500 was down approximately…
Magalaant Church Complex
I first discovered the Magalaant Church Complex a few years ago during one of our spontaneous road trips to Kavtiskhevi. No fixed plan, no strict itinerary - just a turn off the main road and the usual curiosity about what might be hiding on the hills above the valley. That’s often how the best places are found.Magalaant sits modestly on a hillside, overlooking the surrounding landscape with the calm confidence typical of old Georgian churches. It’s not a heavily commercialized site. No crowds, no ticket booths, no tour buses lining up. Just open space, stone walls, wind, and wide views.The complex blends into the terrain rather than dominating it. The church structure, built of stone,…
Week 47 / Managing an NVDA Covered Call Roll After Earnings
As of February 27, 2026, the portfolio closed at $11,343, gaining a modest 0.27% during the week.The year-to-date return now stands at 7.29%.This was NVIDIA earnings week, and as expected, NVDA had an outsized influence on both the portfolio and the broader market.Earnings weeks can create attractive opportunities for options sellers because implied volatility usually rises and option premiums become more expensive. However, the same volatility also increases the risk of rapid losses, assignment, and difficult trade adjustments.Rolling the NVDA Covered Call Up and OutEarlier in the week, I decided to proactively roll the existing NVIDIA covered call.The previous position was:NVDA June 2026…
How to make Adjarian Khachapuri at Home
Today we finally got it right — real Adjarian khachapuri at home. This was my second attempt. The first time I made the classic mistake: I thought regular cheese would work. It didn’t. The texture was wrong, the melt was wrong, and the flavor was flat. Lesson learned - the cheese is not optional detail, it’s the core of the dish.This morning I went to Goodwill in Tbilisi and bought the two essentials:Imeretian cheeseSulguni cheeseThat combination is what creates the proper creamy, stretchy filling. Without it, you’re just baking bread with melted cheese. With it, you get the real Adjaruli experience.Living in Georgia, we love experimenting with traditional Georgian cuisine — but some…
Lemon Tree Premier, Malad Mumbai – Decent Stay, But Know What You’re Booking
At the start of 2026, we spent 2–3 nights at Lemon Tree Premier, Malad, Mumbai while returning from Goa to Tbilisi, with a stopover in Mumbai.We were looking for a practical option rather than a luxury experience. The price made the decision easy: we paid around $250 total, roughly half of what many central Mumbai hotels were charging for similar dates. There was a reason for that.The hotel is located in Malad, which is about an hour’s drive from South Mumbai (Colaba, Marine Drive, Gateway of India area), depending on traffic. And in Mumbai, traffic is not a minor detail — it’s a factor you must price in.If your plan is to explore central Mumbai extensively, this location isn’t ideal. But…
Week 46 / Rolling a PFE Cash-Secured Put Before NVDA Earnings
Portfolio Value: $11,312Weekly Change: +2.20%YTD Return: +6.91%Options Premium Collected: $21.90As of February 20, 2026, the portfolio gained 2.20%, closing the week at $11,312.Trading activity was relatively quiet this week, but the portfolio continued to make steady progress. While much of my attention was focused on NVIDIA ahead of earnings, the position that ultimately required action was Pfizer (PFE).That is often how options trading works. The positions you expect to demand attention can behave exactly as planned, while seemingly quiet trades require adjustments.Adding More McDonald's SharesEarly in the week, I added another 0.1 shares of McDonald's (MCD) to the portfolio.Over the…
Week 45 / How I Use Cash-Secured Puts to Accumulate Dividend Stocks Like Pfizer (PFE)
As of February 13, 2026, our covered-call stock portfolio declined slightly by -0.33%, closing at $11,069.Since I had already rolled my NVDA credit spreads out to the February 27 expiration, there were fewer opportunities for weekly premium generation. Rather than forcing trades, I decided to revisit a familiar name: Pfizer (PFE).Why I Added Pfizer Back to the PortfolioI view Pfizer as a potential long-term dividend holding rather than a short-term trading vehicle.After closing a previous Shell position, some capital became available for a similar-sized setup. Instead of chasing another speculative trade, I deployed that capital into a company I already understand and would be comfortable…
Tbilisi ETH Hackathon: Finally Making It (and Mostly Drinking Beer)
I first noticed ETH Chipmunks toward the end of 2025. They kept popping up on my radar via Luma links Ethereum meetups, hackathons, small community events in Tbilisi. I applied several times. Each time, something got postponed, rescheduled, or quietly disappeared. Timing never worked.That changed in early February 2026, when the Tbilisi ETH Hackathon (Season 2 or something) finally happened—and I finally made it.I showed up prepared. Laptop in the suitcase, a few rough AI-related ideas in mind, and at least a vague intention to build something. Reality, as usual, had other plans.The event itself was solid. Well organized, relaxed, no unnecessary hype. A real hacker crowd. Most people were…
Week 44 / $94 Options Premium Earned Amid NVDA Volatility and Tech Sell-Off
As of February 6, 2026, our covered-call stock portfolio increased by +0.51%, closing at $11,106.While the portfolio posted a modest gain, the broader market environment was anything but calm. Technology stocks came under pressure, cryptocurrencies experienced another sharp decline, and volatility returned across several asset classes.This week reinforced one important lesson:Avoid excessive leverage whenever possible.During the same week, our separate Ethereum strategy suffered a significant drawdown, eventually forcing us to exit leveraged positions. While painful, it served as another reminder that preserving capital is often more important than maximizing returns.Actively Managing NVDA…