IKEA Shopping in Vilnius, Lithuania

10 December, 2016 | Shopping Venues | 28 seen

IKEA store has been opened in Vilnius city already in 2013. This place is very popular among local and neighboring shopping travelers - Belarus and Latvia.

There is no surprise seeing shoppers from Belarus here, as Minsk is less than 200km from Vilnius. Latvians? Well they just love shopping in Vilnius.

It was my birthday, we were at Vilnius, after spending few hours wandering around Old Town - idea visiting IKEA arrived. Unfortunately we hadn't  no idea where this store is actually located as we are not familiar with topography of Vilnius. No TomTom's here. We got a small tourist map (covering just Old Town) at tourism information center. Not a single word about IKEA there. My guess was - I believe it should be located somewhere on the highway connecting with Minsk. So we took the route towards to Minsk. 

Yeah... not the best idea. We got lost nowhere in the surrounding forests of Vilnius, when suddenly a small village appeared in the outskirts of Vilnius, we made a stop in front of one house and I asked - hey, do you have any clue where IKEA could be located? The guy looked to me. IKEA? Sure, follow me! He entered his small car and accelerated. Rally Vilnius. After some 20 minutes we were set - IKEA appeared in front of us. We used may shortcuts, all I remember at one point I noticed a sign - Naujamiestis. 

Anyway, thanks to the friendly people in the outskirts of Vilnius we finally found IKEA store. It's not that we were here for shopping, just for fun, and maybe to buy something for our rural house. Our Honda CRV features a large trunk, so yes we could buy even some furniture. 

Parking lot at Vilnius IKEA

At the end we spent some two hours here. Yes there are some offerings for furniture, but I got the feeling if we want to buy something for our rural house here, it's better to use online shopping catalog and pick our articles in store. We bought some linens, tea pots and some other small but cool things. 

P.S. This IKEA store features a dinning area - where some meatballs are served. I haven't visited other IKEA stores, but fact they are serving meatballs here (for a cheap price of course) made me smile. Should I mention, it's hard to get a table there? Yes, very tasty and delicious. Can you imagine a better birthday that eating meatballs at IKEA store? Awesome!

Wilderness in Georgia

9 December, 2016 | | 6 seen

During my long stay in Georgia I have documented a lot of Tbilisi restaurants, Georgian hotels, even museums, but little to nothing I have covered about wilderness in Georgia.

Wilderness, in fact, makes this country among the most beautiful countries in the world. Georgia is literally surrounded by wilderness, mountains, rivers, and a shepherd forcing his sheep from one mountain meadow to other (most probably crossing Georgian military road). 

In today's Piece of Life series a little wilderness from Georgia (on the way to Vazha Pshavala house museum in Chargali)

Shepherd forcing sheep in Georgia

A common scene when traveling around Georgia.

Zhinvali water reservoir

Horses on Pasture

How to Import Canon DSLR .mov Files Into Adobe Premiere Pro CS4

8 December, 2016 | Digital Photography School | 33 seen

In this article you will learn how to import Canon DSLR .mov files into video editing software Adobe Premiere CS 4 and how to possibly deal with a choppy playback. 

It's all about codecs when dealing with video editing. If you don't have right codecs CS4 wont recognize videos shot with a Canon DSLR (Although, never version should).

One of the simplest ways to make Adobe Premiere CS 4 to recognize .mov files is by simply installing QuickTime player. After you have installed QuickTime just restart Adobe Premiere Pro and you should be able to import and edit your video's.

The chances are you will face the choppy playback issues now - making your video editing a pain. The reason being is that when videos come off your camera they are in a H.264 format, which is a finishing format. Editing with H.264 in Adobe Premiere Pro CS 4 means choppy playback and frequent crashes. To avoid this, you will need to convert your video files to a format that is better suited for editing. And here is how (based on Ian Durkin's post  DSLR Video Importing & Conversion) :

Download the free software, MPEG streamclip and open it.

• To convert all of your video files at once, go to "List" select "Batch List" and then select "Add Files". Next, select all of the files you wish to convert.
• Click "To Batch" select "Export to QuickTime" and hit "OK".
• You do not want to "join all the files" as it is easier to organize them separately, nor do you want to"Fix time code breaks".
• Create a new folder and click "Select".
• Now, you are ready to choose the settings that will convert your video files into a better format to edit with.
• Turn Quality to 100%.
• Make sure it is Unscaled and deselect "Interlaced Scaling" and click on "To Batch".
• Click "Go".

Transcode .mov files

After about of week figuring out how to deal with about 80 short clips filmed with a DSLR, I was finally able start developing my film. Awesome.

Flamingo Lagoon near Fuente de Piedra in Spain

7 December, 2016 | Tourism objects | 15 seen

I'm not into bird photography at all, but idea visiting one of the Worlds largest Flamingo lagoons today sounded great.

We were on our 4th or 5th day traveling around region of Andalusia in Spain. Somehow small town of Fuente de Piedra popped up in our radar (well, obliviously because of flamingos) and my first bird photography session begun.

Keep on reading to learn how it failed after all.

Visitor center

There is a visitor center named after José Antonio Valverde

The Visitors Centre has a reception for information, restrooms, gift shop and vending area. Also free 2 exhibition room and a 12 minutes long audiovisual.  In the Visitors Centre you can also rent binoculars, audioguides in different languages and children karts. The audiovisual schedule is at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30 and 13:30 in the morning and afternoon at 16:30 and 17:30 in winter and 17:30 hours and 18:30 hours on summer. 

National Park of Doñana

José Antonio Valverde Gómez (Valladolid, March 21, 1926 - Seville, April 13, 2003) was a biologist, naturalist, ecologist and environmental activist. In 1952 comes first to Doñana and along with Francisco Bernis Madrazo conducted the first scientific bird ringing in Spain.  In 1954 they founded the Spanish Ornithological Society of which he was president. In 1969 the National Park of Doñana was founded and Valverde was appointed director. 

José Antonio Valverde first came to Fuente de Piedra in 1958 and after several years, in 1963, saw flamingos bred here. On the right we can see the mosaic, it is the first drawing that Valverde did in Fuente de Piedra. 

In 1990 when the Visitors Center was built and decided to put his name.

At flamingo lagoon

Now it was a time to switch lens and try to capture some live flamingo.

View towards lake

A huge one, to capture flamingoes from this point you will need a very powerful telephoto lens.

Flamingos 

Here you go - a crowd with flamingos. Shot with a 300 mm telephoto Sigma lens (not the best)

Hiking trails around lake

Osteria de Luca Italian Restaurant in Vilnius

6 December, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 17 seen

Osteria de Luca is an Italian restaurant located in the Old town of Vilnius, Lithuania.

During my latest visit here in August 2016, they served delicious Italian cuisine, I tried a wrapped pizza - intrigue and amazing. I got the feelings they have taken all the best ingredients straight from the Italy.

I love Italian cuisine, and especially pizzas, once my better part and me, we visited Italy especially for Pizza tourism, gosh we tried so many Osteria's, prosciutto's and of course Pizza's. I made a lot of Italian restaurant reviews back then. Restaurant Antica Drogheria in Lucca, Italy near the leaning tower of Pisa is among my favorite Italian restaurant by now.

Osteria de Luca in Vilnius doesn't inferior from those Italian Osteria' s in Italy.

Now, being in Lithuania, I was not eager for Italian cuisine, instead I was in the search for an authentic Lithuanian cuisine, surprisingly but I didn't find any place in Old Town. Chinese, Italian - they are literally zillions in Vilnius. Strange, right?

Wrapped Italian Pizza

Let me forgive Italians and Georgians,but I tried such interpretation of Pizza for the first time - It reminded me famous Georgian hachapuri on Spit topped with delicious prosciutto. Awesome. 

TOP 15 Boutique / Luxury Hotels in Vilnius (Lithuania)

2 December, 2016 | Hotel reviews | 32 seen

There are at least three reasons to visit Vilnius - exploring Old Town, city walks and of course architecture.

To make your stay more comfortable in Lithuanian capital city, in this article you will find TOP 15 boutique / luxury hotels in the Old Town of Vilnius. Vilnius together with other Baltic capitals is not an expensive city, here you will find stunning hotels in price range $100-$200.

The Narutis Hotel

Located on the main street of Vilnius’s Old Town, The Narutis Hotel features 2 restaurants and a paid spa area with an indoor pool. Internet and parking are free of charge.

Each air-conditioned room is individually decorated with unique frescoes, wall paintings, and original 16th-century ceilings. All rooms overlook the old town. The rooms feature a minibar, flat-screen satellite TV, and a bathroom with hairdryer.

The elegant Narutis Restaurant offers Lithuanian and international dishes and a selection of fine wines.

The spa area at the Narutis Hotel includes a sauna, a steam bath, and a hot tub. It also boasts a massage parlour. The staff is available 24/7 and provides tourist information.

All major sights of Vilnius, including Gediminas Tower, the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace, are within 500 m. 

Vilnius Old Town is a great choice for travellers interested in churches, architecture and history.

Price: ~ USD 155 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Congress Avenue

The 4-star Congress Avenue is centrally located on Vilnius’ main street, Gedimino Avenue, only a few steps from the National Theatre and Government Palace. It offers a breakfast.

All air-conditioned rooms of Congress Avenue offer an LCD TV with satellite and cable channels, as well as a bathroom complete with a hairdryer and either a bath or a shower. Some provide a balcony.

At the reception of the property, guests can book city tours or buy tickets for the nearby National Opera and Ballet Theatre.

The Cathedral of Vilnius is a 5-minute walk away. All main shops as well as the finest bars and restaurants are located in the immediate proximity of Congress Avenue. 

Vilnius Old Town is a great choice for travellers interested in churches, architecture and history.

This is our guests' favourite part of Vilnius, according to independent reviews.

Price: ~ USD 133 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Artis Centrum Hotels

Located in the centre of Vilnius’ Old Town, Artis Centrum Hotels is set in a renovated building from the 19th century. An indoor pool and elegant, air-conditioned rooms are on offer.

All rooms at the Artis are elegantly furnished. Guests can enjoy views of the Old Town and of Gediminas Tower. Satellite TV and free access to WiFi are also provided.

Breakfast and lunch are served in the La Traviata restaurant. The second restaurant and bar, Adelia, offers a selection of European dishes and drinks.

Guests can relax in the on-site whirlpool bath, sauna and steam bath for free between 18.00 and 21.00. In the spa centre massages, beauty treatments, manicure and pedicure are available at a surcharge. The use of a fitness room is free for hotel's guests. Front desk staff is available 24 hours a day.

Artis Centrum Hotels is situated within walking distance of all major sights. Vilnius International Airport is 7 km away, the main train and bus station 2 km. 

Book this hotel on Booking.com

Ramada Hotel & Suites Vilnius

Located directly on Vilnius’s Old Town, Ramada Hotel & Suites Vilnius offers air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen satellite TV and free WiFi. This 5 plus star hotel features a wellness centre with a steam bath and a hot tub and guests have free access from 7 am to 3 pm.

The rooms of Ramada Hotel & Suites Vilnius have a traditional interior design inspired by that of the early 19th century. All are soundproofed and have a safe, a coffee machine and a minibar. Each boasts a private bathroom with slippers, bathrobes and free toiletries, some with a free-standing bathtub.

The premium class gourmet restaurant Imperial serves international dishes. The California Tapas & Wine bar serves drinks and light snacks. In the mornings Champagne Breakfast buffet with freshly squeezed orange juice is available.

The Ramada Hotel & Suites Vilnius’s guests have access to the steam bath, fitness centre and game corner. The hotel also features valet parking and a concierge service. The staff is available 24/7 and provides tour information and can organise tickets. For guests convenience a cash machine and luggage storage are available on site.

Vilnius’s main railway station is within 1.1 km. The Presidential Palace is 750 m away, and the Town Hall is 160 m from Ramada Hotel & Suites Vilnius. 

Vilnius Old Town is a great choice for travellers interested in churches, architecture and history.

Price: ~ USD 114 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Amberton

Amberton is located in the heart of Vilnius’s Old Town, just a few steps from Cathedral Square. It offers air conditioned rooms with flat-screen cable TVs, work desks and a free internet connection.

The rooms of the Amberton feature a classic interior design with bright walls and wooden furniture. All have a safe and a minibar. Each private bathroom includes a hairdryer and either a bath or a shower.

The main shopping avenue of Vilnius is only 30 m from the Amberton. The Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is 200 m away. Many cafés, restaurants and shops are nearby.

The La Cave restaurant serves French dishes and offers views of the cathedral. A Breakfast buffet is available in the restaurant in the mornings. The outdoor café is open during the summer season. 

Vilnius Old Town is a great choice for travellers interested in churches, architecture and history.

Price: ~ USD 154 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square

Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square is located in the Old Town, at the Cathedral Square, in front of the Gediminas Tower. It offers elegant, air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi and access to the spa centre.

Each room at the Kempinski includes satellite TV and a view of the city. Pastel-coloured interiors include heavy, wooden furniture and subtle lighting. There is also a marble bathroom.

The hotel boasts an indoor swimming pool, as well as a variety of body treatments. There is a hot tub to relax in, a sauna and a Turkish bath.

Guests are welcome to dine in a restaurant or a lobby, as well as enjoy a wonderful view of the UNESCO listed Cathedral Square, or have a drink in the bar.

Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square was built 100 years ago and has been fully renovated. There is a 24-hour front desk service. The bus and train stations are 2 km away and Vilnius International Airport is 7 km away. 

Price: ~ USD 255 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Congress

The 4-star Hotel Congress is located in a 19th-century building, 650 m from the Old Town Vilnius. It features rooms with individually controlled air conditioning, free WiFi, a minibar and a safe.

All rooms at the Congress are classically furnished and decorated with warm tones and wooden features. Each comes with satellite TV and a modern bathroom with a hairdryer.

Guests can exercise in the fitness centre or try a selection of available massage treatments in a parlour nearby. Front desk staff is available 24 hours and can assist with luggage storage. There is limited parking available.

A varied buffet breakfast is served in the hotel’s elegant restaurant, which offers a variety of European dishes. There is also an on-site bar with drinks and snacks.

Hotel Congress is located within a 10-minute walk of the Vilnius Cathedral. The Vilnius Castle Complex and the Gediminas’ Tower are 800 m away. 

Price: ~ USD 101 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Relais & Châteaux Stikliai Hotel and Apartments 

The luxurious Relais & Châteaux Stikliai Hotel and Apartments is housed in a historic building with Baroque and Gothic features and located in the centre of Vilnius Old Town. It features individually designed rooms with antique furniture and air conditioning.

All elegant rooms at the Stikliai are decorated with high quality fabrics, furniture and accessories. Each comes with free internet, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a seating area. All have a minibar and a safe. Bathrooms come with bath and shower, free toiletries, bathrobes and slippers.

There is a Spa Centre with a sauna, a swimming pool, a gym and a treatment room. Guests can also enjoy a Cocktail and a Lobby bar. Front desks staff is available 24 hours a day and can arrange concierge services, assist with luggage storage or provide ticket service. There is an ATM on site for guests convenience too.

A varied buffet breakfast is served every morning in the hotel’s stylish restaurant, Tavern, which offers the most popular local dishes. The on-site Stikliai Café serves light meals, cakes and coffee.

Relais & Châteaux Stikliai Hotel and Apartments is situated 200 m from the Vilnius University, the oldest one in the Baltics. The Cathedral Square is only 500 m away. 

Price: ~ USD 168 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Domus Maria

Located in a former monastery on Vilnius’s Old Town, Hotel Domus Maria offers rooms with a cable TV, a work desk and free Wi-Fi. Private parking is available free of charge too.

The classically furnished rooms of the Domus Maria feature soundproofed windows. Each has a private bathroom with a hairdryer.

The hotel’s staff is available 24 hours a day and offers tourist information. Guests can rent a car directly at Domus Maria.

The hotel’s café serves breakfasts from 7:00 till 10:00.

The Gate of Dawn is within 130 metres, and the Vilnius town hall is 280 m from the Domus. Vilnius’s main railway station is a 15 minute walk away. 

Vilnius Old Town is a great choice for travellers interested in churches, architecture and history.

Price: ~USD 67 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Tilto

Located in the heart of Vilnius’s Old Town, The Irish-owned Hotel Tilto is only 240 m away from Vilnius Cathedral. It offers air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TV with satellite channels.

The rooms of the Tilto feature a stylish design. Many have brickwork elements and handmade furniture. All rooms have blackout curtains and a private bathroom with a bathtub.

Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania is located 450 m from the Tilto, and the Presidential Palace is within 550 m. The Vilnia River is within 270 m.

The staff is available 24 hours a day and provides tourist information. It also can arrange an airport shuttle.

The Tilto’s restaurant serves local dishes. It also boasts a Guinness Pub. 

Vilnius Old Town is a great choice for travellers interested in churches, architecture and history.

Price: ~ USD 85 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Rinno

The elegant, 3 plus-star Hotel Rinno is situated on the quiet Vingriu Street close to the Synagogue in Vilnius' Old Town. It features classically decorated rooms with satellite TV and free Wi-Fi.

All rooms at the Rinno are decorated with warm, sandy colours. Each comes with a private bathroom with a hairdryer. Some offer a minibar.

Guided tours can be arranged upon request. A pick-up service from the Vilnius International Airport, which is 6 km away, is available.

Guests can start their day with a buffet breakfast, including traditional choices as well as cooked-on-request pancakes and omelettes. The on-site bar is open 24 hours a day. Guests are offered complimentary tea and coffee.

Hotel Rinno is only a 10-minute walk from the bus/train station and the City Hall. Free on-site parking is provided. 

Vilnius Old Town is a great choice for travellers interested in churches, architecture and history.

Price: ~USD 64 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Apia 

Hotel Apia is a stylish hotel, located in the very heart of Vilnius’ Old Town and it offers views of the historical area. Parking is next to the hotel. Vilnius Train Station is 2 km away.

The rooms at Hotel Apia are classically decorated and feature wooden floors. Each comes with a private bathroom with heated floors and a hairdryer. Satellite TV and free WiFi are also provided.

Breakfast is served at the 5-star Hotel Narutis, which is only 350 m away. The Spa facilities, which guest can use, are also located there. Numerous bars, cafés and restaurants are available in the area.

The hotel staff are happy to help with booking the sightseeing tours of Vilnius and guests are offered a guide book of the city. An airport shuttle and car rental can also be arranged.

Vilnius International Airport is 7 km away and St. Nicholas Church is 500 m from Hotel Apia. 

Vilnius Old Town is a great choice for travellers interested in churches, architecture and history.

Price: ~ USD 101 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Mabre Residence

Located in Vilnius’s Old Town, in a former monastery from the 16th century, Mabre Residence is only 200 m from St. Anne’s Church. This 4-star hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with cable TV and a free internet connection and private parking.

The rooms of the Mabre Residence feature a classical interior design. All have a minibar, work desk and a tea/coffee maker. Each private bathroom has a hairdryer.

The front desk is available 24/7. It can arrange bicycle and car rental. Guests can relax in the hotel’s sauna or the plunge pool. There also is a beauty centre on site where guests can enjoy various treatments.

The Presidential Palace is located 600 m from the Mabre. Pilies Gatve is within 450 metres, and the Vilnius Cathedral is within 300 m.

The hotel’s own Steakhouse, the Hazienda, serves various beef dishes and in the summer season guests can enjoy them on the terrace. 

Price: ~ USD 127 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Art Hotel Moon Garden

4-star Moon Garden Hotel is located in the Old Town of Vilnius, 1 minute walk from the Gates of Dawn and within a short walk from the boutique shops. It offers design rooms with free Wi-Fi.

Rooms in Moon Garden Hotel will provide you with a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a minibar. There is also a refrigerator. Featuring a shower, private bathrooms also come with a hairdryer, towels, slippers and bathrobes.

The hotel offers 24-hour front desk and breakfast served in the hotel restaurant.

Art Hotel Moon Garden is just 100 m away from the Catholic relic in Lithuania. The hotel is 900 m from Old Ensemble of Vilnius University, 4.8 km from Siemens Arena . Vilnius Airport is 4 km away. Gediminas Tower is 1.9 km away and Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania is 1.4 km from Moon Garden.

Book this hotel on Booking.com

Atrium Hotel

The 4-star Atrium Hotel is located in the heart of Vilnius’s Old Town. It offers air-conditioned rooms with a safe, satellite TV, minibar and free Wi-Fi.

The rooms feature a unique interior design combining historical elements with modern amenities. Some rooms feature wooden beams, other have brick walls or wooden floors. All rooms have work desks, most have seating areas.

The Atrium’s staff is available 24/7, and offers tour information and provides a ticket service. Recreation centre with a hot tub, as well as a hall with fireplace, are available for an extra fee and can be reserved for private use.

The hotel’s restaurant, El Gaucho Sano, serves Argentinean dishes. It also boasts its own fireplace.

Many landmarks are within 300 m of the hotel. These include the Vilnius Cathedral, the presidential Palace, Vilnius University and the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. 

Price: ~ USD 63 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Restaurant El Arador, Estepa, Spain

1 December, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 9 seen

I just love roadside cafeterias, so did happened today, we left Seville and had a direction towards Granada, after an hour of driving we started to feel hungry, it was lunch time. Luckly Restaurant El Arador popped up. 

Restaurante El Arador

What to order in a typical Spanish restaurant? How about a fresh orange juice and a chorizo? 

French fries, chorizo and orange juice

The Republic of Užupis (Vilnius, Lithuania)

30 November, 2016 | Tourism objects | 7 seen

I have traveled to Vilnius, Lithuania a lot, for most of the times using Vilnius just as a transit stop. I decided to change this. It was my 31st birthday, and I opted for celebrations in Vilnius (I have a goal - to celebrate my birthday each year in one of the capitals of former Soviet Union's republics, so far I have celebrated already in Yerevan and Tallinn).

I had read in some tourist brochures about The Republic of Užupis, and thought - what a cool site, I should put this on my travel list. Now, here is what it is all about: In 1997, the residents of the area declared the Republic of Užupis, along with its own flag, currency, president, cabinet of ministers, a constitution written by Romas Lileikis and Thomas Chepaitis, an anthem, and an army (numbering approximately 11 men). They celebrate this independence annually on Užupis Day, which falls on April 1st. Artistic endeavours are the main preoccupation of the Republic; the life-long President of the Republic of Užupis, Romas Lileikis, is himself a poet, musician, and film director.

Tourists visiting the Republic of Uzupis

Artūras Zuokas, long time (now ex-) mayor of Vilnius, lives in Užupis and frequently takes part in the Republic’s events. Užupis does not house internet-cafes, kiosks, big malls, or governmental institutions (except Užupian), and there is no embassy to Lithuania.

Actually there is nothing much at all at Uzupis after all, just a channel, some rocks on it and some wall with paintings. If you like Uzupis, you will love Literati street in Vilnius. Bohemians after all!

Long exposure

Lovely photos can be made here at Uzupis. 

Wall of paintings

Ujarma Fortress

29 November, 2016 | Military Heritage | 42 seen

Ujarma  is a medieval Georgian fortress in the Kakheti region, located some 45 km east from the nation's capital Tbilisi.

It's believed than in the second half of the 5th century, famous Vakhtang Gorgasali (founder of Tbilisi) erected numerous buildings in Ujarma and moved his residence there. After Vakhtang’s death, his heir Dachi was ruling Kakheti for some period from here. In the 10th century, Ujarma was destroyed by Arabian forces of Abul Kassim. In the 13th century, the fortress was restored by King George III, where he arranged treasury.

This was my second attempt visiting Ujarma fortress, and I even managed to capture some pictures here, thus I believe such large objects should be photographed either with a drone or from a larger distance.

Ujarma fortress in Georgia

The fortress is located on the roadside connecting Telavi with Tbilisi. We made here a stop after had a lunch at nearby village of Sasadilo, see Iosebis Duqani (Joseph's Tavern) near Sasadilo

​There is a little ticket office at Ujarma and I was asked to pay an entrance fee of 3GEL for having access to fortress.

Ujarma fortress

Pretty secret place in fact, covered in trees and brushes.

Beautiful sunset from Ujarma fortress

Ujarma fortress is not very easy accessible, make sure you put climbing shoes before making a climb here (not long or hard, but pretty complicated)

Monastery complex

There is a small church/ monastery complex located here. 

Ujarma fortress and Georgian flag

Postcards from Seville, Spain

28 November, 2016 | | 5 seen

We spent a whole day in charming Seville (Spain) back in June 2016. Although many tourism objects and sites were visited today, just one did find a separate article on blog, see Plaza De Espana.

Today I decided to experiment with mood photography and as I photographed a lot tourists in the streets of Seville, a nice addition to Postcards from series, I thought. Postcards from Spain have been featured already a few times on Piece of Life project, see Postcards from Cadiz, Sunflower fields in Andalusia, Spain, Postcards from Spain

Tourists buying postcards in Seville

I didn't bought one.

Spices in the streets of Seville

Spaniards love to sell spices, tea and other goodies, few days ago we visited a fair in Fair in El Puerto de Santa Maria, the street scene was pretty much the same there. 

Streets of Seville

What's the best travel advice I can give to the tourist going to Seville? Get lost in the charming streets of Seville and enjoy!

Postcards from Seville

Simple and elegant

A huge rhododendron tree in Seville

Love rhododendron's? You will love Spain, as they are literally everywhere. 

Literatu street in Vilnius

26 November, 2016 | Tourism objects | 51 seen

The chances are you will love this narrow street in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania if you are an avid reader, writer or just a true hipster (OK, just joking). 

"Literatu street project" - formally name of the project. The wall with mounted artworks - dedications to the literature workers in the Vilnius old town.  Literatų str. is situated very close to the main street of the Vilnius Old Town Pilies str. and is one of the visited tourist places in Vilnius.

Literatu gatve in Vilnius

Artworks mounted on the walls of the Literatu street (Literatų gatvė) are dedicated to the literature workers: writers, translators, everyone who has link with Lithuania and is important for Lithuanian or world literature. 
Various outdoor-proof techniques: ceramics, sculpture, glass, wall painting. Project started at 2008 is pure private social initiative: authors donated their works for free.

Literatu gatve

Iosebis Duqani (Joseph's Tavern) near Sasadilo

25 November, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 68 seen

Iosebis Duqani is just another cool roadside cafeteria, located near village of Sasadilo, in Mtskheta-Tianeti region, Georgia. 

Often readers of my blog are familiar on my passion on roadside cafeterias, in most cases they are just excellent. It' s not that I have visited this place for the first time (as I did it actually already in 2011), it is just the first time I'm featuring it on blog.

The most fun fact about this place, is not this place at all, but the fact - I had to spend more than 2 hours to locate coordinates of it - let me explain, this website is built as a geospatial web. Which means most of of the restaurants, hotels and of course tourism objects are grouped on map, which gives me a lot of room to develop things like nearby places and so on.

The bad thing, while trying to locate this place on map, I discovered Panoramio photography service is shutting down. It's not about I have been using their service, but yes, it was a good photo site.

Anyway back to the topic (after all I found correct latitude and longitude values)

Iosebis dukani near village of Sasadilo

Our route took us here from Sioni water reservoir on returning back home to Tbilisi. 

Local specialty - melted cheese in butter

Fat as hell, but those who tied (not me, this time) told it's as good as Swiss fondue.

Firewood Kitchen

Plaza de España: A Historical Marvel in Seville, Spain

24 November, 2016 | Tourism objects | 21 seen

Plaza de España undoubtedly ranks among the top 10 must-visit tourist attractions in Seville, Spain.

Here's a delightful anecdote from my visit: I stumbled upon the name of this iconic place only after completing my photography session. By sheer chance, I decided to ask a passerby about the name of this fabulous location. To my surprise, the gentleman burst into laughter, revealing that he was, in fact, a guide for this very place. With a smile, he informed me that the place is called Plaza de España, sparking a short but engaging 5-minute conversation between us.

Embracing the true spirit of travel, I confess – who needs to conduct thorough research beforehand? Just kidding, but, truth be told, such serendipitous moments happen to me quite often, especially when exploring routes packed with numerous tourist attractions. This particular day marked our fourth in Spain, and we had already visited around 30 captivating tourist spots in the Andalusia region. Keeping track of them all can be quite a challenge!

Equipped with my trusty travel companion, a tripod, I decided to capture the grandeur of Plaza de España through panoramic photography. Given the vastness of the complex, it couldn't be contained in a single frame. Despite the challenge of navigating through the dozen tourists who kept popping into the frame, I managed to capture a few panoramic shots. After some consideration, here's one that I believe does justice to the magnificence of Plaza de España, and I'm excited to share it with you.

Plaza de Espana in Seville

The Plaza de España ("Spain Square", in English) is a plaza in the Parque de María Luis, in Seville, Spain, built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. It is a landmark example of Regionalism Architecture, mixing elements of the Renaissance Revival and Moorish Revival (Neo-Mudéjar) styles of Spanish architecture.

Plaza de Espana definitely is an architecture's photographer dream object - so many interesting elements to photograph.

Curves and lines

In photography, it' 's all about curves and lines. 

The Plaza de España, designed by Aníbal González, was a principal building built on the Maria Luisa Park's edge to showcase Spain's industry and technology exhibits. González combined a mix of 1920s Art Deco and "mock Mudejar", and Neo-Mudéjar styles. The Plaza de España complex is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running around the edge accessible over the moat by numerous bridges representing the four ancient kingdoms of Spain. In the centre is the Vicente Traver fountain. By the walls of the Plaza are many tiled alcoves, each representing a different province of Spain.

Central building at the Plaza

Today the Plaza de España mainly consists of Government buildings. The central government departments, with sensitive adaptive redesign, are located within it. The Plaza's tiled Alcoves of the Provinces are backdrops for visitors portrait photographs, taken in their own home province's alcove. Towards the end of the park, the grandest mansions from the fair have been adapted as museums. The farthest contains the city's archaeology collections. The main exhibits are Roman mosaics and artifacts from nearby Italica.

The Plaza de España has been used as a filming location, including scenes for the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. The building was used as a location in the Star Wars movie series Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) — in which it featured in exterior shots of the City of Theed on the Planet Naboo. It also featured in the 2012 film The Dictator.

The plaza was used as a set for the video of Simply Red's song Something Got Me Started.

Travelling From Telaviv, Israel to Yerevan, Armenia

23 November, 2016 | Travel guides | 11 seen

An Israeli traveler recently contacted me and asked could I give an advice on traveling to Yerevan (Armenia) from Telaviv (Israel).

As this is a pretty broad topic to answer in one single reply I decided to wrap up longer answer in this blog post. Hopefully other Israeli / Armenian travelers will find some helpful thought in this article as well.

Now, I must inform that I have never traveled directly route Telaviv - Yerevan, Thus I have done route Istanbul - Telaviv (once), Istanbul - Tbilisi (dozen of times) and Tbilisi - Yerevan (dozen of times). The further written is just my assumption on how I would most probably did a Telaviv - Yerevan trip. 

Message from an Israeli traveller

travelling from TLV Israel to Yerevan.
Was told best way is to fly to Georgia and drive to Yerevan. Can you advise ?

How is the driving conditions ?

My first guest would be for a direct flight - doing a quick Google search, I didn't find any direct flights from Telaviv to Istanbul, instead there are plenty of connected flights with connections in Tbilisi, Athens, Krasnodar, Kiev and so on. Flights are performed by following companies: Georgian airlines, Aegan, Ural Airlines, El Al, Ukraine airlines

I have never used any of above listed airlines, so I cannot actually give a review of their services, thus recently I planned a trip to Telaviv from Tbilisi and then I took a look on Georgian Airlines and El Al companies, both seemed way too expensive at that time. I canceled my travel plans to Israel this time, thus (and this is the funny part) booked a Tbilisi - Kiev - New York flight with Ukrainian airlines. Soon I will have a chance to write a review of Ukrainian Airlines services.

Now, next time I will plan Telaviv trip from Tbilisi I will choose connected flight via Istanbul using Turkish Airlines or Pegasus.

Flying in this region (Turkey, Georgia) I have used following companies: Turkish Airlines, Pegassus, AirBaltic, Wizzair, Lot. With Turkish Airlines you can fly literally to every corner of the world (except Armenia, as there is a political reason for that).

Returning to topic - depending on your budget and travel plans - I would rather then stay with Georgian Airlines connected flight via Tbilisi (the shortest connected flight - about 4h 15m), or  connected flight via Istanbul to Tbilisi with Turkish airlines and then traveled to Yerevan either with rail or private taxi. I have a separate article on Tbilisi - Yerevan transfers by car. Road to Yerevan from Tbilisi is pretty fair and such ride should take you about four and half to six hours. Last time I did such transfer (March 2016), the cost per person was about 50GEL (25USD). See: Georgia/Armenia border crossing. 

If you would prefer a rental car, your best bet most probably is to rent a car at Tbilisi airport or choose one at Tbilisi old town, there is a Sixt office near Abanotubani. Rentals should start at about 50 USD per day. 

Have you done Telaviv - Yerevan route? Leave any suggestions! Readers and me would love to hear!

Postcards from Vilnius

22 November, 2016 | | 15 seen

Piece of Life has already featured postcards from two other Baltic state's capital cities, see Postcards from Tallinn and Postcards from Riga.

In today's postcards from series - cards from Vilnius, Lithuanian capital city.

For the third year in a row I have been celebrating my birthday in some of the former Soviet Union's country capital city, it all started with Yerevan (Armenia), followed by Tallinn (Estonia) and this year I was in Vilnius (OK, this was a longer trip, spending some time in rural Lithuania as well). It was my birthday morning, we left a country house somewhere near Kaunas, see: Country House 'Guronys' Near Pasuliai in Lithuania and dive in Vilnius,

Busy tourist street in Vilnius

Churches of Vilnius

Lithuania, unlike Latvia and Estonia is highly Catholic country. A lot of cathedrals, not only in Vilnius but all over across the country.

Cathedral square and bell tower in Vilnius

The Cathedral Square in Vilnius )is the main square of the Vilnius Old Town, right in front of the neo-classical Vilnius Cathedral. It is a key location in city's public life, situated as it is at the crossing of the city's main streets and reflecting the city's diversity. Regularly held at this site are fairs and gatherings of townspeople, military parades, religious and official public events, attractions and large concerts, New Year’s salutes and exhibitions. It is not merely the most lively and important location in the city, but is also one of the most significant and widely known symbols of Lithuania.

Architecture in Vilnius