The Last Row of Aerated Concrete Blocks Masonry

22 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 16 seen

Now, it was pretty easy to build first six rows of wall from aerated concrete blocks, see Constructing Wall From AAC blocks + Finishing Foundation Concreting Works for Bathroom, Another Day, Another Wall and Lintel Installation & First Coffee Break.

For today's task it was to add last row of aerated concrete blocks, prior to that a 

Wall and supporting beams

Before adding the last row of aerated concrete blocks I made final strengthening of the upper beams.

Pile of aerated concrete blocks

In total for this part of house (bathroom) I have spent about 1/4 from the total stocks.

Final row

At one stage I had to use chain saw to saw up a hole to fit aac block in. Also at the end of the day I started to even out soil around fundament.

Top 10 Hotels in Sofia (Bulgaria)

20 January, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 17 seen

Just recently I booked my first flight to Sofia (capital of Bulgaria), after that I made some "investigation" what to expect in Bulgaria and crafted an article: Planing a Trip to Bulgaria - Hotels, Car Rental, Things to Do, Places to visit and Let's Buy a House There

In that article I talking about many topics, but one of the first I'm looking to have in Sofia is a nice hotel room (hopefully with a nice view). I don't find 5-star or luxury hotels in Sofia beeing out of my league, seems there are nice 4-star and 5-star hotels perfectly in price budget about USD 100 per night.

In fact, once in Sofia, you don't need even to spend $100 or more for a hotel, as you can get a decent one under $50. Amazing.

In this article I have listed TOP 10 Sofia hotels,based on actual user reviews on Booking.com

Just 199 m from Serdika Metro Station and a 10-minute walk from the central Vitosha Boulevard, Best Western Plus Bristol Hotel provides a stylish lobby bar, and a restaurant serving international cuisine. Free Wi-Fi access is available.

A Sony LCD HD TV with cable channels and individually adjustable air…

Samikitno Batumi Restaurant

19 January, 2017 | Restaurant reviews | 32 seen

Samikitno is a popular restaurant chain across Georgia.

We visited this Batumi restaurant in the late evening during our latest trip to the lovely seaside town of Batumi, after discovered that restaurant at hotel we stayed was already closed. See Hotel Sputnik in Batumi.

There is a very popular Samikitno restaurant located in the Old Tbilisi. See: Samikitno / Machakhela Restaurant review (Meidan square, Tbilisi)

Combo meal at Samikitno

Grilled vegetables, rice, sliced onions, meat and of course tasty Georgian tradional Satsebeli sauce.

Q4 2016 Blog Traffic & Income Report - 197,850 Users / $6,921.16

17 January, 2017 | Blogging | 12 seen

That time of the year have come and it's time to wrap up a round up income and traffic report post for the last quarter of 2016 (October, November and December).

If you are new to my blog or just wondering why I'm sharing such data, here is a brief explanation on sharing data on traffic and income:

In short, it helps me to track my online success of failures. It makes me accountable. I have been collecting and sharing data for my online success or failures since January 2014, back then my blog was 3 month old and I decided to start an online experiment - can someone actually make money through blogging? Now, I know  - yes, you can, but it takes a time and determination. Back in January 2014, I made enormous eight dollars. I hope my online income reports could  inspire you as well.

Last quarter of the year for me was pretty easy, not to say lazy, I spent some time on a few day trips around Georgia, photographed a lot and made dozen of Georgia related articles. At the end of the year I went to the United States to handle some financial issues (latter on that). I believe the last…

Can You Buy a Good Life in Tbilisi With $500 as a Foreign Expat?

16 January, 2017 | Living in Georgia | 23 seen

A time ago I did an experiment - counted our (two persons and two cats) daily expenses for a month to find out that our monthly expenses have been at about USD 1,800 for that month. You can see my findings with detailed positions in this article: Cost of Living in Tbilisi (Republic of Georgia).

I have counted for a few more times - and very often the amount we spend per month in Georgia is more or less the same. From my side I should add we travel a lot across the country and spend many evenings at the fancy Tbilisi restaurants. My spending habits have helped me to build a pretty popular blog about food and travels in Georgia. 

As my blog gets older, and hopefully more mature, it gets more visits (in December it set a new milestone - about 70,000 users) and more questions on contact form. Just recently I got an interesting question from a solo female expat from Dubai, UAE - wandering could she have a decent life in Tbilisi with $500 per month if se decided to move here.

Hi, i read your travel blog on Republic of Georgia. I am surprised to know one needs around 1,000 to 2,000 dollars to live here. Is that US dollars?

Lintel Installation & First Coffee Break

15 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 13 seen

If you have been following my blog and in particular home remodeling series you are already familiar with our construction works at our rural country house we started back in 2015. 

In the Summer 2016 we started another major reconstruction project - demolished old log walls for bricklaying new aerated concrete walls, I have been documenting most of the construction works on blog. In today's home remodeling series  - installing a lintel and enjoying first coffee break at upcoming bathroom (we are building a bathroom here).

I bought a special lintel to install over window opening - I had to hire two guys today to help me install it over. It wasn't so bad after all - we might get along by two people, but three is better (if you don't have special equipment)

Lintel installed over window opening

Walls from AAC blocks

It's not only about installing a lintel today, we added the supporting corner beam. It's just a matter of few more aac blocks and nice finishing and roof at this part of house will be fixed again, as for the last couple of days it was supported just by vertical supporting beams.

…

Privet iz Batuma

14 January, 2017 | Restaurant reviews | 16 seen

Privet iz Batuma, literally meaning Hi from Batumi, if translated from Russian is just another cool cafe located in Georgian seaside resort city Batumi.

Despite the name, giving a feeling you will be returned to the times of Imperial Russia, cuisine served here is quite modern, I managed to order shaslik with French fries, while my better part even got some American style lemonade. Eclectic, thus cool.

Interior at Privet iz Batumi

Yes, quite 19th century.

Mcvadi with French fries

Quite a touristic meal, thus well prepared and pretty affordable. 

Another Day, Another Wall

12 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 9 seen

Today was another lovely day to excel a little bit as a constructor. Today we continued to construct walls from aac blocks.

It's fun, easy, like everyone could do this. As long as you keep it all leveled.

See part 1 Remove a Wall to Finish Foundation Concreting and part 2 Constructing Wall From AAC blocks + Finishing Foundation Concreting Works for Bathroom

Bricklaying aac blocks

Today we are going to finish the end wall and construct four rows on front wall. We are building a bathroom here.

Bathroom from inside

Can't wait to install sinks and mirrors here.

View toward house from garden

Today we did another great thing - planned a place for a window. Admit - really lovely bathroom we will have one day!

Georgian Enamel Souvenir Shop in Batumi

11 January, 2017 | Shopping Venues | 15 seen

I tried hard, but couldn't locate precise location or name of this Georgian enamel souvenir shop in Batumi. What I know, most probably it's located on Zviad Gamsakhurdia street in Batumi, in the Goodwill shop area.

Why I believe it's worth to mention this shop? It's very good souvenir shop filled with interesting Georgian enamel art. We bought here lovely ashtrays and decided to return here one for time to buy some cool Georgian interior elements for our rural house.

Georgian enamel dish

They glove in dark- I was especially invited to the dark room, and yes I can confirm these plates glove in the dark. Cool.

Georgian souvenir shop in Georgia

Wide selection of interesting enamel and interior elements.Sad I cannot recall the name of this place. Would love if you would help me - leave me a comment!

Anker Hostel in Oslo

10 January, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 16 seen

Think hostels are cheap? Think twice.

Anker hostel officially is the most expensive hostel I have stayed so far, and there is no surprise about that. Located in Oslo, one of the most expensive cities in the World (yes, I know one of the best salaries as well), you should expect to pay about USD 100 for a hotel and remember - linens are not included. You can get linen for additional about USD 10 price.

We were returning from Malaga to Riga, through Oslo, and had to spend one night in Norway. We booked cheapest available property in Oslo a day before, still sunbathing near Malaga. Arrived here from Moss Airport, Rygge by a very expensive coach (about 70 EUR per person round-trip). Anker hostel is not located far from Oslo Bus terminal and we didn't find any problems locating it. 

Anker Hostel is 800 m from Oslo Central Station and the main shopping street, Karl Johan. It offers good-value accommodation in Oslo city centre. Most rooms have access to a kitchenette.

We got our room in 7th floor, with, as what I think, nice view towards Oslo city

View towards Oslo from Anker hostel

Grunerlokka is a great…

Constructing Wall From AAC blocks + Finishing Foundation Concreting Works for Bathroom

9 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 13 seen

In today's home remodeling series we are continuing to build bathroom from scratch.

The other day we removed walls and finished foundation concreting works for one part of house, today we re going to start construct first wall and finish foundation works for another wall, yes still some wall demolition works involved for today.

 A few days ago construction materials arrived and today it was just a a matter of tools and two men power (I had a helping hands) to start some actual works for upcoming bathroom.

Ruberoid coating for hydro isolation 

Before bricklaying we must install a hydro insulation - ruberoid is glued with special mastic. 

Bricklaying first row of aac blocks

There is a special glue/mastic to keep blocks together, but here is the secret first row over ruberoid must be placed on lute.

Four rows of aac blocks

It's not recommenced to build higher that four rows per day (it's about 1.2 meters in height) to avoid block shifting while glue hardens.

Reinforcement

At top of the each row we used reinforcement from 5mm metal rods,…

Sputnik Hotel in Batumi

8 January, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 12 seen

I now have a new favorite hotel in Batumi - Sputnik hotel. 

Surrounded by a garden with tropical plants and trees, this 4-stars Sputnik Hotel & Spa Batumi is nestled in Batumi Hills with a stunning views of the city and black sea. Hotel boasts an outdoor pool and is just 12-minute drive from city centre. There is a restaurant, bars, swimming pool, terraces, and free WiFi at the property.

We stayed at Sputnik hotel for three nights at the end of November 2016, and paid about 300GEL (about USD 100),we got a lovely value deal at local Georgian Groupon clone site, but looking now on Booking the price doesn't seems much higher about $50. That's what I love about good (decent) hotels they are not expensive at all. 

For 100 USD we got a nice de lux room with a bath tube next to our king size bed, and yes that huge flat screen TV hanging over bed. Very cool experience. I must admit I did found some ideas for our rural country house.

De Lux room at Sputnik hotel

I had to make a panoramic photography to fit in all details (unfortunately I missed a bath) 

The elegant rooms at the Sputnik Hotel Batumi are…

Postcards from Oslo

7 January, 2017 | | 13 seen

Seems Postcards from series are one of the most featured at Piece of Life project, and there is no surprise about it, we travel a lot, and visit many interesting cities around the World. So did happened during our latest trip to Norway, what was meant to be just a night in Olso, between layover flights turned out to be a mini postcards from Oslo.

Skyscraper in Oslo

Why doesn't I feel surprised seeing Radisson Sas hotel among one of the tallest buildings in Oslo?

A typical day in Oslo

A channel

Oslo

Remove a Wall to Finish Foundation Concreting

6 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 6 seen

Some build home by pouring in foundation first, we started by replacing roof, removing walls and then pouring in foundation. Sounds intrigue? Continue reading to learn more.

In today's home remodeling series a day when we removed first wall and finished pouring in concrete for foundation for our upcoming bathroom. 

I had a handy hands today, Guntars, we started our cooperation already last year, he helped me a lot with roof replacement works. The plan for today was following, to demolish old log wall and pour in the final layer of foundation.

Removing first decks from the wall

It might sound as a complicated task,but in our case it was not, as most of the log and decks were rotten already a century ago. As you can see from picture above, Guntars is removing careless nailed decks from the part where use to been a door - well we didn't now that then, thus I had an idea, there have been a doors some time ago. By reading archives about our property I have learnt that there has been a huge fire in 1967, and half of the house has been burnt. Now we will uncover some details of the past.

Removed logs

We have an…

Chiatura Cable-ways Central Station

5 January, 2017 | Tourism objects | 21 seen

If you have a chance of visiting remote Georgian city Chiatura, make sure you take a free ride at one of the famous cable ways. Also don't forget to take your camera and make one of the interesting photos you will make in Georgia.

Some call them Stalin's cable cars, I prefer to call them - the rare chance to return to the year of 1954.

As I have been told, most of the cable cars have been in service in 1954, and most of them seems haven't been repaired ever since. I remember, few years ago a friend of mine sent me a preivev of Georgian documentary by Gabriel Razmadze Black Mulberry / Shavi tuta about miners in Chiatura, after watching that short, which was mainly concentrated on riding these cable cars in Chiatura, I had an ambivalent feelings regarding both to the documentary and to the Chiatura. Now, once I visited Chiatura by myself - one thing I know for sure - those old and neglected cable cars are great for independent shorts - I don't feel being a documentarist, but I felt it's time to convert my DSLR camera to a video camera and start filming shorts (well, not only in Chiatura, but shorts)

Old and neglected…