Blog Archive: July 2015

Guest House "Garīkas" in Latvia

31 July, 2015 | Tourism objects | 20 seen

Although this post should probably go into hotel review category, taking into consideration that I haven't stayed here overnight I'm listing this place under tourist attractions. And here are few reasons that made me think that Guest house Garīkas is worth not only of (perhaps) a lovely stay but as well for some good landscape photography. At first - Garīkas are famous shitake mushroom growers in Latvia, secondly they feature a lovely watch tower here and third... they have a cobbled driveway. Guest house Garīkas is located in Courland (region of Latvia), Skrunda district, parish of Rudbārži - some 150 km away from nations capital city Riga.

Wooden inscription

Shiitake mushroom nursery

Yes, that's right owners of this guest house are famous shitake mushroom growers in Latvia.

Watch tower at Guest house Garīkas

Now this is a neat feature this guesthouse offers - a watchtower ofering aerial views both to remote meadows and close by located guest house complex

Aerial view of Guest house Garīkas

Rapeseed field

Now, I call this photo one of the…

Bandžēni Farm

30 July, 2015 | Farms | 15 seen

Now, some of you already of you know my love of different agricultural farming things, like once I visited a dairy farm in Georgia, then I visited a fish farm (again in Georgia), this time I visited an agricultural company in Latvia - meet Bandžēni farm.

Bandžēni farm in Courland

Greenhouse for seedlings

Greenhouse for tomatoes

Seedlings

Gazebo at farm

Now, that's for sure - a decent farm must have a decent gazebo

Gazebo at farm

..built on artificial island and connected to mainland by a lovely wooden bridge

Bandžēni farm

In a shor conersation I made with the owners of this farm I learnt they manages some 500 ha of land here, of whom around 200 ha are lakes (fish farming). I was and still I'm very much impressed of this place and I do wish all the best and a lot of success to the owners of Bandžēni farm.

Cafe Bordertauna Close to Saldus

29 July, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 19 seen

Cafe Bordertauna (Bordertown) is located in the Novadnieku parish in distance of some 3 km from Saldus city. I visited this place after a Kutaisi - Vilnius flight and then Vilnius - Mazeikai transfer. At time I visited cafe Bordertauna some local banquet were held on site and kitchen was closed, the only chance to get something was from salad bar.

Cafe Bordertauna

Cafe Bordertauna

Billboard is saying - tasty, fast dinner

Salads and a soup at Cafe Bordertauna

Pretty good place for hungry ones traveling by Mazekai - Saldus highway, you can always get something here.

David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport

28 July, 2015 | Airports | 61 seen

Kutaisi airport or David the Builder Kutaisi International airport is a major hub for entering (or leaving) Georgia for cheap. It's mainly served by low-cost airlines Wizzair and connects Kutaisi with Vilnius (Lithuania), Warsaw, Katowice (Poland), Budapest (Hungary) and some other airlines offering flight to - Kiev, Minsk, Moscow and I believe to Istanbul as well. 

Kutaisi airport, sometimes referred also as Kopitnari airport is actually not located in Kutaisi but in distance of some 20 km from Kutaisi, the best option to get to Kutaisi city from this airport is by taxi (such drive should cost some 20-30 lari / $9-$13/ EUR 8 - EUR 12) or you can catch a Batumi - Tbilisi marshrutka just opposite from the terminal on the highway, marshrukta should cost some 3-5 GEL to Kutaisi.

If you are planing to head either to Tbilisi or Batumi from Kutaisi airport - you can use Georgian bus services, price for Tbilisi ride, which is some 4 hours long will cost you some 20 Lari. Read: Georgian Bus - Great way to travel from Kutaisi to Batumi or Tbilisi

There are an ATM's inside Kutaisi airport terminal. 

As well you can buy a local…

Hotel Edemi Review in Kutaisi, Georgia

27 July, 2015 | Hotel reviews | 12 seen

Before arriving to Kutaisi I didn't search for any hotels online to book, just because of... it's Georgia. And in Georgia you can find a hotel once you are on site, and the best of all - I really like bargains, so...after we arrived at Kutaisi (we had a plane in next morning to Vilnius) and just left our Tbilisi - Kutaisi marshrutka opposite to McDonald's I was lucky enough I met a familiar taxi driver Nugzar.

In short I explained that I would love to get to the Kutaisi Old Town, and if he could recommend some reputable hotel for under 100GEL per night, that would be excellent. Nugzar suggested Hotel Edemi in the heart of Kutaisi Old Town, and here we were: meet hotel Edemi:

A TV set in Hotel Edemi

Well...it didn't worked actually

Beds at Hotel Edemi

They were clean at least

Façade of Hotel Edemi in Kutaisi

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View to Bagrati Cathedral

a lively Brosse street next to hotel Edemi in Kutaisi

Although I wouldn't call hotel Edemi a very reputable hotel I would rather call it a budget hotel, I managed to make a bargain here, and I got that simple…

Tbilisi Central Railway Station

26 July, 2015 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 75 seen

Tbilisi Central Railway Station is a major transport hub in Georgia, serving many domestic and two international routes: Yerevan (Armenia) and Baku (Azerbaijan)

Originally built in 1872, Tbilisi Railway station has undergone various architectural transformations, and currently serves as a combined railway station and shopping mall. The current station building looks like some grand Chinese pagoda made in concrete.

Tbilisi Central Railway station

Major rail lines from Tbilisi central station: Batumi ( with stops at Gori, Khashuri, Kutaisi, Zestaponi), Borjomi, Sadakhlo (Marneuli), Gardabani, Tbilisi airport, Nikozi (Gori), Zugdidi and Poti. For complete map network check out this Georgian railway map (very detailled) made by local expat enthusiast or see official Georgian Railways website (not very detailed).

Electronic timetables at Tbilisi railway station

Traveling in Georgia by railway is fun, and if you have some spare time - definitely try Georgian Railway.

Train from Batumi approaching in Tbilisi railway station

The first central station in Tbilisi was…

Riga International Coach Terminal

25 July, 2015 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 28 seen

Riga international coach terminal or bus station is a major traffic hub in Latvia and Baltics. I last time visited this place and used Riga - Vilnius coach transfer and then departed from Vilnius to Kutaisi. This coach terminal is situated in the heart of city, close to the Old Riga and Riga Central Market. In fact I was surprsided to learn that here you can make really interesting landscapes. 

Riga International Coach Terminal

View to St. Peters Church in Old Riga

Iron Bridge, National Library of Latvia and coach terminal

Very interesting perspective

View to the Riga Central Market

The coach terminal has been built and put into the service in 1964. The initial project of the coach terminal complex has been developed in the former design institute “Latgiprogo-stroj” (“Латгипрогострой”) from 1960 to 1962.

Since Latvian independence it was necessary to make activities of the Riga coach terminal more appropriate to the capital city status, providing services not only for local and regional but also for international bus lines.

By…

Dali Cafe & Art in Riga

24 July, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 35 seen

Dali Cafe & Art is located in Spikeri quarter in Riga, I visited this place at night before leaving Riga (right next on the corner from this place is Riga bus station) and headed to Tbilisi (a long way, via Vilnius and Kutaisi). The night I visited Dali Cafe was the Eurovision song festival night, and folks gathered here of watching it.

Dali Cafe in Riga

Located in one of the brick houses of Spikeri quarter

Interior at Dali Cafe

Menu at Dali Cafe

We order some coffee and a beer and in total paid some EUR 10.00 - a little bit above average to Riga prices, but pretty ok

Paintings at Dali Cafe & Art

You wont find here as much from Salvador Dali, as you could find in Figueres, Spain, but at least some reproductions of great authors works were represented here.

Café Dali is an arthouse Coffeeshop, situated in the heart of the creative district Spikeri, Riga.

Coffee is more than just a drink. We believe it will only take one cup to completely change your perception of coffee. Specialty coffees are high quality beans grown…

Spikeri Quarter and Promenade in Riga

23 July, 2015 | Tourism objects | 32 seen

Spikeri quarter and promenade is recently renovated neighborhood in Riga and it has all chances to become a very popular tourist spot in Riga. This place is closely located to Riga Central market (I will write about in anytime soon), Riga International Bus station, Railway station and of course Old Riga.

I visited this place for a very short time prior to waiting a bus to Vilnius (Lithuania) and then heading to Kutaisi (Georgia) at the end of May, 2015

Spikeri Quarter in Riga

This quarter is one of the city’s epicentres of events and cultural festivals like White Nights, Staro Riga, Riga City Festival. 

Spikeri Quarter in Riga

Promenade at Spikeri quarter

A very lovely view to that Soviet time skyscraper.

Georgian Restaurant in Riga, Spikeri quarter

It was easy for me to recognize this Pirosmani painting. Unfortunately I didn't tried this restaurant, but no regrets about that - best Georgian cuisine is available in Georgia. Read: Tbilisi restaurant reviews

Spikeri Quarter promenade

View to Riga Central Market

Sikeri…

Dzintari Concert Hall

22 July, 2015 | Entertainment | 17 seen

Dzintari concert hall is popular throughout Latvia as a place where concerts and other events are held, where outstanding artists have been performing for almost for 70 summers now.

I discovered this place by accident during my cycling Jūrmala ride. I stopped my vehicle in front of this place just to rest and decided to photograph this venue site as well.

Here is what I got:

Water fountain in front of Dzintari Concert Hall

Entrance gates at Dzintari Concert Hall

Dzintari concert hall

I really enjoy its wooden architecture

Cultural monument - Dzintari concert hall

According to the inscription on the plate - in this building back in 1986 happened a USSR - USA delegate meeting - Chautauqua at Jurmala: Since I had no clue what that actually means I found following. An excerpt from When Stars and Stripes Met Hammer and Sickle: The Chautauqua Conferences on US-Soviet Relations, 1985–1989

​..The second meeting, in Jurmala near Riga, Latvia, was put in jeopardy twice: first when the Soviet State Security Committee (KGB) arrested a U.S. journalist, Nicholas…

Cycling in Jūrmala (Bicycle Tourism)

21 July, 2015 | Outdoor Activities | 11 seen

Welcome to another cycling series post - this time about cycling in Latvian beach resort city Jūrmala. Actually it has been a while when I last time sat on my bicycle back in Tbilisi, Georgia.

We headed to Jūrmala city just shortly after the 3rd Eastern Partnership Business forum which was held in Riga. We stayed overnight at the lovely hotel Dzintars in Jūrmala and got a free bike rental at our hotel. 

Bicycles we used back there in Jūrmala were more some hipster style (not professional) but it was a fun. I didn't used any tracking devices to track my route, but instead I made some great pictures of Joma street, white sand beaches and a stage of beach volleyball.

Sculpture "Rose of Turaida": Sculptor : Valtis Barkans

A very interesting sculpture in Jūrmala

Jomas street in Jūrmala

Jomas street in Jūrmala

Cycling in Jūrmala - a hipster bicycle 

Tried my best to capture this photo

White sand beach in Jūrmala

Beach Volleyball stage in Jūrmala

Beach Volleyball

…

Average Salary In European Union 2015

20 July, 2015 | Macroeconomics | 302 seen

My previous post about average salary in European Union for 2014 generated some buzz on social networks (Facebook, Reddit, Twitter) and on other websites, in total it has generated more than 15,000 page views.

I decided to compare how does average salary have changed a year later.

Update: Average Salary in European Union 2018

And I found following; Average median salary has decreased for about -1.3% in European Union in 2015, resulting in EUR 1470 / USD 1631 down from EUR 1489 / USD 1861 in 2014.

Blog Monthly Online Income Report - June 2015 - $602.96

19 July, 2015 | Blogging | 7 seen

Welcome to the 18th online income report. In this post I will speak about earnings I have made in month of June solely with my blog (www.reinisfischer.com). I like to call this phenomena - a smart passive online income. 

In case you are wondering why should someone publish online his/her earnings - the answer is pretty simple - I like transparency and these reports help me to observe my progress or bounces. Hopefully they can inspire you as well.

In June I earned in total $662.96 what is an increase for 52.90% if compared to previous month (May) when I earned in total $433.59. I really enjoy to compare my earnings to average and minimum wages across the globe. And so in June my earnings qualifies for a pretty solid minimum wage in Portugal, and gives me pretty average salary in Lithuania. 

My daily earnings last month: $22.10

When looking on these numbers I'm always thinking of a great documentary film - Overpopulated - In this documentary is shown a beautiful story about African family living with less than $1 day and dreaming to…

How To Setup CKEDITOR For Drupal Website

18 July, 2015 | Drupal Development | 39 seen

In this tutorial you will learn how to setup a CKEditor for your Drupal website + how to enable a few very neat modules - like IMCE for Image upload, Spell checker and Word count.

Since the beginning (almost since) I created my blog (www.reinisfischer.com) I have been using TinyMCE text editor for creating and editing blog posts. But lately I have found that CKEditor might be somehow a bit better text editor for my blog. I'm not against TinyMCE, just CKEDITOR seems a bit better text editor.

CKEditor is the far superior successor of FCKeditor. The editor has been rebranded and completely rewritten. It is now much faster (the code has been optimized), loads faster (the number of files has been reduced, so the browser will perform less HTTP requests) and developers friendly.

I like it for it's many out of box features, you don't need to install a single additional library, just download CKEditor module, enable it, and fine tune it a little bit. All libraries are loaded from CDN.

The simplest way to have the editor running is to use CDN, to use it set: //cdn.ckeditor.com/4.4.3/full-all

Georgia Expat Photography Club

17 July, 2015 | Living in Georgia | 15 seen

Recently Johann contacted me with his idea to create a photography travel club in Georgia. Since I have been into a photography for the first day I got my first personal digital camera (it's some 6 years probably) - and for the last 4 years I have been living in amazing, very rich of spectacular views, country of Georgia which I have traveled around a lot (See my Georgia travels map) - I was just eager to promote his idea, to make a fun and entertaining community, fuelled with beautiful pictures of Georgia.

The Bridge of Peace in Tbilisi, photo by Johann Kritzinger

I quickly come up with the idea to create a community on Facebook and made my offer for naming such organization - Georgia Expat Photography Club. We invited a few of our friends (both expats and photographers) and ... first step accomplished.

Johann has some wonderful ideas to do next - like to make some city (Tbilisi) photographing tours - everyone is welcome to join. We are planing to do some longer trips (perhaps with overnight stay)  - one of the closest destinations we are looking to…