Blog Archive: August 2022
An ex-pat living in Georgia since 2011, I trade stocks, take photographs, work out at the gym, and many more. Here I write about travel, finance, and other things that might interest me.
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Piloru oak grove
Pilori Oak grove is located on the banks of Lake Ežezers in the region of Latgale. Total area is about 19.6 ha It is one of the rare oak groves in Latvia with a nature protection status granted already in 1928. The oldest oaks are around 300-400 years old. I first learned of this grove at the start of August during a weekend trip to the region of Latgale. The oak grove is located aside from Ezernieki – Andzeļi road, there is a small parking…
Tbilisi by Night
Tbilisi by night is very beautiful. Time after time I love to take out my DLSR camera and tripod to experiment with nighttime photography - long exposures, high ISO. Nighttime photography can be very creative. In today's Piece of Live series - Tbilisi by night from the balcony of our apartment. We are lucky enough living in a place which offers us some of the best views towards the old town of Tbilisi During the day we went there swimming. It…
Top 10 Best Selling Laptops September 2022
It seems that a decent laptop starts with the letter A, at least in September 2022, ASUS, Apple and Acer dominate the top-selling list. Keep reading to learn more A quick note: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on the Amazon site, I might earn an affiliate income from that. The prices for laptop computers listed on this page are retrieved using Amazon Product…
Lake Ežezers
Lake Ežezers is located in Kraslava municipality, in Ezernieku and Andzeļu parishes. It is the richest island lake in Latvia and even in the whole Baltic region. There are 35 islands in a total area of 77.6 ha and 70 islands formations or shoals. From the lake flows out river Narūta, which is one of the Daugava’s basin rivers. I first visited this lake back in 2010, when learned that my grandfather has been from this area (Village Andzeļi) We…
MyHeritage DNA test, flight to Tbilisi, Stock Recovery
Today was the last day in Riga and Latvia for a while. No More Vilgale, no more Ječi, and no more Riga until Spring 2023 (earliest). QSI school started today in Tbilisi, but we will still skip the first days and should start our new school year on Monday. Back in April we already ordered the MyHeritage DNA test, and today was the day when we finally took it, sealed and sent it back to Germany. Now we wait for some 6 weeks I guess. Exciting. I…
Coffee shop KUUP, Rēzekne
Kuup coffee shop is a chic place in Rēzekne, which offers coffee roasted in Latgale. We found this place by a chance, thanks to TripAdvisor when searching for top restaurants in Rēzekne. We arrived here for some 40km from Varakļāni, just to have our morning coffee. Pastry, coffee and sandwiches. Kuup has its own coffee roastery, they sell both coffee roasted in Latgale and some souvenirs at their coffee shop Quite awesome place. If you happen…
The Sacred Heart Cathedral of Rēzekne
The Sacred Heart Cathedral of Rēzekne is located in Rēzekne, Latvia. I briefly visited this cathedral at the start of August 2022, during my birthday trip to the region of Latgale On the site occupied by the church, there existed a wooden temple built in 1685. The church burned down in 1887 during a storm and the following year the works for the new and present neo-Romanesque style church began. Construction was completed in 1902 under the…
Missed one day blogging
Yesterday, August 21st I missed a day blogging. And almost missed today too. It happens rarely but it does sometimes happen. This time - just too many travels - Riga, Strenci, Valka, and back yesterday. Riga - Kuldiga - Vilgale - Laidi - Vilgale - Laidi - Kuldiga - Riga today. Tired. The stock market also working against my trades. Bit worried about INTC 35 put and DB 8.5 put expiring this Friday.
Rēzekne Castle ruins
Rēzekne Castle ruins are located in the downtown of Rēzekne, Latvia, a city in the center of Latgale. The castle served as a base of the local Livonian order landlords until the 16th century and also as the main military support base for battles against Russians and Lithuanians. Today, fragments of the stone walls and the foundation can be seen on the ancient castle hill. Archeological excavations reveal that between the 9th and 12th centuries…
Stargazing in Ječi, Boat Riding in Laidi, Stock Trading in Vilgāle
Yesterday we traveled to Ječi to move the lawn, grill a fish and use it as a camp base before visiting a pebbled beach near Nida close to the Latvian/Lithuanian. Our new favorite shop - LIDL, fish is awesome and the rest is good too. We are lucky to have one LIDL store in Liepaja, about 25 km from our Ječi house. I love both Nida and Pape, really awesome beaches. Pāvilosta is good, Jūrkalne too. After returning to Ječi and making our…
Guest House 'Odumiņi'
Guesthouse Odumiņi is located close to Varakļāni town in the historical region of Latgale, Latvia. We booked a one-night stay here at the start of August 2022, during our weekend trip to Latgale. For a one-night stay here we paid about EUR 100, with the sauna included. The vacation home comes with 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, bed linen, towels, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fully equipped kitchen, and a patio with garden views. We were…
Varakļāni Palace
Varakļāni Palace is located in Varakļāni, in the historical region of Latgale, Latvia. We visited this place shortly at the start of August 2022, during a weekend trip to Latgale. I was not sure what for to look in the area and just googled the top sightseeing objects in Varakļani and this place popped top on the list. Just later I learned history of this place. After the end of the Livonian War in 1583, the von der Borch family acquired the…
Top Selling Laptops with 2.2K Display
Looking to upgrade your laptop - take a look at these laptop models with 2.2K display (2240 x 1400) A quick note: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a purchase on the Amazon site, I might earn an affiliate income from that. The prices for laptop computers listed on this page are retrieved using Amazon Product Advertising API and are updated daily. For actual prices please refer…
Koknese Castle
Koknese Castle is a complex in Koknese, Latvia, dating from the 13th century. The castle was situated on a high bluff overlooking the Daugava river valley. In 1965 a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that partially submerged the castle and flooded the surrounding valley. We visited Koknese castle during a weekend trip to the region of Latgale at the start of August 2022 Before the arrival of the Teutonic Knights,…
More Laminate flooring, Tiles for the Bathroom + some electricity works
After the tile removal in the kitchen and hallway area, it was already agreed - I will re-install laminate there. Additionally, after hydro isolation works in the bathroom I decided I will tile again. I was very scared before the new tile job and measured everything 10 times before applying tile glue. Also, I decided to go for 6mm spacers (instead of 3mm) I bought 8m2 of laminate, but was bit short after my first day, bought additioanal 4m2 at…