Living in Georgia

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…

For the second time, I felt like a real tourist in Georgia. Let me explain - I have been living in Georgia for more than 5 years, thus for the past two years I'm spending the Summer months in Latvia. This year we were absent from Georgia for about 6 months, and when returned - we had no choice but to travel a lot across the country, as the friends of my partner joined us during our journey back home to Tbilisi.  We booked our flight back to Georgia (Tbilisi) already at the start of August (…

The other day I was reading an article in which the head of the World Tourism Organization Claimed - Georgia is the most beautiful country in the world. Well, I can ONLY agree with the words from the head of WTO, Mr. Taleb Rifai, and to add my 50 cents  I have listed 32 places you should visit to make the most from your trip to Georgia.  Georgian nature, culture and people make this country the most beautiful in the world, said UN Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, the World Tourism…

I have observed this wall for the last three years (with short interruptions, when on longer travels) from our Tbilisi balcony. Probably, right at this wallI started to improve my photographer skills when about two years ago I reported first time lapse - Brick Wall turning green. Looking on this wall I have spent countless hours by zooming, experimenting with f stops, changing lenses and so on, making many photographs for my 365 days photo challenge project. The following picture is how I will…

After almost five years spent as an ex-pat and passive investor (savings accounts only) in Republic of Georgia, time after time I'm looking for some other liquid investment opportunities in Georgia. Mostly I end up with stock exchange, but for now Georgian Stock Exchange market doesn't seems transparent enough and easy accessible. By saying - not enough transparent I mean - I haven't find yet a broker offering real-time stats.  Time after time I end up in official Invest in Georgia website…

There is a very convenient way of getting around in Tbilisi by taxi using mobile application Taxify. I probably first heard of this company at the end of 2014 by visiting Georgian Startup challenge organized by GITA.  For my travels around Tbilisi I mostly use taxi either by calling to the central or just by catching taxi on the street (I prefer second over first still). Taxis are cheap in Tbilisi, but you never know about cars technical condition, the cabin cleanliness and so on. There have…

Yup, another hipster style article about actual prices for consumer goods at local Tbilisi market (Bazroba). It has been a while since I decided to measure how lari/dolar exchange rates influence actual prices, if you, just like me are an expat living in Georgia - you most probably have faced the consequences of weak lari against US dollar. Thus - I don't believe that foreign currency should affect local economy. National currency of Georgia is lari and lari we are spending in markets, metro…

On February 1st, 2016 the National Bank of Georgia issued upgraded Lari banknotes. It was mid February when first upgraded banknote ended up im my hands, I got it at local Procredit ATM.  My first thought was that I have probably by accident pressed EUR account instead of GEL and have taken my money from EUR account, but then I realized it's a new upgraded currency. After I took the following photo I shortly spent it on groceries at local Dezerteer Bazaar. New 50 GEL banknote According to…

Budget travelers - rejoice - 7 new routes will be launched from Kutaisi airport in Georgia. Berlin, Munich Memmingen, Milan Bergamo, Dortmund, Thessaloniki,  Larnaca and Sofia I believe it is just a next logical move from Wizz Air, after recently European Union agreed to lift Visa requirements for Georgians entering European Union. Could this possibly mean a new start of possible immigration wave? Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, on February 17 announced…

December 18, 2015 marked another important milestone for Georgia - European Commission agreed to lift visa requirements for Georgian citizens entering European Union. According to record from European Commission visa free travel will enter in force in 2016. I have been following Georgia's aspirations and developments entering and joining European organizations probably since day 1, when first arrived to Georgia back in April, 2011, and I believe this is a very important step for Georgia. …