Sioni Water Reservoir (Georgia)

20 November, 2016 | Lakes | 69 seen

I had never been to this area of Georgia before, the lucky day come and I negotiated with our driver to visit town of Tianeti. It was from Tianeti driver suggested us to visit Sioni lake, or more precisely Sioni water reservoir. In short - another spectacular place to see and visit while in Georgia.

I didn't find much background of this place, thus I'm guessing this is an artificial water lake, built during soviet era, probably in 1950-ties.The dam is built on Iori river .

Anyhow I was here for new impression and for some photography.

.

Sioni water reservoir in Georgia
Sioni reservoir gets its feed basically from river Iori. Iori is a river rich with fish. It is a habitat of nearly all kinds of species of fish distributed in Eastern Georgia. There is a lot of fish in Sioni reservoir as well including sazan, common carp, silver carp. Unfortunately, due to uncontrolled fishing of poachers with banned means the number of fishing fauna decreased considerably both in the river and the
reservoir. There are several fishing farms near the reservoir.

Iori river valley next to Sioni water reservoir

Driver told me, the village next to reservoir, named the same - Sioni, is a popular recreational area. I didn't noticed any hotels here, but yes - the place has a great tourism potential.

Opening Bank Account in Georgia - Bank of Georgia

19 November, 2016 | Living in Georgia | 48 seen

This is already the third time I have opened a bank account in Georgia as an individual. This time at the Bank of Georgia.

Let me explain -  I'm already using two local banks - Procredit bank and Bank Republic.

If you need consultancy or help with opening a bank account in Georgia, visit the Terramatris website: Opening Bank Account in Georgia

Unfortunately, my default bank for check operations, Bank Republic, has been sold to another large Georgian bank - TBC bank. I opened an account at Bank Republic about two years ago with one single aim - to redeem checks sent from the US. This September I read the news and learned that Bank Republic is merging with TBC bank, and my first thought was - OMG - no more check redemption in Georgia. It was true. When visited the central branch of Bank Republic in mid-November, 2016 - they didn't accept my check in US dollars (I was told they are still working with EUR currency although).

Statement on Bank Republic website:

Let us assure you, that the comfort of being with us that you are enjoying now, will be fully maintained: we will be working hard for the transition period to go as smoothly as possible. We believe to achieve even more together in the future. Meanwhile, be sure that the quality of services rendered to you will improve further.

False!

I spent the whole day searching for a new bank that could redeem checks, I tried the following banks - Basis Bank, VTB bank, TBC bank, Terra Bank, and lastly, I ended up with Bank of Georgia.

I believe it's still possible to redeem checks at VTB bank and TBC bank. Anyhow, the Bank of Georgia is one of the largest banks in Georgia (if not the largest). If there is a thing that I really don't like about the bank - is it's always about waiting in lines, the waiting can take an hour or two hours (Never at Procredit bank or Bank Republic)

So, I took my passport, and bank check and went for opening a bank account here. I was told it will take only 15 minutes to open a bank account, but in fact, it took about an hour and a half (Well, they were processing my check also meantime).

I was surprised to learn, that I will have a 4 currency account (Georgian lari, US dollars, EUR, and British Pounds). I have no clue why should I need Sterling in Georgia, but as it doesn't cost anything additional - cool.

The cost for opening an account, VISA Classic card, and internet banking - is 42 lari (you can actually open a bank account here for 10 lari if you don't opt for VISA CARD). 

I was asked to pay a deposit of $150 to my dollar account (as I'm waiting to redeem the check). The waiting time for check redemption here - is 45 working days. Cost - it depends, I guess, but a minimum of 1% or 35 USD.

If you need consultancy or help with opening a bank account in Georgia, visit the Terramatris website: Opening Bank Account in Georgia

Hotel Review - Leflet Valme in Dos Hermanas, Spain

18 November, 2016 | Hotel reviews | 14 seen

Leflet Valme is a 3-star hotel located in a small town of Dos Hermanas in province of Sevile, Spain.

We booked this hotel for one night prior of visiting Seville next morning. Our road took us here from Cadiz, and in fact we almost missed exit to Dos Hermanas town, luckily rental car's tomtom device helped us to locate both town and hotel.

In short a decent hotel for a decent money.

Leflet Valme hotel in Dos Hermanas, Spain

The hotel is easily accessible from A-4 motorway and SE-30 road. Seville is 12 km from the property and can be reached by public transport. There is a bus stop 1 minute on foot from the property. 

Leflet Valme hotel

Free continental breakfast with coffee and tea, natural orange juice, toast, and cake. Lovely!

All rooms have air conditioning, heating, and flat-screen TV. There is also a telephone and a safety deposit box. The private bathroom comes with a bathtub, free toiletries, and hairdryer, as well as rooms specially adapted for people with disabilities. Leflet Valme Hotel includes a bar with a satellite TV, where you can watch all the football games of the season.

Vilnius TV Tower and Observation Platform

17 November, 2016 | Tourism objects | 27 seen

The Vilnius TV Tower  is a 326.5 m (1,071 ft) tower in the Karoliniškės microdistrict of Vilnius, Lithuania. It is the tallest structure in Lithuania, and is occupied by the SC Lithuanian Radio and Television Centre.

It was my birthday morning when by chance we made a visit to Vilnius TV tower. We simply get lost in Vilnius, as we tried to find city center (remember no tomtoms or what-so-ever devices here). Somehow we discovered that it's just here, well not the city center, but the tallest structure in Lithuania.

Vilnius TV tower

The TV tower played a major role in the events of 13 January 1991, when 14 unarmed civilians lost their lives and 700 were injured opposing the Soviet military seizure of the tower. A small museum dedicated to the January 1991 battle is housed on the ground floor, and various markers in the surrounding area indicate places where Lithuanian citizens died while trying to maintain the blockade against Soviet troops.

Observation platform and cafe at Vilnius TV tower

The observation deck 165 m (541 ft) from the ground houses the cafe "Paukščių takas" (English: Milky Way), offers a picturesque view of the city and its surroundings, and sports a rotating platform that revolves once every 45 minutes. High-speed elevators reach the cafe from ground level in 40 seconds. On clear days, visibility can extend as far as Elektrėnai, a city approximately 40 km (25 mi) west, where power plants produced much of the electricity for Vilnius in Soviet times.

View from Vilnus TV tower

Public Service Hall in Tianeti

16 November, 2016 | Tourism objects | 24 seen

Georgia is well know of its unique style and design for Public service halls across the country.

The most famous probably is the Tbilisi Public service hall (Ups, I don't have a separate article about it yet, but yes, there is a good reason to make one soon). I was surprised when noticed a futuristic public service hall in Tianeti (small rural town located some 75km from nations capital Tbilisi), as the only cool sites I have found so far in Tianeti were Kuzh Park and a lovely roadside cafeteria Vanessa. 

Tianeti Public Service Hall

Tianeti public service hall have been built and opened for public just recently (in 2015) the cost for the State budget was GEL 2,735,114 (About USD 1,098,000). 

Description of the project:

All sides of facade of new Public Service Hall building in Tianeti are rich with architectural and civil engineering solutions. The main panel is located on the south-west side of the complex. According to the project, the main hall is accommodated in the same part too. The central building is most different from the other parts and facades and is implemented with big stone wall and aluminum and glass facade system. Spatial roofing creates an optical illusion of inclination.

The greater part of technical and auxiliary facilities are placed in the north-east side of the building. Building consists of several spaces according to their functions. The Civil Registry Office differs with its interior and exterior and independent architectural solutions. The main hall is signified with its height and expanse.

Office space is terraced in the cantilever arch of the building that accomplishes with meeting room with large corbels. Arrangement of recreational space and different types of landscaping works are scheduled.  Building is faced with stone, glass and wooden panels.

Construction territory with total area of 438 m2 is located on Sanikidze Street, Tianeti.

“Saba Construction” LTD commenced Tianeti Public Service Hall building works on the basis of the agreement concluded with LEPL “Public Service Hall” in February, 2015 (Tender № SPA150000280). Public Service Hall building in Tianeti has been put into service in October, 2015.

Lord Restaurant Review in Tbilisi

15 November, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 27 seen

The Lord restaurant comes as the biggest discovery in my Tbilisi restaurant review series this year, located on the Left embankment of Mtkvari, this place is actually pretty close to our apartment, although after living in this neighborhood for more than three years, we never tried those restaurants located on neither sides of Embankment (with an exception being Zakhar Zakharich restaurant).

It was an evening, and we decided to try our luck at one of the Left embankment places - Restaurant Lord was first in our route. The lovely Russian speaking restaurant manager allocated us a separate cabin house, which actually seemed the same size as our country house. A spacious room with a huge and served table.

At restaurant Lord

This place looked kind of for VIP, and I insecurely asked, could I see a menu, before ordering (as I was afraid of possible price attached). The lady replied - I'm your menu for this evening. This might sound strange, yes. But she continued to call each menu items with price attached. Prices seemed OK, and I said OK, stop counting... I already know what to order. Let me explain - I really love Georgian cuisine and I have found my favorite Georgian dishes a long time ago already - nothing fancy, typical and tasty. So we went for ori turkuli kava (Turkish coffee), erti kitris pomidori (cucumber&tomatoes salads), ori horci mcvadi (two pork shaslik), erti katmis salati (one chicken salad). We were heard, and soon food was served.

Amazingly decorated Turkish coffee

The biggest surprise was a cup of Turkish coffee served in a style pictured above. Never, ever in five years after being living in Georgia nobody had ever served a simple thing like Turkish coffee as elegant as Lord restaurant did tonight. Awesome.

Pork Shashlik

Delicious!

Country House 'Guronys' Near Pasuliai in Lithuania

13 November, 2016 | Hotel reviews | 8 seen

Guronys is located on a 7 hectare area and offers rooms and historic, wooden cottages with authentic décor of a Lithuanian village house. It is located on the bank of the lake, 8 km from Vilnius - Kaunas motorway and booking.com says it offers boat and waterbike rental, as well as a waterslide.

It was on our second day trip around Lithuania, when we booked this guesthouse, while eating Some Chinese food in Kaunas. It was a day before my birthday and we wanted o have some romantic and probably  even a remote place. The price seemed a bit too low for a good country house (we paid just EUR 27), I felt a bit antirust at start - what can you get for 27 EUR - I guess pretty much nothing (The other night we spent at hotel in Telsiai and spent about 50 EUR there, and didn't get much comfort). But we were on our way to Guronys. We stopped at some local shop, bought few kilos of meat, as we prepared to grill a bit this night.

No GPS, TomTom's or what-so- ever - just a true travel spirit and our reliable Honda CRV. We got lost, yes, we got lost in deep forests of Lithuania, but somehow (and I still don't now how)- we after all find this place.

Country house Guronys near Kaunas in Lithunia

Yup, this lovely cottage with grass roofing was our safe haven for tonight. 

Guronys cottage

A small kitchenette, were we get our equipment for grilling, a small but lovely room, and guess what - a separate bedroom and bathroom. For EUR 27. You must be kidding me, right?

Bedroom at Guronys

A small, but really cool bedroom. Kind of Russian Babushkas room, that's how I actually called this place - an Izbushka.

Food we prepared on site

Country house Guronys HDR

Not the best HDR I managed to capture, but yeah, you never stop photographing.

Guests of Guronys have access to a basketball, football and volleyball field. There is a common living room with table football and an outdoor ping-pong table. Guronys also offers a sauna and a hot tub. There is a common kitchen with a dishwasher and a fridge.

The nearest shop is located 1,5 km away from Guronys. Rumšiškės Folk Museum is 10 km away. It is 15 km to the town of Kaišiadorys. 

Kuzh Park in Tianeti

12 November, 2016 | Tourism objects | 14 seen

Kuzh park is located in the town of Tianeti, Georgia.

We first discovered it at the end of October 2016, and ever since we have been returning here once in a while, especially now with our baby girl. 

I didn't find much info about this park on the internet, thus at the end of October I visited it, made some photographs, and decided to extend my Georgia travel app, by adding this place on map.

There is a lovely cafeteria - Vanessa located just before the entrance to this park.

Children's playground and wind brooms

This place is spectacular in every season. But best visited in Spring / Summer

Carvings

Park is well maintained, there are interesting carved objects, children attractions, stadium and even a small scene. 

Open air stage

Monument to Vazha Pshavela

We have been heading to Kuzh Park for years already. Really nice and tranquil place to spend a day.

Gas Burger Tbilisi Review

11 November, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 23 seen

Gas Burger on Marjanishvili street Tbilisi is among my latest discoveries from Tbilisi eatery's. In short  - a very good place, where rich burgers and milk shakes are served. A little but ecletic - I would call this a Turkish interpretation of American burger house - huge posters from 50-ties, juke box and combos.

Oh, I get what this place reminds me - another Elvis restaurant. Huh, seems I don't have review about Elvis bistro on my blog. Anyhow, the story is about Gas Burger.

Gas Burger in Tbilisi

It was a Fridays night and we decided to take a walk on David Agmanashebeli avenue, and ended up near Marjanishvili metro square - and here it was - Burger House Gas.

We dived in - get a table and very large menus with a lot of food items.

The menu at Burger Gas

You might wonder, why at the start of this article I named this a Turkish place - simple, the menu is written in Georgian, English and you name it - Turkish.

While we browsed the menu to decide what to order an Azeri guy entered this place with bunch of roses and offered to people sitting next to the tables to buy at least one. Nobody bought, it was time for me to shine - and I decided to give a little romantic to our burger evening by buying a rose from this guy.

Coca cola and rose

Turns out this was a special rose - Angela a variety of rose he had bought back in Riga in 1979. There is always a story - don't be shy - talk to people around you, learn their stories. That makes our lives much more interesting rather than just eating just another burger, for example. There should be a story.

Large burger and French fries

Delicious, the hungry man will always appreciate burgers like this. 

Lithuanian Wedding

10 November, 2016 | | 5 seen

I originally wanted to create a post - Postcards from Kaunas, for Postcards from series, but when browsed through the images I captured back in Kaunas, Lithuania this Summer I found that this time my architecture photography failed, instead I have captured lovely scenes from a typical Lithuanian wedding.

This is not the first time "Put a nationality here" Wedding is appearing on Piece of Life wall, see Armenian Wedding.

Rose leaves in the streets of Kaunas

​

Castle of Kaunas

To frame above picture I had to use a tripod and panoramic photography technique - in the background groom's friends. 

Newlyweds

Lock of love

Maybe its time for me to excel as a wedding photographer? :) Leave me your quotes and let's arrange a session for wedding photography.

OwnCloud - Increase Max File Upload Size

9 November, 2016 | Servers | 36 seen

It has been more than 2 years, since I installed (set and forgot) OwnCloud for internal file sharing. 

For the past two years OwnCloud have worked like a charm (and still does). Just today I faced a problem - I tried to upload file larger than 513 MB (default max file for OwnCloud), but struck because of exceeding max file upload size. I really needed to deliver this file across few continents as quick as possible. Well I could probably use direct file upload on bare ftp, but this is not the case. I went hunting for a quick solution to increase max upload file size on OwnCloud.

Luckily I found this tutorial, explaining how things are handled in OwnCloud and how to upload files bigger than 512 MB.

The fun part follows now - As I did set Owncloud more than two years ago, I had forgotten all server login details, and ended using Linode Lish access to gain back control of this server. I keep notes after each setup, so after a brief mail search I did found missing login details anc could proceed.

Our OwnCloud file sharing setup had been running on a separate Linode VPS with Ubuntu 14.04 on it. The installation I did back then was running Apache server (I'm a Nginx person). The biggest mystery for me was to locate .htaccess file, turned out it has been missing, so I ended up using following Apache commands to enable and configure .htaccess.

Enabling mod_rewrite

This will activate the module or alert you that the module is already in effect. To put these changes into effect, restart Apache.

Locating Owncloud .htaccess

It took me some 30 minutes to locate .htaccess file, in my case it was here /var/www/owncloud/.htaccess

​Making changes to .htaccess

add following lines to increase max_file_upload size

Adjust these values for your needs.

Restart Apache

Cafe Vanessa in Tianeti

8 November, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 16 seen

I love roadside cafeterias, in most cases they are better or in same level as fancy restaurants. I wouldn't call Cafe Vanessa in Tianeti a roadside cafeteria, as I believe we can call it the only one in this small Georgian town.

Located next to the Kuzh park in Tianetie, at Vanesa cafe you can have tasty and cheap baked goods (stuffed pies, khachapuri), have a really huge cup of Turkish coffee and plenty of Georgian lemonades. They serve ludi (beer) and of course khinkali also.

Simple and elegant

Not cheap plastic tables. They have like 2 or 3 tables at this place, it's not very spacious, but for smaller groups - just ideal - simple and clean.

Bakes pies with potato filling and wrapped sausages

Nice street food actually, but as I said, you can order khinkali here as well.

Cafe Vanessa in Tianeti

Ankara Turkish Restaurant in Tbilisi

6 November, 2016 | Restaurant reviews | 13 seen

I love Turkish cuisine, and those Turkish restaurants located in Tbilisi are very good. In fact it is thanks to the Turkish Restaurants in Georgia I learnt what halal actually is (as most of the Turkish or Persian places serve Halal exclusively)

Anyway - the story is not about halal but Ankara restaurant in Tbilisi, located on David Aghmanashebeli avenue. In short tasty lunch for a normal price, accompanied with classical Turkish sweets (bakhlava).

Chicken, vegetables and rice

Dietary and tasty.

Turkish Dolma

I love dolmas. Though you can get dolmas at almost every Tbilisi restaurant, nothing compares to dolmas at Tbilisi Turkish restaurants. I love dolmas so much, that once I even prepared them at home, see: How to Prepare Traditional Dolma (Grape Leaves Roll)

Viva Kaunas - City Under Your Feet

5 November, 2016 | Tourism objects | 14 seen

I remember from a trip to Italy, once we were in Florence - we specially searched Michelangelo Square as it promised to give the most stunning views of city. In fact it did - see: Michelangelo Square in Florence, Italy. It was at the start of August (2016) we were on a birthday trip to Vilnius, and our road took us through old Lithuanian capital city - Kaunas.

Our first stop, by chance, was at the place called Viva Kaunas - it's actually a restaurant offering to dine almost in the sky. In fact we didn't try our lunch here, but I really enjoyed the views we got from the viewing platform.

Viva Kaunas restaurant

I instead took tripod and made a panoramic photography here with a landscape of Kaunas.

Panorama of Kaunas, Lithuania

Harvesting Mushrooms in Georgia

4 November, 2016 | | 48 seen

This Summer we harvested a lot of mushrooms in the deep woods of Latvia, the nation with a strong mushroom culture. This was a good year, look some Slipery Jack even grew in the backyard of our rural house. We made a lot of delicious mushroom sauces and even preserved some (marinated mushrooms).

We returned to Georgia at the start of October, did some trip across the country in the very first five days. See: 5 Days In Georgia Itinerary List - Make Most Of Your Trip and then we agreed with a friend of us, let's have a day trips on Saturday's across the Georgia. (I look back, what we did in Saturday's about a half year ago - we hunted best Tbilisi restaurant breakfast menus, and it seems so lame now)

Without a specific destination, just the free flow. Our first trip happened to be to the very interesting (but less popular) region of Tianeti.

The town of Tianeti is reachable in about 1 hour and 30 minutes drive from Tbilisi. We were already half way there when noticed folks with baskets and buckets bustling in woods. Hmm, we thought - mushrooms. Let's give it a try. We parked our car on the roadside and entered woods of Tianeti.

Our car parked near forest

It was just a matter of crossing the ditch and forest started.

Pine forest in Tianeti

It didn't take us long and we found first forest mushrooms.

First catch

Now, we visited another forest today (in return way from Tianeti) and in total harvested some basket of eatable forest mushrooms, which we later prepared and made a lovely mushrooms salads. A piece of Life after all!