Restaurant Antica Drogheria in Lucca, Italy
Restaurant Antica Drogheria is located in Lucca, Italy, we discovered this restaurant by accident, just shortly checked in at Albergo Celide hotel and decided to make an evening walk beyond Lucca's city wall.
And here it was - another great Italian restaurant located on Via Elisa, 5.
Antica Drogheria in Lucca, Italy
We had to wait for about some 10 minutes to get a free table (seems this place is extremely popular), by waiting for a free place we ordered a cappuccino in the restaurant's anteroom
Italian cappuccino
Comes with a very low price here - just EUR 1 for a cup of cappuccino (although it's everywhere cheap in Italy)
Pizza oven
When in Italy…
Feast in Kuldiga
A brilliant festival is held in town of Kuldiga (Western Latvia) each year just shortly after midsummer. In today's Piece of Life photo project series I would love to share some images from Feast in Kuldiga (taken July, 2015)
Such trade fairs are pretty popular in Latvia - visitors can buy goods from local craftsmen, artists or small producers.
Cider sold from retro car in Kuldiga
Feast in Kuldiga banner
Basket ware sold at fair
Smoked chicken
Visitors at feast of Kuldiga on Liepajas street
Lawn mowing in the backyard territory
If you have been following home remodeling series on my blog you might tell I'm starting to repeat - another article on lawn mowing? Yes, another article on that. After trying mowing grass with a scythe I just understood how hard it actually is and started to look for some more serious tools, and then trimmer replaced scythe. Just after some month I realized the grass is back, and I was left with no option as to loan a trimmer again, this time a petrol Stiga trimmer from a good friend.Grown grass at the backyardIts hard to call it a lawn yet, it is actually a ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria)Aegopodium podagraria L. commonly called ground elder, herb gerard,…
Postcards from Jvari Monastery
Postcards from... are actually a really cool photo project some can run, after submitting postcards from Tbilisi and postcards from Sighnaghi (both are located in wonderful Caucasian Republic of Georgia) I realized - postcards from.. are going to be more often featured on Piece of Life series photo posts.
In today's article - let me share some postcards from Jvari monastery (again, Republic of Georgia)
Postcard from Jvari monastery
Jvari Monastery stands on the rocky mountaintop at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, overlooking the town of Mtskheta, which was formerly the capital of the Kingdom of Iberia. Read my article about Jvari monastery
Jvari monastery…
Tbilisi - Fairyland in Winter
It was an early morning at the end of January when my better part awakened me and told me - hey, it's snowing - it's time to make those lovely and socially sharable Tbilisi winter photos!
That's exactly we actually did - after some five minutes the coffee was served, and 10 minutes later we were already on street catching a taxi. I was so excited of seeing a snow (again, after some 3 weeks, previously I seen it back in Italy, when we did a week long trip there, and prior to that - in Gudauri, during Christmas time). I asked to the taxi driver - how is "snow" in Georgian? He replied - "Tovlis". Now, I know one more word in Georgian language.
Tbilisi Old Town with Narikala Fortress…
Postcards From Sighnaghi
Signhaghi (Region of Kakheti, Republic of Georgia) has always been a special place for us to visit. Probably because it's pretty far away from nations capital Tbilisi, we have been heading rarely, but every visit here has been spectacular at least. Learn more about my Travel guide to SignagiView to Sighnaghi townThe town and its environs are also known for their landscapes and historical monuments. Sighnaghi has recently undergone a fundamental reconstruction program and has become an important center of Georgia's tourist industry.Panorama of Sighnaghi townRuins in SighnaghiStill evening before Christmas in SighnaghiGeorgian Orthodox church in Sighnaghi
Bodbe Monastery
The Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe is a Georgian Orthodox monastic complex and the seat of the Bishops of Bodbe located 2 km from the town of Sighnaghi, Kakheti, Georgia. Originally built in the 9th century, it has been significantly remodeled, especially in the 17th century.
The monastery now functions as a nunnery and is one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia, due to its association with St. Nino, the 4th-century female evangelist of Georgians, whose relics are shrined there.
When traveling to Signagi in the region of Kakheti you will most probably be taken to the Bodbe monastery located some 3 km from the city. I first visited this monastery complex back in 2011 and huge was my…
Albergo Celide Hotel Review in Lucca, Italy
Albergo Celide is a four star hotel located in Lucca, Italy, we stayed here overnight at the end of 2015, although this is a four star hotel, speaking of staff members I can call it barely one star hotel.
Probably arriving to this hotel requests that you arrive in a suite or evening gown, since we arrived here from Milan after some 5 hour drive and were in our casual clothes staff members probably thought that we are some misunderstanding for their precious place.
Our booking included a visit to hotels center, we asked what, when and how - I was told that they will send me info to e-mail. I asked, so should I go back to my hotel room and check for an e-mail…
Tortuga Snack Bar in Portofino, Italy
In today's restaurant reviews series I would like to mention some small but very stylish snack bar in Portofino, Italy - Tortuga Snack Bar
We made a stop in lovely Italian Riviera village of Portofino at the end of 2015, this place inspired me a lot and I made a few HDR photography here. Tortuga Snack bar we made a short stop to enjoy delicious Italian cappuccino, and with the permit from bar staff members I was allowed to make some interior photos as well.
Tortuga snack bar in Portofino, Italy
This place offers spectacular view to boat decks
Tortuga Snack bar
Lovely interior at Tortuga Snack bar
Outdoor tables at Tortuga snack bar
Tortuga snack bar in Portofino, Italy
Common Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus)
Let me introduce you with a really interesting fungus (mushroom) you can find across deep forests in Europe and North America - Common Stinkhorn, also known by its Latin name - Phallus impudicus.
At the end of this post you will learn how you can prepare a medicine out of this fungus!
Phallus impudicus
Phallus impudicus, known colloquially as the common stinkhorn, is a widespread fungus recognizable for its foul odor and itsphallic shape when mature, the latter feature giving rise to several names in 17th-century England. It is a common mushroom in Europe and western North America, where it occurs in habitats rich in wood debris such as forests…
Summer in Latvia
Ask me - what does Latvia associates to me - and I will answer - haystacks and mild Summer nights. Unfortunately last summer (2015) I didn't find any haystack in Latvia at all (instead they are using hay rolls), but I did enjoyed some wanderings in cornfields (and, yes, they are great for photography)
In today's Piece of Life photo project series - allow me to introduce you - Latvia in Summer.
Margret
Cornfield in Latvia
Ancient trees alley
Cornflower field in Latvia
Cornfield
Cornfield
P117 - Skrunda - Aizpute road
Hay roll
Freshly cut hay
Portofino - picturesque harbor village in Italian Riviera
Portofino is an Italian fishing village and vacation resort famous for its picturesque harbor and historical association with celebrity and artistic visitors. I paid a short, but very remarkable visit here at the end of 2015, during a short 7 day trip around Italy.
We arrived to Portofino from Genoa (Read my first impressions: A Little Bit From Italian Riviera (Somewhere Around Genoa)
Portofino - Italian fishing village
According to Pliny the Elder, Portofino was founded by the Romans and named Portus Delphini, or Port of the Dolphin, because of the large number of dolphins that inhabited the Tigullian Gulf.
Portofino bay in…
Fixing holes in the floor with plaster mixture + second layer of paint
Welcome back to the home remodeling series, in today's article I'll show how I patched a holes in a hard wood floor using ... a plaster mixture.
But before that, please take a look on More Paint Job - Base layer for Kitchen's Floor and How to Patch and Plaster in your old Rural house
After I painted first base layer of paint I noticed that wooden floor is in really bad condition and it has a huge holes on it, since we were not into a complete renovation, rather into a quick paint job to look this place more livable, I decided to go with the same plaster mixture I applied on walls.
Fresh paint and huge holes in the floor
Plaster mixture applied
Another layer of paint applied…
A Little Bit From Italian Riviera (Somewhere Around Genoa)
Just shortly we landed at Milan/Malpensa airport and stayed at lovely Holiday Inn Express hotel, in the next morning we started to head to Genoa. Unfortunately I did not paid much attention to all the small town lets located next to the sea, and know by writting these lines I wonder what names does actually these lovely places bear.
The fun fact - we stopped in Genoa for just 5 minutes (and we even didn't know back then that we are actually in Genoa. But hey we got some amazing pictures here. All I can recall now , we did a driving from Milan to Lucca (we left Milan in the morning, and arrived to Lucca in the evening). I can draw parallels of this drive with our Roses to…
Old New Year's fireworks in Tbilisi
While there is a good reason to visit St Mark's square in Venice, Italy (that's exactly we did this New Year) - the chances to photograph New Year's fireworks turned much brighter from our Tbilisi's apartments balcony.
Shortly before clock turned twelve on night between January 13 to January 14, we made a moka coffee, I installed a tripod and enjoyed amazing Old New year's firework.. Piece of Life!
Fireworks in our Tbilisi apartments backyard
Old New Year's fireworks in Tbilisi, Georgia
Fireworks in Tbilisi, Georgia
About Old New Year
The Old New Year or the Orthodox New Year is an informal traditional holiday, celebrated as the start of the New…
Holiday Inn Express Milan-Malpensa Airport Hotel (Case Nuove, Italy)
We stayed overnight at Holiday Inn Express Milan-Malpensa Airport hotel just shortly we landed at the airport and took our rental car from FireFly.
It turned out that FireFly office was just some 200 meters from this hotel, so we didn't had much driving for the first day from during our seven day trip in Italy. OK, we drove to the nearby town of Ferno to have a Italian style supper at Osteria San Martino.
If you are traveling by car - I highly recommend to choose hotels near airports - you won't be in city center, but you will have much more benefits, rather than staying in center - free parking, cheaper price are just the two and main reasons I prefer hotels/motels outside…
Osteria San Martino in Ferno, Italy
This was the first time I ate at the real Italian restaurant, and my first experience was more than satisfactory.
Shortly after we landed at Milan/Malpensa airport, took our rental car, and checked in at nearby hotel, we started to explore TripAdvisor for some lovely place to have a Italian supper. Osteria San Martino popped up, so it was all about of entering right coordinates to TomTom device. This restaurant was located some 20 minute drive from our hotel in town called Ferno.
Osteria San Martino in Ferno, Italy
I was glad I decided to take a tripod for my Italy trip, so I had a chance to make lovely long exposures. Since it was night already we arrived here, without a tripod…
Railroad crossing in Skrunda municipality, Latvia
Skrunda is actually a very lovely small Latvian town, you can find here both Soviet military heritage (Read: Skrunda-1 Abandoned Soviet Military Ghost Town In Latvia) , delicious Latvian cuisine (Bistro 'Elvi' In Skrunda) or just enjoy a lovely walk near river Venta (Read: Skrunda Open-Air Stage and Park).
In today's Piece of Life project series I would love to show a beautiful place where poppy field meets railroad - a railway crossing point.
Railroad in Skrunda municipality
Railroad perspective
Poppy field near Skrunda Railway
There is something magical in Latvia - and both poppy fields and rails make this country look even better. Read more: Beautiful…
Milan–Malpensa Airport
Milan - Malpensa is one of the major airports serving city of Milan in Italy. Just to mention, there is another airport serving city of Milano- Bergamo.
Milan–Malpensa Airport, formerly City of Busto Arsizio Airport, is the largest airport for the Milan metropolitan area in northern Italy. It serves 15 million inhabitants in Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria. The airport is located 49 kilometres northwest of central Milan, next to the Ticino river, which is a border between Lombardy and Piedmont. The airport has two terminals and two runways.
It took me about twelve years to visit Italy again, last time I hitchhiked and…
David Gareja Monastery Complex
David Gareja Monastery complex probably is among top tourist attractions in Republic of Georgia you should visit. Located in the desert, bordering with Azerbaijan this place provides very spectacular views. Best ways to get here is either by using your own vehicle or hiring a driver or booking a trip.The monastery complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock face.David Gareja Monastery Complex in GeorgiaThe complex was founded in the 6th century by David (St. David Garejeli), one of the thirteen Assyrian monks who arrived in the country at the same time.Cells in David Gareja monastery complexA group of Latvian…