Blog Archive: November 2018
Top 5 Luxury & Spa Hotels in Kvareli, Georgia
| Hotel reviews | 16 seen
Here are the top 3 reasons to visit and stay in Kvareli - health spas, culturally diverse food & beautiful forests.
Kvareli is one of the most popular SPA hotel destinations in Georgia, or at least in the region of Kakheti.
I've stayed in several hotels in or near the town of Kakheti. With Royal Batoni being my favorite so far.
In today's article, I've listed top 5 Luxury & SPA hotels in Kvareli, Georgia. See Indie travel guides to plan your trip to the region of Kakheti
Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
Kvareli EdenRead my review here: Hotel Kvareli Eden Review
Kvareli Eden Hotel is located in Kvarteli town center, on the right bank of the Bursa River. It features an indoor swimming pool and a wine therapy spa center. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are provided.
All elegant rooms come with air-conditioning, a flat-screen TV, a safety deposit box and a mini-bar. Free toiletries and…
Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kiev
| Tourism objects | 20 seen
Turns out there are at least two botanical gardens in Kiev. In today's article, I will write and provide photographs from Hryshko National Botanical Garden taken back in Summer 2017.
Apparently, we got here by a taxi from our hotel (Hotel Ukraine), and as far as I remember we got back to the city center by trolleybus.
The M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.
Cash desks at Kievs Botanical garden
I don't remember exactly what was the price for entrance, but it was really cheap (compared to Western Europe)
The M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden is a botanical garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It is namedafter the Soviet botanist Mykola Hryshko who was born in Poltava. Founded in 1936, the garden covers 1.3 km² (120 hectares) and contains 13,000 types of trees, shrubs, flowers and other plants from all over the world. It has many coniferous trees and honey locusts, and flowers such as peonies, roses, magnolias, and bushes including lilacs.
…Shio-Mgvime monastery
| Churches and Monasteries | 13 seen
The Shio-Mgvime monastery is a medieval monastic complex in Georgia, near the town of Mtskheta. It is located in a narrow limestone canyon on the northern bank of the Kura River, some 30 km from Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital.
It took me more than seven years since I've been living in Georgia and 60 GEL to get here.
Long story short: At the start of November 2018, we booked a 4-star hotel Gino Wellness in Mtskheta and the girl from hotels front desk organized us a taxi for 60 GEL. Now, this is really expensive actually for such a short drive, but it's OK just for one time.
According to a historic tradition, the first monastic community at this place was founded by the 6th-century monk Shio, one of the Thirteen Assyrian Fathers who came to Georgia as Christian missionaries.
Shio Mgvime monastery complex
St. Shio is said to have spent his last years as a hermit in a deep cave near Mtskheta subsequently named Shiomghvime ("the Cave of Shio") after him. The earliest building – the Monastery of St. John the Baptist – a cruciform church, very plain and strict in…
Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta Review
| Hotel reviews | 12 seen
There are at least two Gino Wellness hotels in Georgia (probably more), one is located in the Rabati Fortress in the town of Akhaltsikhe and the other one is located really close to Tbilisi, in Mtskheta. In today's article, I will speak about the one in Mtskheta.
Offering free WiFi, a sun terrace with a swimming pool, spa and wellness center and garden, Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta is located in Mtskheta. Each accommodation at the 4-star hotel has mountain views, and guests can enjoy access to a children's playground and to a hot spring bath.
We booked this hotel at the start of November 2018, in the frames of Georgian Discount Week. Stayed here two nights at the deluxe room and paid for that GEL 270 + two evenings at the local hotel's restaurant ~ 130 GEL. It's interesting to note, that almost 4 years ago we paid the identical price for a stay at Rabati hotel:
For a two night stay we paid in total 260 GEL (USD140.00/EUR 115.00), in price was included breakfast and a visit to spa centre for 2 hours each day.
We paid around 60 GEL for supper at first night on Hotels restaurant. Other day we went to local Akhaltsikhe…
October 2018 Dividend Income Report - $168.10
| Investments | 10 seen
Welcome to the eighteenth (#18) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks, peer to peer lending (both fiat and cryptocurrencies) in October 2018.
In case you are wondering why I'm sharing online my earnings - the answer is pretty simple - I like transparency and these reports help me to observe my progress or bounces. Hopefully, my reports can give some inspiration to you as well. (If so, please leave a short comment below) Also, I have a goal to reach one million dollars in my bank account by the time I will turn 60 (27 years still to go).
In short, last October turned better than expected - mostly because I received two dividend payments which were missing in September, plus interest received on Mintos.com platform increased if compared to the previous month.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to mintos.com peer to peer lending website, by clicking on links on this page and by making an investment on mintos.com, I might earn affiliate income at no cost to you. Also…
Halloween 2018
| Living in Georgia | 2 seen
Halloween 2018, was celebrated on Wednesday, October 31.
This was our first Halloween together with our newborn baby and we made some really cool photos and video's in our new Tbilisi apt.
But as each year,it's all about carving the pumpkin and having a lot of fun.
How To Carve a Pumpkin and Make Stunning Halloween Photos
Halloween pumpkin 2018
I bought this one at local Tbilisi market and paid 9GEL for it (2 gel/kg). Turns out this was a 4 and a half kilos.
Pumpkin carved
Apple prepared for baking
Filled with yolk/sour cream filling
Halloween 2018
Top 10 Hotels in Mtskheta, Georgia
| Hotel reviews | 15 seen
Here are the top 3 reasons why visit Mtshekta, an ancient Georgian capital Georgia - old town, history & architecture.
Independent Travel Guide to Mtskheta
In 2018, there are no 5-star hotels in Mtsheta (as its really close, think top 5-star hotels in Tbilisi),but there are some 4-star and many decent no-star hotels available in Mtshketa.
In today's article, I've listed top 10 hotels in Mtshkheta, Georgia, alternatively see 11 Near Perfect Guesthouses and Hotels in Mtskheta (Georgia) With Free Breakfasts
Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
Hotel Gino Wellness MtskhetaRead my review here: Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta Review
Providing free WiFi, a sun terrace with a swimming pool, spa and wellness center and garden, Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta is located in Mtskheta. Each room at the 4-star hotel has mountain views, and guests can enjoy access to a playground and to a hot spring bath. Guests can have a…