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Greetings from Scotland! Over the past week, we've been making the most of the school break by travelling to this beautiful part of the world. We've explored Edinburgh…
As of October 16, 2026, our options-selling-powered dividend stock portfolio stood at $13,456, marking a weekly decline of 1.37% compared with the previous week.This…
As of October 9, 2026, our options-selling-powered dividend stock portfolio stood at $13,643, showing a decent weekly increase of +0.72% compared with the previous week.…
Vilgāle (formerly also Saldenieki) is a village in Kurmāle Parish, Kuldīga District, Latvia. Located on the shores of Lake Vilgāle. Distance to Kuldīga 17 km, 181 km from Rīga.Back in September 2020, I bought a flat in this village in an online auction (without actually seeing the flat), see: Today I bought my first flat on online auction site, It took me a couple of months before I actually get inside the flat (after the flat was registered in the Land Registry on my name), and here is what I got: Vilgāle flat renovation - how it all startsIn today's article, I decided to share some pictures from a drone flight around VilgāleVilgāle from a drone flightThe settlement was…
The ruins of Embūte Castle are located in Embūte, Latvia, in Embūte Parish, Vaiņode Municipality, not far from an ancient hillfort erected by Curonians.It was an ancient Curonian settlement and is mentioned in ancient chronicles as a place with strong Curonian resistance to German crusaders. The bishop's castle was built as a border castle with Lithuania by Livonian Order on a steep hill on the right bank of the Lanka river, which flows into left tributary of the Venta. Later manor house was built using the walls of the former castle, which can be seen in the division of the rooms and the building…
Zaķu krogs is both a restaurant a hotel located near Jūrkalne in Latvia.We discovered this place while driving around Užava, Pāvilosta, and decided to take here a quick stop to order some food for our toddler girl. Just later I learned there is a hotel also located.Zaķu krogs near JūrkalneLocated in Jūrkalne, Zaku Krogs is about 0.9 mi yards away from a Baltic Sea beach. It offers basic rooms with a work desk. Free private parking is available, and free Wi-Fi is available in public areas.Guests of the Zaku Krogs can rent bicycles directly from the hotel, or use its sauna or pool facilities. The hotel features a spacious garden.The Zaku is located in a quiet area, away from the…
Devil's Dam of Embūte is an awesome place for hiking and trekking in the Courland region. We first discovered this site at the end of 2020, and plan to return here more often.Devil's Dam from a drone flightTaken with DJI MAVIC AIR 2Here is what I was able to find about this place (Source: Joda Dambis)At the western foot of the Indulis (or Curonian) castle mound is the Joda Lower Square, where open-air stages have been built several times. Large-scale events have also taken place here - the Midsummer Festival with the participation of President Kārlis Ulmanis, theater performances and concerts. In the 1930s, several thousand people from all over the surrounding area gathered here…
The Embūte Church is located in the Embūte Nature Park. Today, only the remnants of its former glory remain.On a hazy afternoon in December 2020, I took my DJI Mavic Air 2 drone and captured some beautiful aerial photographs and even a video.Embūte ChurchHere’s what I found about this church (source: Embūtes baznīcas drupas).The Embūte Church was built between 1674 and 1684, financed by the then-owner of the manor, Emmerich von Mirbach.The Embūte Lutheran Church was one of the largest in the Duchy of Courland, with seating for about 300 people. During Latvia’s first period of independence, thousands gathered here, including some of the country’s most prominent figures, such as Kārlis…
On September 18, I was lucky enough to win an online auction and bought a flat in Vilgāle village. It took a few more months before all legal procedures were done and I had the entry in the Land Registry before I was able to proceed.I first saw this flat about a week ago, when I got the keys from the previous landlady (ut turns out there haven't lived anybody for the last 27 years). There is no electricity and no water (yet). I have started procedures to have them both. Today I had a meeting with an electrician, and after our meeting I made these photos, just to document the history.Living roomThere are still some belongings left from the previous owners. Interior feels like from the…
Īvande Manor, also called Lielīvande Manor, is a manor house in Īvande parish in Kuldīga municipality in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia.The manor Groß-Iwanden was created by the merger of several small estates. In the middle of the 16th century the estate was owned by the family of Rudolf Steinrat.Ivande manorThree generations remained the property in the family Steinrat and was enlarged by them. In 1643 was the sale to Hofmarschall Christof von Sacken. In 1646 property was sold to Dettlof von Tiesenhausen. Through death and inheritance connected with it, the estate went in 1690 to Ernst Gotthard von Manteuffel-Szoege.…
This is a quick follow-up post to my original idea of experimenting with writing crypto covered calls on Ethereum and Bitcoin, I started at the end of November 2020This is not the first time I'm selling options on crypto, in fact, I've been doing so for the last two years. This is the first time I'm applying one trading strategy only. About 3 years ago I was very enthusiastic about crypto mining and I was building my Ethereum mining rig, which at it's high was earning about $5.5 per day. See: Mining Ethereum @ ~53 MH/s and Siacoin @ ~310 MH/s Earns me $5.53 Daily - And It's Time to Take a PauseToday I sold 3 out of the money covered call options on Ethereum, with 1DTE, for…
Ēdole Castle is a Gothic Revival castle situated on the banks of Ēdole Lake, Ēdole parish, in the historical region of Courland, western Latvia.Originally consisting of two residential buildings linked by a stone wall, the castle is surrounded by a landscaped park. It is considered an architectural and archeological monument of national importance.Ēdole CastleThe castle was built for the bishop of Piltene between 1264 and 1267. It was rebuilt in the 16th century and from 1561 until 1920 it was the property of the Baltic-German Baron von Behr and his descendants.During the 18th century the castle was expanded and from 1835 to 1841…
Kronvalda Park (originally Strēlnieku dārzs) is a part of the greenery of the Old Riga canal bank. The total area of the park is 11.92 ha. Kronvalda park which borders Elizabetes and Kr. Valdemāra Street, as well as Kronvalda and Kalpaka Boulevards.The city canal divides the park into two parts.Kronvalda park in RigaI spent a good hour with our toddler baby girl and DJI Mavic Air 2 drone to capture some nice aerial photography of Riga.Canal at Kronvalda park in RigaBest for feeding ducks or lazy walksView towards Riga
Welcome to the forty-third (#43) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks and peer to peer lending in November 2020.Last November we spent in Latvia, did several trips here and there. I had a chance to play with my latest DJI Mavic Air 2 drone, made some really nice HDR photos, hyper lapses, and more.St Nicholas Naval Cathedral in KarostaFrom the perspective of dividend income - Last November was quite Okay (compared to previous months of the year, but not so Okay if compared to November 2019). We took $140 in dividend income last month. I would wish more for an almost 4 years old dividend portfolio, but…
Apriķi church is located in the Apriķi village, Laža parish, Aizpute district in the Western part of Latvia (Courland).Apriķi church is considered to be the pearl of Courland sacral art because the glory of its indoor interior is remembered by every visitor. Apriķi Lutheran ChurchThe stone church is built on Apriķi manor house land as Osten-Sakenu private church in the beginning of 17th century. The church got its glorious blue-white and golden coloured interior in the middle of the 18th century. The main influence in the interior is rococo, but specific elements share distinct baroque characteristics.The pulpit, organ gallery, organ, altar, confessional make up a…
Northern forts of Liepāja are really cool military history tourism site - Built by Imperial Russia at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of 20th century to provide the protection of Liepāja’s naval base in case of enemy attack.It was at the start of November 2020, I was equiped with DJI Mavic Air 2 drone and wanted to make some cool drone footage. Decided to test with bracketing to post process in Adobe Lightroom later and make some nice looking HDR's.Here is what I got:Northern forts of Liepāja According to history - In November of 1908, Tsar Nicholas II approved a decision to shut down the sea fortress in Liepāja. It has been now over 100 years since these…
Weekend trips to Borjomi and Akhaltsikhe are quite possible and easily doable.
I just love to visit Borjomi an area during the fall season, the scenery can turn very spectacular, leaves are turning yellow, orange.. see Autumn in Borjomi
So did happen at the of September 2020, we decided to for an easy weekend trip to Borjomi, booked a nice family-run hotel in Borjomi - hotel Rustaveli
Once arrived on site, it turned out we are the only guests, got complimentary wine from the hotel owner David, who latter recommended us to visit Sapara monastery near Akhaltsikhe the next day.
The next morning we headed to the famous mineral water park in Borjomi, as it was raining…
The St Nicholas Naval Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox cathedral church located in Karosta in the north of Liepāja, Latvia.I have visited this cathedral just a couple of times, but always have been impressed by the glory of the place. It was at the start of November 2020, I got my new DJI Mavic Air 2 drone and I wanted to make some nice aerography, as we happened to be in the area, it was agreed to film and photograph this cathedralSt Nicholas Naval Cathedral in LiepājaThe cathedral was built on the style of 17th century traditional Russian churches with a central dome representing Christ with 4 smaller domes representing the four evangelists on…
Rudbārži Palace is a palace in Rudbārži parish in Skrunda municipality in the historical region of Courland, in western Latvia.The estate was, from 16th century to 1661, owned by the family of Eberhard von Goes and from 1778 till 1920 by the von Fircks noble family. Schloss Rudbahren was originally built (within the Courland Governorate) in 1835 for Baroness Thea von Fircks and was remodeled in 1882–1883. The structure was severely damaged by a fire set by revolutionaries in 1905 but rebuilding began in 1908.Rudbarzi palaceDuring the Latvian independence struggle of 1919, Rudbārži Palace was a base for…
Welcome to the forty-second (#42) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks and peer to peer lending in October 2020.Last October we managed to get out of Georgia and come to Latvia, seems we have will stuck here for some time.Also, another, bigger and better, drone is now in my arsenal (DJI Mavic Air 2)Golden Autumn in Latvia / Forest house in ĶemeriFrom the perspective of dividend income - we keep struggling and last October was pretty bad if compared to the previous years, we keep suffering from trimmed dividends, and by the end of the month, we barely took $89. Relying on dividends these days is very…
Sapara Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox monastery located in the Akhaltsikhe District of Samtskhe-Javakheti region, Georgia.I had a chance to visit this monastery at the end of September 2020 and capture really awesome drone photography / catching colors of the fallSapara monastery from a drone flightIt has existed from at least the 9th century, and has numbered among its monks many important figures in Georgian ecclesiastical history. At the end of the 13th century Sapara became a possession of the Jakeli family, whose leader, Sargis Jakeli, was adept at staying on good terms with the Mongols, which enabled Samtskhe to enjoy a…
Ķemeri Forest house is really cool outdoors tourism attraction located close to JūrmalaThe park centre is located in Ķemeri, in the “Forest House” . We first discovered this place back in Spring 2018 and made some nice hiking in the area, see: Hiking Trails in Kemeri National Park (Near Forest House)We have been returning here for a few more times ever since. Forest House in ĶemeriThe history of the “Tree House” dates back to the summer of 1933, when in the newly constructed building, a centre for sports and recreation (arch. Fridrihs Skujiņš) was opened, pleasing the visitors with “a exemplary shooting range, various American sport type apparatus, ping-pong, bowling alley,…
I have said it already several times in the blog - day trips to the region of Kakheti are quite possible and easily done from Tbilisi
Day Trip to Kakheti in Georgia
In today's article, I'll share our route details and discoveries from the latest day trip to Kakheti on October 3, 2020
We left Tbilisi and headed to Telavi via Gombori Pass, here we made a stop at Ujarma fortress where I made some cool drone photography, see: Ujarma Fortress from a drone flight, our next stop is Italian restaurant Enzo's ezo at Chateau Mere close to Telavi.
From here on we head to the Lopota lake side to find some cool vineyards for more drone videography, see: Daytrip to…
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