Opted for 3rd Pension Pillar

23 May, 2019 | Investments | 9 seen

On May 22, 2019, I opted for the 3rd pension pillar at SEB bank Latvia.

The main reason to sign up to this voluntary pension pillar is the hefty 20% tax refund once a year for the sums invested* (strings attached though)

For now, I have decided to start small and invest really small amounts of money to get my foot wet.

As I already have SEB bank Latvia account (I'm using it for holding Baltic stocks and getting dividend payments from the NASDAQ Baltic listed companies) it was not a brainer to signup for the 3rd pension pillar there

Here is what it's all about

• Supplement your savings with amounts and at times you can afford – regardless of your income level
• Contributions are invested to increase the value of savings in a long-term perspective
• Obtain your savings starting from the age of 55

Now, regarding tax refund:

*You can get your personal income tax refund in the amount of 20% from the contributions made in 3rd pension pillar not exceeding 10% of your gross annual income (salary before taxes). You will receive the reclaimed amount on your…

Rebi Gurjaani Restaurant

19 May, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 31 seen

Rebi Gurjaani is a restaurant located in Gurjaani, we discovered back in September 2017, while returning from a weekend trip to Kakheti back to Tbilisi. Seems Rebi Gurjaani is not only a restaurant but also a hotel. In case you are traveling to Gurjaani, consider Rebi.

Now, regarding restaurant - this place serves typical Georgian cuisine for very affordable money.

The huge outdoor terrace at Rebi Gurjaani restaurant

Menu at Rebi Gurjaani

Kababs and mcvadi at Rebi Gurjaani restaurant

Castello Mare Hotel & Wellness Resort

14 May, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 16 seen

Located at the seafront, Castello Mare Hotel & Wellness Resort is located between Kobuleti and Chakvi seaside villages in Western Georgia. The hotel offers spa facilities, an indoor pool tennis court, and a fitness center.

We booked this hotel for a one night stay via Booking.com at the end of April 2019 and paid about GEL 160. 

The hotel offers spa facilities, indoor pool tennis court and a fitness center.

Room with a seaside view

Each unit in all three buildings features sea view. Modernly furnished, the rooms of Castello Mare Hotel&Wellness Resort include flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer. Some rooms also offer a private balcony or a terrace.

We got a room with a balcony giving great views towards the rocky beach of Black Sea

Pine & Palm beach 

Explore the beauty of Georgian Black Sea resort towns

The restaurant serves meals with à la carte and buffet options. There is also a bar on site.

Batumi is 12 mi from Castello Mare Hotel&Wellness Resort…

Cabo Cafe

12 May, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 7 seen

Cabo cafe is a cafe with a unique charm, located in Mežaparks, on the very shore of lake Ķīšezers.

Cabo cafe serves burgers, french fries, and delicious shashlik. First discovered by a recommendation from a friend. Now visited pretty regular once in Riga.

Grilled meat at Cabo cafe

Cabo cafe neat Ķīšezers in Riga

Chateau Eniseli

11 May, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 24 seen

We booked a stay at Chateau Eniseli back in September 2017.

During our stay here we had a great opportunity to enjoy the rtveli or grape harvesting, see: Grape Harvest Rtveli in Georgia (Region of Kakheti)

Wine cellar at Chateau Eniseli

Offering tours of the historical vineyard and winery at the property, Chateau Eniseli provides hotel accommodation located in the heart of the Kakheti countryside. Free WiFi is available.

Rooms at Chateau Eniseli feature air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a sofa. They also have a private bathroom with shower. Some rooms also have a balcony.

Room at Chateau Eniseli

As we were traveling in a large company, I had to book 3 rooms for our stay here.

Every morning a hearty continental breakfast is served with lots of fresh produce such as homemade jams and honey. There is also a hotel restaurant providing authentic and delicious regional specialities.

The dining hall at Chateau Eniseli

For additional money, we ordered a supper here.

Guests are welcome to relax in the pleasant gardens at Chateau Eniseli, where…

April 2019 Dividend Income Report - $164.24

8 May, 2019 | Investments | 13 seen

Welcome to the twenty-fourth (#24) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks, peer to peer lending (both fiat and cryptocurrencies) in April 2019.

Despite Spring is in the full blow here in Tbilisi, we still managed to catch a little from winter at the start of the Month when traveled to the Stepatsminda village (this village has a Google Market) in the footsteps of Mount Kazbek

Mount Kazbek and Gergeti church in Georgia

$164.24 was taken from dividend stocks and peer to peer lending in April 2019.

Additional $214 were made from options trading, but as options trading is not actually a passive form of making money while you are sleeping it wouldn't be fair to include it in dividend income report. On the other hand option income is a nice way to give a boost to the overall portfolio. 

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links to mintos.com peer to peer lending website, by clicking on links on this page and by making an investment on mintos.com, I might earn affiliate income at no cost to you…

Restaurant by Plane Tree / Telavi

5 May, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 11 seen

Restaurant by Plane Tree in Telavi is located next to the Giant Plane Tree.

Because of a touristic spot, prices at this restaurant is well above the average, though the food is delicious.

Restaurant by Plane Tree

Cucumber/tomato salads

Autosole Economy Motel in Riga

4 May, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 17 seen

Autosole Economy is set in a wooden building, 3 km from Riga’s Old Town.

We booked Autosole Economy for one night back in September 2017, paid for a stay here ~ EUR 60. 

Despite a week ago we stayed at 4-star Park Hotel by Radisson hotel in Riga, we booked Autosole motel, because it's a rare pet-friendly hotel in Riga, we had a flight next morning to the Tbilisi and we were traveling with both of our cats.

Free parking in front of the motel at Autosole Riga

All rooms at Autosole are decorated with light and warm colours. Each features a TV with satellite channels, a refrigerator and a desk. Every private bathroom comes with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Some rooms boast a sauna.

Sauna at AutoSole economy 

We paid an extra some EUR 20, just to have sauna. Really amazing feature. Not to speak this room included a hot tube also.

Breakfast at Autosole economy motel in Riga

Breakfast is served daily at Autosole Economy and it is possible to order snacks and drinks 24 hours a day. Guests can relax in a garden or at a terrace on site. It is also…

Restaurant Antre Batono Ubisa

30 April, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 25 seen

Restaurant Antre Batono Ubisa is located near the Ubisa village in the region of Imereti, Georgia some 170 km from Tbilisi.

We made a stop here and discovered this lovely place, while traveled to Batumi via Tbilisi - Senaki - Leselidze highway at the end of April 2019.

This place serves typical Georgian cuisine, VISA is accepted and last, but not least prices are considerably lower if compared to the Tbilisi restaurants.

The outdoor territory at Antre Batono

Lovely reminds me of the places seen in Greece or Spain

Fresh cucumber/tomato salads

Restaurant Antre Batono near Ubisa

Restaurant Marani in Vertkvichala

29 April, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 7 seen

Restaurant Marani Vertkvichala is located near the village Vertkvichala on Tbilisi - Senaki - Leselidze highway some 160 km from Tbilisi in the Imereti region of Georgia.

We stopped here for a brief stop to take a meal and have some rest before heading back to Tbilisi (from Batumi)

Restaurant Marani

The place looked like a lovely B&B to me, as I noticed there are some hotel rooms, but when asked the waiter, he denied that there is a hotel (not sure now)

Restaurant Marani

The food we ordered here, was kind of nothing special, but next time I would avoid ordering mcvadi here - this was the worst (still edible though) mcvadi I have tried lately. The rest was brilliant.

Meal at Restaurant Marani

Day trip To Tsalka and nearby Villages

28 April, 2019 | Travel guides | 38 seen

Originally it was planned as a two day trip to Ninotsminda in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti.  For the first day, it was planned to make stops at Tsalka reservoir, Paravani lake with an overnight in Ninotsminda.  For the second day, there were plans to visit nearby Russian Doukhobor villages of Gorelovka, Orlovka, and probably some others.

Unfortunately, once we reached Tsalka, the road literally ended, we spent about an hour of offroad driving through the villages of Sameba, Tikilisa, Sakdrioni, Aiazmi until to the turn to Nardevani village, just to discover that road has been closed by the patrol. It turns out, that during the winter time, the road is kind of always closed, and you could learn that if you would drive here from the Marnueli side, which we didn't.

There are four roads heading to Tsalka from Tbilisi side:

• Tbilisi - Tskneti - Tsalka
• Tbilisi - Kojori - Tsalka
• Tbilisi - Koda - Tsalka
• and Marnueli - Tsalka

We took the third one, or we turned right at Koda. If we were followed the Marnueli route for just some extra kilometers, we would…

Park Inn by Radisson Riga Valdemara

27 April, 2019 | Hotel reviews | 36 seen

Built in 2016, Park Inn by Radisson Riga Valdemara invites its guests to stay on the western side of Daugava River with good connections to the Old Town, Riga International Airport and main sights. Guests can enjoy a meal at the onsite restaurant, enjoy views from terrace and exercise in the fitness centre.

We stayed at this hotel at the start of September 2017. By now I have an extensive list of Riga hotels, and I must admit that Park Hotel by Radisson, has been one of the pleasant stays so far in Riga. 

Most of the rooms feature panoramic views of Daugava River and upper floors offer a city and Old Town overview.

View towards Riga from hotel

Each air-conditioned room is equipped with a flat-screen TV, as well as a kettle. Private bathrooms come with a bath or shower and include free toiletries, as well as a hairdryer. Upon request it is possible to stay in interconnected rooms.

On-site restaurant and bar Bocca Buona specializes in Italian cuisine and offers a variety of wines.

Breakfast at Park Inn by Radisson Riga

You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property, as well as a private parking for…

Hofbrau Munchen Gudauri

25 April, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 104 seen

Hofbrau Munchen Gudauri is a roadside cafeteria located in Georgia (some 20 km from Gudauri)

I'm not very well familiar with Hofbrau Munchen brand but seems this is a popular German brewery brand in Germany and abroad, the one located on Gudauri highway seems is not actually affiliated with the German brand (but you never know). See more: https://www.hofbraeu-muenchen.de/en

Anyhow, you can get here some German beer and some German cuisine (though when visited this place I opted for Georgian mcvadi and Georgian lemonades)

Hofbrau Munchen Gudauri 

We were returning from Kazbegi via Gudauri and decided to take a quick dinner before Tbilisi

Outdoor decorations

Moss covered chairs and bird cages

Interior at Hofbrau Munchen Gudauri

Tsalka

21 April, 2019 | Tourism objects | 36 seen

Tsalka is a town and municipality center in southern Georgia's Kvemo Kartli region located some 100 km from Tbilisi. Next to Tsalka is located the largest water reservoir in Georgia - Tsalka reservoir. 

Town of Tsalka is known by many abandoned houses next to the lake, and in fact, while traveled here for the first time back in 2011, I had an idea it would be cool to buy a house here. My dream of owning a house in Tsalka died in January 2019. Why so? Scroll down for photos. lol

Tsalka reservoir in winter

Tsalka reservoir is the largest artificial reservoir in Georgia, built in 1946, see Tsalka Lake / Water reservoir

From what I've heard from the locals, during the Soviet era, the so-called Caucasus Greeks or Tsalkan greeks lived here, with the collapse of USSR, most of them left.

The district had a population of 2,326. According to the 2014 census, 47% of its population is Georgian, 38% Armenian, 7% Caucasus Greeks, and 7% Azerbaijanis. Up until the 1990s, Russian served as the language of interethnic communication and was the language…

Restaurant 'Piano" in Liepāja

20 April, 2019 | Restaurant reviews | 20 seen

The 'Piano' is a World class restaurant located in Promenade hotel in Liepāja

Enjoy delicious meals and a romantic, relaxed atmosphere at "Piano" restaurant located in "Promenade Hotel". 

I first discovered and tried Piano restaurant back in September 2017.

Restaurant Piano in Liepāja
 
On the extensive restaurant menu, you will find exquisite and diverse dishes specially prepared from local Latvian products - gourmets will enjoy the fresh bread baked in the restaurant and fresh fish caught in the coastal waters of Liepaja.

Cream soup at Piano restaurant
 
A broad range of business meals is also available.

Grilled meat
 
Every Friday and Saturday evening you may enjoy your dinner accompanied by live piano music.

Pavlova cake
 
The restaurant offers catering for seminars, banquets and various other festive events both in the hotel premises and at your selected place of the event.