Streets of Philadelphia

8 August, 2015 | Travel guides | 13 seen

From my travel notes to the United States back in 2013. Just as from the World famous Bruce Springsteen song, we too experienced this lovely phenomena  called - streets of Philadelphia.

Update: I wish I was a better photographer back then, as all of the photos from that trip were taken using my old Sony DSC camera, and ... let's say they didn't pop out. Some three years latter, by writing an article on Geghard monastery in Armenia, I remembered Philly. All I was left, to browse for my old articles and take a help from Adobe Lightroom and fine tune my scenery.

Here are few things I can associate Philadelphia with - Penn Station (if you are traveling deeper into United states using rail or bus network, you will definitely use this facility), very Masonic city (here you will find Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and a lot of Masonic symbols), very beautiful skyscrapers, tastiest coffee in the United States, and here I first time observed have noodles actually are prepared (at Philadelphia's Chinatown). Oh, and Philly cheese…

Manhattan - Island of Many Hills

6 August, 2015 | Tourism objects | 15 seen

Today by overlooking some old photos (taken in Summer 2013) I found some epic pictures back from my travels to United States, so I decided to add some photos I have taken there on my blog - and today I will add Manhattan. 

It was interesting for me to learn that "Manhattan" can be translated as "Island of many hills" from the Lenape (Unami) language. I didn't noticed many hills there, but a lot of skyscrapers instead.

Street musician in Manhattan's subway

It is interesting to learn that in New York you can (must) obtain some license for performing on the streets - as you can see from picture above - this musician is a musical saw player.

Manhattan 

Manhattan 

Times Square in Manhattan

Visit card of Manhattan - yellow taxi cabs

Manhattan

Manhattan is the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is coterminous with New York County, founded on November 1, 1683 as an original county of the U.S. state of New York. The borough consists mostly of Manhattan Island, bounded by the…

Staten Island Ferry - Free Tourist Attraction in New York City

5 August, 2015 | Tourism objects | 15 seen

In case you are looking for budget-friendly and interesting activities in New York - try a free-of-charge ferry service connecting Manhattan with Staten Island. Y

ou won't find much interesting in Staten Island (although you can rent a much cheaper apartment here like in downtown New York), but you will definitely enjoy views offered from the ferries deck, the best way to see Liberty Statue for free? - Staten Island Ferry!

Staten Island Ferry

View to Manhattan

Staten Islands Ferry's deck is a great place for photographers to take beautiful views of Manhattan, unfortunately back then I had only a simple bridge camera and best I could get was above seen picture. Also you can capture Statue of Liberty from ferries deck as well.

Author of this blog captured in action

The Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation. It runs 5 miles (8.0 km) in New York Harbor between the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island. The ferry operates 24/7.

The ferry…

Brighton Beach - Russian Speaking Neighbourhood in Brooklyn

4 August, 2015 | Travel guides | 52 seen

From my travel notes to the United States back in 2013. With little photo editing in 2020.

Last time I visited Brighton Beach back in the Summer of 2013 and I even stayed overnight here at some Russian owned apartments. Well actually that's the main reason we headed here - it was already late evening and we were sitting at Starbucks next to Central Park waiting for a host we had previously spoken on coachsurfing, but since the host was not responding anymore we decided to catch the last subway and go to the Russians.

Quickly we were in Brighton Beach, we headed to some Russian store and asked where could we get some cheap accommodation here and soon we were rewarded with lovely apartments somewhere in Brighton Beach. We paid some $140 for a two-night stay here and got a large room, shared kitchen and shared bathroom. No questions asked - who are we, where are we from and where are we heading to - God I just love such attitude.

Here are just a few reasons I love Brighton beach - you can get Riga Black Balsam here (At Tatiana's Grill Bar on the Boulevard), you can say a…

Bordentown - Home For Funerals

2 August, 2015 | Travel guides | 20 seen

With this post I'm starting my latest United States travel notes I made back in the Summer of 2013. It has been a while already, but today overlooking some old photos I did find some epic pictures from the United States, and I will start with a quiet and a bit strange small town in New Jersey - Bordentown. Why I'm calling this place a little bit strange? As we learned later - Bordentown is home for Funerals.

If I remember correctly we arrived here from New York's Penn Station by train, actually yes we bought tickets to Trenton (New Jersey), and then in Trenton, we booked a motel in some 10 miles radius, and it turned out to be located in Bordentown. And also turned out that you can reach Bordentown by another smaller train from Trenton, and here we were - a home for funerals. Did we know that prior? Nope, we even didn't know of the existence of such a place. 

Few reasons why some (perhaps you) will love Bordentown: They have a great Crabs House - Chickie's and Pete's, a lot of interesting porch's and of course that strange feeling that you have visited a home for funerals. If you are into history you will…

Cafe Pīlādzītis in Kuldīga

1 August, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 19 seen

Cafe Pīlādzītis is located in Kuldīga, on picturesque place with great views both to Venta waterfall and Old Brick bridge. This place offers a typical Latvian cuisine. For a complete list of my Kuldiga restaurant reviews see: Kuldīga restaurants

Old Brick bridge near Cafe Pilādzītis

Cafe Pīlādzītis in Kuldīga

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Cold soup at cafe Pīlādzītis

French fries and pork chop

Area near cafe Pīlādzītis

Cafe Pīlādzītis in Kuldīga is a budget friendly place which offers tasty meal - best enjoyed in mild summer nights with great views of Venta waterfall and Old Brick bridge

Guest House "Garīkas" in Latvia

31 July, 2015 | Tourism objects | 21 seen

Although this post should probably go into hotel review category, taking into consideration that I haven't stayed here overnight I'm listing this place under tourist attractions. And here are few reasons that made me think that Guest house Garīkas is worth not only of (perhaps) a lovely stay but as well for some good landscape photography. At first - Garīkas are famous shitake mushroom growers in Latvia, secondly they feature a lovely watch tower here and third... they have a cobbled driveway. Guest house Garīkas is located in Courland (region of Latvia), Skrunda district, parish of Rudbārži - some 150 km away from nations capital city Riga.

Wooden inscription

Shiitake mushroom nursery

Yes, that's right owners of this guest house are famous shitake mushroom growers in Latvia.

Watch tower at Guest house Garīkas

Now this is a neat feature this guesthouse offers - a watchtower ofering aerial views both to remote meadows and close by located guest house complex

Aerial view of Guest house Garīkas

Rapeseed field

Now, I call this photo one of the…

Bandžēni Farm

30 July, 2015 | Farms | 16 seen

Now, some of you already of you know my love of different agricultural farming things, like once I visited a dairy farm in Georgia, then I visited a fish farm (again in Georgia), this time I visited an agricultural company in Latvia - meet Bandžēni farm.

Bandžēni farm in Courland

Greenhouse for seedlings

Greenhouse for tomatoes

Seedlings

Gazebo at farm

Now, that's for sure - a decent farm must have a decent gazebo

Gazebo at farm

..built on artificial island and connected to mainland by a lovely wooden bridge

Bandžēni farm

In a shor conersation I made with the owners of this farm I learnt they manages some 500 ha of land here, of whom around 200 ha are lakes (fish farming). I was and still I'm very much impressed of this place and I do wish all the best and a lot of success to the owners of Bandžēni farm.

Cafe Bordertauna Close to Saldus

29 July, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 19 seen

Cafe Bordertauna (Bordertown) is located in the Novadnieku parish in distance of some 3 km from Saldus city. I visited this place after a Kutaisi - Vilnius flight and then Vilnius - Mazeikai transfer. At time I visited cafe Bordertauna some local banquet were held on site and kitchen was closed, the only chance to get something was from salad bar.

Cafe Bordertauna

Cafe Bordertauna

Billboard is saying - tasty, fast dinner

Salads and a soup at Cafe Bordertauna

Pretty good place for hungry ones traveling by Mazekai - Saldus highway, you can always get something here.

David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport

28 July, 2015 | Airports | 62 seen

Kutaisi airport or David the Builder Kutaisi International airport is a major hub for entering (or leaving) Georgia for cheap. It's mainly served by low-cost airlines Wizzair and connects Kutaisi with Vilnius (Lithuania), Warsaw, Katowice (Poland), Budapest (Hungary) and some other airlines offering flight to - Kiev, Minsk, Moscow and I believe to Istanbul as well. 

Kutaisi airport, sometimes referred also as Kopitnari airport is actually not located in Kutaisi but in distance of some 20 km from Kutaisi, the best option to get to Kutaisi city from this airport is by taxi (such drive should cost some 20-30 lari / $9-$13/ EUR 8 - EUR 12) or you can catch a Batumi - Tbilisi marshrutka just opposite from the terminal on the highway, marshrukta should cost some 3-5 GEL to Kutaisi.

If you are planing to head either to Tbilisi or Batumi from Kutaisi airport - you can use Georgian bus services, price for Tbilisi ride, which is some 4 hours long will cost you some 20 Lari. Read: Georgian Bus - Great way to travel from Kutaisi to Batumi or Tbilisi

There are an ATM's inside Kutaisi airport terminal. 

As well you can buy a local…

Hotel Edemi Review in Kutaisi, Georgia

27 July, 2015 | Hotel reviews | 12 seen

Before arriving to Kutaisi I didn't search for any hotels online to book, just because of... it's Georgia. And in Georgia you can find a hotel once you are on site, and the best of all - I really like bargains, so...after we arrived at Kutaisi (we had a plane in next morning to Vilnius) and just left our Tbilisi - Kutaisi marshrutka opposite to McDonald's I was lucky enough I met a familiar taxi driver Nugzar.

In short I explained that I would love to get to the Kutaisi Old Town, and if he could recommend some reputable hotel for under 100GEL per night, that would be excellent. Nugzar suggested Hotel Edemi in the heart of Kutaisi Old Town, and here we were: meet hotel Edemi:

A TV set in Hotel Edemi

Well...it didn't worked actually

Beds at Hotel Edemi

They were clean at least

Façade of Hotel Edemi in Kutaisi

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View to Bagrati Cathedral

a lively Brosse street next to hotel Edemi in Kutaisi

Although I wouldn't call hotel Edemi a very reputable hotel I would rather call it a budget hotel, I managed to make a bargain here, and I got that simple…

Tbilisi Central Railway Station

26 July, 2015 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 76 seen

Tbilisi Central Railway Station is a major transport hub in Georgia, serving many domestic and two international routes: Yerevan (Armenia) and Baku (Azerbaijan)

Originally built in 1872, Tbilisi Railway station has undergone various architectural transformations, and currently serves as a combined railway station and shopping mall. The current station building looks like some grand Chinese pagoda made in concrete.

Tbilisi Central Railway station

Major rail lines from Tbilisi central station: Batumi ( with stops at Gori, Khashuri, Kutaisi, Zestaponi), Borjomi, Sadakhlo (Marneuli), Gardabani, Tbilisi airport, Nikozi (Gori), Zugdidi and Poti. For complete map network check out this Georgian railway map (very detailled) made by local expat enthusiast or see official Georgian Railways website (not very detailed).

Electronic timetables at Tbilisi railway station

Traveling in Georgia by railway is fun, and if you have some spare time - definitely try Georgian Railway.

Train from Batumi approaching in Tbilisi railway station

The first central station in Tbilisi was…

Riga International Coach Terminal

25 July, 2015 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 32 seen

Riga international coach terminal or bus station is a major traffic hub in Latvia and Baltics. I last time visited this place and used Riga - Vilnius coach transfer and then departed from Vilnius to Kutaisi. This coach terminal is situated in the heart of city, close to the Old Riga and Riga Central Market. In fact I was surprsided to learn that here you can make really interesting landscapes. 

Riga International Coach Terminal

View to St. Peters Church in Old Riga

Iron Bridge, National Library of Latvia and coach terminal

Very interesting perspective

View to the Riga Central Market

The coach terminal has been built and put into the service in 1964. The initial project of the coach terminal complex has been developed in the former design institute “Latgiprogo-stroj” (“Латгипрогострой”) from 1960 to 1962.

Since Latvian independence it was necessary to make activities of the Riga coach terminal more appropriate to the capital city status, providing services not only for local and regional but also for international bus lines.

By…

Dali Cafe & Art in Riga

24 July, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 35 seen

Dali Cafe & Art is located in Spikeri quarter in Riga, I visited this place at night before leaving Riga (right next on the corner from this place is Riga bus station) and headed to Tbilisi (a long way, via Vilnius and Kutaisi). The night I visited Dali Cafe was the Eurovision song festival night, and folks gathered here of watching it.

Dali Cafe in Riga

Located in one of the brick houses of Spikeri quarter

Interior at Dali Cafe

Menu at Dali Cafe

We order some coffee and a beer and in total paid some EUR 10.00 - a little bit above average to Riga prices, but pretty ok

Paintings at Dali Cafe & Art

You wont find here as much from Salvador Dali, as you could find in Figueres, Spain, but at least some reproductions of great authors works were represented here.

Café Dali is an arthouse Coffeeshop, situated in the heart of the creative district Spikeri, Riga.

Coffee is more than just a drink. We believe it will only take one cup to completely change your perception of coffee. Specialty coffees are high quality beans grown…

Spikeri Quarter and Promenade in Riga

23 July, 2015 | Tourism objects | 34 seen

Spikeri quarter and promenade is recently renovated neighborhood in Riga and it has all chances to become a very popular tourist spot in Riga. This place is closely located to Riga Central market (I will write about in anytime soon), Riga International Bus station, Railway station and of course Old Riga.

I visited this place for a very short time prior to waiting a bus to Vilnius (Lithuania) and then heading to Kutaisi (Georgia) at the end of May, 2015

Spikeri Quarter in Riga

This quarter is one of the city’s epicentres of events and cultural festivals like White Nights, Staro Riga, Riga City Festival. 

Spikeri Quarter in Riga

Promenade at Spikeri quarter

A very lovely view to that Soviet time skyscraper.

Georgian Restaurant in Riga, Spikeri quarter

It was easy for me to recognize this Pirosmani painting. Unfortunately I didn't tried this restaurant, but no regrets about that - best Georgian cuisine is available in Georgia. Read: Tbilisi restaurant reviews

Spikeri Quarter promenade

View to Riga Central Market

Sikeri…