Blog Archive: April 2025
Postcards from Marseille
It’s been nearly two years since our last trip to Marseille, a sun-drenched jewel on France’s southern coast that left an indelible mark on our memories. That summer of 2023, we set out to explore the city’s vibrant beaches and winding old town, arriving and departing through the bustling hub of Marseille St. Charles train station. As I sit down to write this, the sights, sounds, and scents of that journey come flooding back—postcards from a city that effortlessly blends grit, charm, and Mediterranean allure.Our adventure began at Marseille St. Charles, a grand station perched atop a hill, its wide steps offering a sweeping view of the city sprawling toward the sea. The station itself…
Fish Market near Gori
This Fish Market is located about 2 kilometers outside Gori, right off the Tbilisi highway, that we hit up at the end of March 2025. Me and a few friends drove over from Kabitskhevi because someone swore the smoked fish there was worth it. Spoiler: they weren’t wrong.The place isn’t hard to spot—just a little setup with a fish farm, a small shop, and a restaurant tucked in there too. We didn’t wander in by accident; we came straight for it. The shop was packed with good stuff: smoked fish that smelled amazing, jars of salmon caviar, some local nuts, and—get this—frozen octopus. I don’t even know where they got that, but we bought it anyway.The smoked fish was the main draw. Tasted fresh,…
Plage des Catalans: A Shrinking Memory in Marseille
Plage des Catalans, a sandy crescent tucked along Marseille’s coastline, holds a special place in my travel tapestry. I first visited this beach in the summer of 2003, a carefree stop during my early adventures in the city. Back then, it felt like a haven—close to the bustling port yet offering a slice of Mediterranean calm. When I returned 20 years later, in the summer of 2023, I was taken aback by how small it seemed. Had my memory inflated its size, or had something changed? I stood there, puzzled, wondering if I’d mixed up the location or if real estate projects had nibbled away at its edges. Over two decades, it seems the developers have claimed their share, shrinking what once…
From Paris to Marseille by High Speed Ouigo Train
Traveling from Paris to Marseille is a rite of passage for anyone craving the thrill of France’s high-speed rails. Twenty years ago, in the summer of 2003, I first made the 900-kilometer journey by TGV, marveling as the countryside blurred past in just three hours. That memory—of speed, comfort, and the promise of Marseille—stuck with me. So, during our latest trip to France in the summer of 2023, I suggested we relive it. This time, we snagged cheap tickets on Ouigo, the budget-friendly arm of TGV, and set off from Gare de Lyon.We arrived early at the iconic station, where I did my best to navigate conversations with the French personnel—my rusty language skills put to the test.…
Gladius Jiu Jitsu Club in Tbilisi
For the past few years, we have been proud members of the Gladius Jiu Jitsu Club in Tbilisi, Georgia. It all started when we decided to enroll our then 4-year-old daughter in their kids’ jiu jitsu program. What began as a way to channel our little one’s boundless energy has turned into a rewarding journey that we’ve stuck with ever since. At the heart of our experience is our coach, Mr. Giorgi, a truly remarkable individual. Not only is he a highly skilled martial artist with a deep understanding of jiu jitsu, but he’s also a genuinely great guy who makes every session enjoyable. What’s fascinating about Mr. Giorgi is that he balances his passion for teaching martial arts with a…
Aix-en-Provence station
Aix-en-Provence railway station is one of two serving the city of Aix-en-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southeastern France. The other station, served by long-distance high-speed TGV trains on the LGV Méditerranée line, is Aix-en-Provence TGV, and lies about 12 km southwest of the city centre.Amodest yet charming stop on the TGV line, sits just outside the picturesque Provençal town it’s named after. Unlike the grand hubs of Paris or Marseille, this station feels quieter, more intimate, with its sleek modern design and a backdrop of rolling hills. It’s a junction for travelers heading across southern France, offering a brief pause amid the region’s sunlit beauty. For me,…
How To Fix Overexposed video after Adobe Premiere Pro Export
While working on my latest short documentary about our travels in India, I ran into a frustrating issue: after exporting the final video, it was completely overexposed and unwatchable. The scene of us visiting the Taj Mahal was adorable—except the Taj Mahal itself was barely visible, washed out in a sea of bright white.After spending hours trying to figure out what went wrong, I finally stumbled upon a surprisingly simple solution.The footage was shot using an iPhone and a DJI Mavic Air drone in 4KTaj Mahal scene after default exportTaj Mahal scene fixedSolution:Turns out it has somehow related to shooting in HDR format, you can individually adjust settings for scenes from the bin in the…
Jvari monastery, Shio-Mghvime & Kavtiskhevi
With spring kicking into high gear, we hit the road last weekend for a mix of adventure and downtime. First up, we swung by Jvari and Shi-Mghvime monasteries—two spots that vibe with history and quiet beauty. Then, we kicked back at Kavtiskhevi resort, soaking in the calm. Things got wilder at Gori’s fish market, where, believe it or not, someone snagged an octopus. To cap it off, we torched some old papers—call it a symbolic reset. Want the full scoop? Go watch it now!
Marseille-Saint-Charles station
Marseille-Saint-Charles is the main railway station and intercity bus station of Marseille, France. It is the southern terminus of the Paris–Marseille railway and the western terminus of the Marseille–Ventimiglia railway.Perched atop a hill overlooking the heart of Marseille, is more than just a railway hub—it’s a gateway to the soul of this vibrant port city. With its grand staircase cascading down to the bustling streets below and panoramic views of the Mediterranean, the station exudes a raw, timeless energy. Opened in 1848, it connects Marseille to Paris and beyond, welcoming travelers with a mix of historic charm and the gritty pulse of a modern metropolis.I first arrived here by train…