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Hotel Baltvilla in Baltezers
Baltvilla is a 4-star hotel located some 15 km from the city center of Riga, on the shore of a lake with a private beach area and on the Via Baltica highway (E67).Baltvilla is located 4 km from Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum. Free WiFi is provided throughout the hotel and wide private parking is available for guests free of charge.We opted for Baltvilla hotel during our latest trip to Latvia at the end of 2018 (pre-New Year) -…
Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral
Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral is a Georgian Orthodox basilica in the Bolnisi village of Bolnisi District, Georgia. The cathedral was built in 478–493. It is the oldest extant church building in Georgia. Bishop David was the overseeing church leader for the construction of Bolnisi Sioni.It took me more than 7 years of living in Georgia to visit for the first time Bolnisi and Bolnisi Sioni at the…
How to get on one photography Tbilisi TV tower, Narikala and Tabor Monastery
Simple - panoramic photography.It was at the end of 2018, we were wandering around Tbilisi botanical garden, to discover Zip Line, when I thought - hmm, there is a good observation point from which we can see Tbilisi TV tower, Narikala fortress and even Tabor monastery. I decided to make a quick experiment and was shooting panoramic photography. The result? Here you goPanoramic photo from TbilisiI love experimenting with…
The Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia
The Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia is located in Pardaugava (Kandavas 2), just a 10-minute ride from the central part of Riga. The garden was founded in 1922.Over 15ha visitors can explore hothouses and outdoor collections with some 6,000 different plants. It is one of the most well-loved recreational spaces in Riga - you can slowly walk the garden’s compact yet informationally saturated territory, get to know plants from…
Puzata Hata, Khreschatyk Street, Kyiv, Ukraine
Puzata Hata is a popular (and probably the largest) chain in Kiev - it serves traditional Ukrainian cuisine for a budget price.Puzata Hata was one of our favorite Kiev restaurant chains we visited during our latest trip to Kiev in August 2017. See: Kiev restaurantsThe Puzata Khata Restaurant Network opened its doors to the first visitors in 2003. Then it was the first restaurant in Bessarabka, in the center of Kiev. …
Kvareli Public Service Hall
Kvareli Public service hall is located in the center of Kvareli town near Chavchavadze Street.Public Service Hall is an agency of the Georgian government which provides a variety of public services, these include the services of the Civil Registry Agency, the National Agency of Public Registry, the National Archives, the National Bureau of Enforcement and the Notary Chamber of Georgia. Services are made available at public service…
Tutarchela Megrelian Restaurant in Tbilisi
Restaurant Tutarchela is located on Archil Mishveladze street 76, Tbilisi, just next to the Vake Park. I was a bit surprised to learn that here is served Megrelian cuisine, and should admit that Megrelian cuisine is as great as GeorgianAccording to the restaurant's FB page, there is served a wide selection of delicious Megrelian dishes, and for the preparation of all dishes, the restaurant uses natural products.…
Hotel Kvareli Eden Review
Kvareli Eden Hotel is located in a remote place some 1 or 2 km from the Kvarteli town center, Georgia.Kvareli Eden features an indoor swimming pool and a wine therapy spa center. Free Wi-Fi and free private parking are provided.We booked a stay at Kvareli Eden in the mid of November 2018 during Georgia Discount week (kind of paying half the price). We stayed here for two nights and paid about GEL 500 (EUR 165 / USD 188) for…
Roshen Candy Store in Kiev (Khotynska Street)
Roshen Confectionery Corporation is a Ukrainian confectionery manufacturing group.The leading manufacturer of confectionery products in the country, it operates facilities in the Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Vinnytsia and Kremenchuk, as well as in Budapest, Hungary and Klaipėda, Lithuania. The name of the company was derived from the last name of its owner, current president of…
Pet Food Store in Tbilisi - Zoomart on Abashidze street (near Vake park)
Zoomart on Abashidze street 78 (located very conveniently close to the Vake park) has been our favorite pet food store (actually the only one) for several years already. We came here regularly to buy special cats dry food. According to Zoomart website, there are already 11 stores across Tbilisi (2018). At Zoomart you will find brands like Canvit, ferplast, Vitakraft, Brekkies, catzone, elmubas, Versele-Laga, Advance, Kong,…
IWA Christmas Charity Fair Tbilisi 2018
Annual Winter Fair (Christmas charity fair) was held at Tbilisi's Radisson Blue Hotel on December 1, 2018 For many expats in Georgia, it has been already a tradition to visit this fair year. For me, this was already some sixth or seventh fair (as a visitor), maybe I should start selling hot wine in the next years (who knows) Here are a few articles from the past: Christmas Charity Fair Tbilisi 2017, Christmas Charity Winter…
Tbilisi TV Tower in the National colors of Latvia
The Tbilisi TV tower was lit in the Latvian nation colors on November 18th, 2018, to celebrate a 100 year anniversary since the Republic of Latvia was proclaimed on November 18, 1918As I had the great observation point I made a quick long exposure and decided to share it via Piece of Life series.Tbilisi TV tower in the national colors of LatviaHappy birthday Latvia!
Rainy Day in Tbilisi
Less than a month ago, we changed apartment in Tbilisi and got one with really cool views towards mount Mtatsminda. I've been playing with a tripod a camera here ever since. See: Tbilisi by night (New apartment version) and Tbilisi by day (New Apartment Version) Despite my forecast, that next version probably will be an HDR photography, it turned out to be a Rainy day. Actually, about a year and a half ago, I made a cool time-lapse…
Trinity Monastery of St. Jonas in Kyiv
The Trinity Monastery of St. Jonas is a Ukrainian Orthodox monastery in the Kievan neighborhood of Zverinets, a short distance from the medieval Vydubychi Monastery.We discovered this monastery back in 2017 when visited Hryshko National Botanical GardenTrinity Monastery of St. JonasIt was Jonas, a Vydubychi hegumen, who founded this monastery in 1864. Princess Vasilchikov, the widow of Kiev'…
Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kiev
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…
Shio-Mgvime monastery
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…
Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta Review
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…
Halloween 2018
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 PhotosHalloween pumpkin 2018I bought this one at local Tbilisi market and paid 9GEL for it (2 gel/kg). Turns out this was a 4…
Tbilisi by day (New Apartment Version)
It has been already more than 10 days since we have moved into our new Tbilisi apartment.For today's article in the series Living in Georgia, I just wanted to share some picture with surrounding views towards mount Mtatsminda, TV Tower and other.For the first part, please visit: Tbilisi by night (New apartment version)View towards mount Mtatsminda and TV tower in TbilisiNo doubts,best viewed during night time. This is one of my…
Tbilisi Office 2.0.
In October 2018, we changed not only apartments but also offices as well. In short, we moved from Agmanashabeli avenue to Vake district in Tbilisi.There is a little change compared to previous years when trying to find a new office in Tbilisi. Let's say this, this time we got lucky. See: Renting an Office in TbilisiSee pictures from the previous office here: Audio & Video Transcription Service by Caucasus TranslationsWorking space…
TP-Link TL-WN725N 150Mbps Wireless N Nano USB Adapter Review
TP-Link is a popular brand in Georgia, and most probably in CIS region, manufacturing Wireless routers and wireless adapters (probably a lot of other useful gadgets as well).I remember about 10 years ago I used a PCI WIFI adapter to have a WiFi functionality for a desktop PC.Now, in 2018, when moving into a new office, I decided it would be cool to get rid of at least some of the wiring for or desktop computers. And here comes miniature, I…
Tbilisi by night (New apartment version)
It has been a while since I last time did a night photography (one of my favorite photography techniques). The thing is, recently we moved in to a new apartment here in Tbilisi, which offers a very fantastic views towards Mtatsminda, TV tower and other.. Back in the night of October 21, 2018 I took out my tripod, put it on one out of three huge balconies and here you go: Tbilisi by night - long exposure What's really great, the next time I…
Funicular Restaurant Complex
High above Tbilisi you will find the most stylish centre for food and drink in the city: the Funicular Restaurant Complex.Without doubt, the Funicular Complex is one of the most important places in Tbilisi, with its significant long history dating back to 1905. I have been visiting this place on rare occasions, during trip to Mtatsminda mountain. My first visit here, probably was back in 2014, during Latvia - Georgia business forum.…
Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi
Mtatsminda Park is an amusement facility located atop on Mount Mtatsminda on a 770-meter height overlooking the Georgian capital Tbilisi. It is the highest point in Tbilisi. Located on more than 100 hectares. Park has more than 100 years of history. Mtatsminda Park is the most popular theme park in Tbilisi. It is the best choice for fun and relaxation. You can find various cafes, Souvenirs shops, child entertainment center, a…
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