Postcards from Este, Italy
It was sunny January 1st afternoon when we visited Este in northern Italy. One of our first stops in 2016.Este, ItalyOne of the main sights in Este is the Castle Carrarese of EsteRoundabout in EsteI would say a very piccolo roundaboutIce rink in Este town square
Castle Carrarese of Este
It was January 1st, 2016 when we visited Castle Carrarese of Este, during our drive from Venice to Modena. It was our second stop after we enjoyed a cup of cappuccino at lovely Candiana town. Read more: Bar Rialto in Candiana) The castle overlooking the town of Este consists of large master towers and massive walls, about a kilometre long, which embraces the extreme southern edge of the Euganean Hills. This mighty monument bears witness to the important role that the territory of Este played in medieval times.Castle Carrarese of EsteThe oldest part of the fortification is located on the elevated side and consists of a circle of walls with the remains of a church and the…
St. Nicholas' Church, Tallinn
St. Nicholas' Church is a medieval former church in Tallinn, Estonia. It was dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron of the fishermen and sailors. Originally built in the 13th century, it was partially destroyed in Soviet Bombing of Tallinn in World War II. It has since been restored and today houses a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia, focusing mainly on ecclesiastical art from the Middle Ages onward. The former church is also used as a concert hall.St. Nicholas' church of Tallinn is located in the Green area in Harju street, TallinnSt. Nicholas' Church in TallinnI could only wish I had photographer skills back there I have now, thanks to my photography…
Green area in Harju street, Tallinn
On the second day's morning, during our short two day trip to Tallinn, we left our hotel and went out to explore city. Soon we were in area which featured parks, gardens and architectural pearls - as I leant latter this place has a special name - Green area in Harju street. It's a pretty lively street in Tallinn, featuring some shops, bookstores and cafeterias. Medieval tower in TallinnNow I can only wonder what is the name of that tower,as we actually didn't visited it. ave you been to Tallinn recently, can you help me out naming this tower? Drop a comment!Green area in Harju streetOutdoor cafeteria at Harju street green area
Georgian National Opera Theater
The Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi is an opera house situated on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi,Georgia. Founded in 1851, Tbilisi Opera is the main opera house of Georgia and one of the oldest such establishments in eastern Europe.
Recently gone through 6 years long renovation works, Georgian National Opera and Ballet theater has been opened for public on January 30, 2016.
Tbilisi Opera house on Rustaveli avenue
Since 1896, the theater has resided in an exotic neo-Moorish edifice originally constructed by Victor Johann Gottlieb Schröter, a prominent architect of Baltic German origin.…
Prospero's Books & Coffeehouse in Tbilisi
Those of you looking for a literature in English or perhaps to enjoy a cup of latte, while in Tbilisi there is a great place where to have both - meet Prospero's Books located on Rustaveli avenue.
At Prospero`s Books & Caliban`s Coffeehouse you will be delighted to find : English and other language general books, English Language Teaching Books and Used books that are exchanged for an in-store credit
At Prospero's Bookshop in Tbilisi
Features a cafeteria and lovely yard terrace to enjoy a cup of English tea (perhaps) while reading some good story.
Bookshelves at Prospero's bookstore in Tbilisi
Besides the books, Prospero`s Books also…
Restaurant 'Three crowns' in Tallinn
The restaurant “Three crowns” is located in the heart of Old Town, in the center of street Vene 8. Cheerfully opens the door’s for all people who love well-prepared cuisine, there is combined Estonian and European cuisine with interesting wine list of Old Town and New world. Although hotel we stayed during our short stay in Tallinn also featured a restaurant it ain't no fun eat at you hotel if you can go and eat at neighboring hotels restaurant, right?Three Crowns Restaurant in TallinnAt time we discovered this restaurant I was informed that kitchen will be closed in 20 or something minutes and we can''t actually order any course, but we can have some appetizers and of course some…
Mad Murphy's Irish Pub in Tallinn
Mad Murphy's Irish Pub is located in Tallinn very close to city's town square on Mundi street 2. If you are up to for a Nightlife in Tallinn, make sure you visit this pub,I visited this pub back in Summer of 2015, during our short two days trip to celebrate my thirty birthday, shortly we were checked in at our hotel (Read my review here: St. Olav Hotel in Tallinn) we decided to explore our lively neighborhood, and it was a very lively. It was a warm August evening. Mad Murphy's Irish pub in TallinnI'm not that kind of person who loves to spend his time in bars and pubs, but... what happens in Tallinn, stays in Tallinn. Mad Murphy's pub was a very interesting experience - It was a…
Bar Rialto Candiana
I have always loved local cafes and restaurants where tourists barely step their foot in, we were of from Venice and traveled to Modena, when I said, let's visit some of the local villages and see what's good there. Back at this stage I even didn't know that village we were to enter is called - Candiana, shortly we parked our car and noticed a local pub/bar/restaurant - so we entered this place, which I learnt latter is named - Bar Rialto Candiana and ordered a cup of cappuccino. It was January 1st, some local folks were inside, lady approached me - raised her hand, hugged me and told - bueno ano, which probably translates as Happy New Year. I replied - bueno ano!We were just…
St Mark's Square in Venice
St Mark's square probably is every travelers dream destination when traveling to Venice, Italy. So did it was among mine - must have destinations. We traveled to Italy and especially to Venice for a New Year's eve to celebrate 2016. I was so found of photography, and especially fireworks photography, that I started to prepare already about a month before our departure. huge was my disappointment, when I was not able to find a single spot to make any decent fireworks photography from St Mark's square. It's hard to tell, but I believe there were at least some 10,000 folks that night gathered in St Mark's square, together with buildings at square literally blocking any access to fireworks…
St.Olav Hotel in Tallinn, Estonia
St. Olav Hotel is located in the heart of Old Tallinn just a few hundred meters away from Tallinn's Town Hall square.We stayed at this hotel in August, 2015, during a short travels to Estonian capital to celebrate my thirty birthday.Lai street in TallinnOur hotel was located in the heart of Old Tallinn, since it was a Summertime, many cafes and restaurants were opened in our and nearby streets, so we had a plenty to choose from.St.Olav hotel in TallinnThe St. Olav is located in a historic building, and is decorated with antique furniture. The heated rooms have stone and brick elements, along with wooden furniture. Guests have an option of buying bathrobes and slippers.Our room at St.…
Tallinn Town Hall Square
One of the most impressive tourist sights in Tallinn, most probably is Tallinn Town hall square and its surrounding restaurants and cafes. Speaking of the Town Hall it is the oldest town hall in the whole of the Baltic region and Scandinavia.
We visited Tallinn's Town Hall square while headed to our hotel (located somewhere close) during a short 2 day trip to Estonia's capital to celebrate my 30th birthday.
To enter into Old Town we had to cross Viru gate
Viru Gate in Tallinn, Estonia
The barbican of Viru Gate was part of the defense system of Tallinn city wall built in the 14th century. By the 16th century, it had 8 gates that consisted of several towers…
Vardzia Cave Town Monastery Complex in Georgia
Vardzia cave town is definitely a must have tourist attraction when traveling to Republic of Georgia, located in region of Samtkshe - Javakheti in about one hour drive from Akhaltsikhe town. For years I have been reading and heard a lot of stories of this place, but first visited just at the end of 2015. I was missing a lot.
We arrived here after sightseeing of Rabati castle in town of Akhatsikhe. Twilight was approaching and I was left with no options as to use best photography techniques I was familiar with, to get a decent photo story from Vardzia Cave town.
Vardzia cave town in Republic of Georgia
This was my first attempt of a decent photography, I opted using HDR here
The…
Armenian Apostolic Church of Tallinn
Huge was my surprise when walking from Tallinn Bus Station to the city centre I discovered an Armenian Apostolic church, surrounded by skyscrapers. Just a year ago I spent my birthday in Yerevan, Armenia.
Now a year latter, seeing an Armenian Church seemed like a sign for me. I still don't know what kind of sign, but that was a great reason to photograph here.
Armenian Apostolic church in Tallinn, Estonia
Surrounded by skyscrapers, this Armenian church in Tallinn is almost invisible for untrained eye.
Inscription plate in Armenian and Estonian
Although I don't speak either language, I believe it's saying - Armenian Apostolic Church
Now, I wanted to learn more about this…
Tallinn Bus Station
The Tallinn Bus Station is the main long-distance bus station of Tallinn, Estonia. The bus station is located in the southeastern part of the city centre (Kesklinn District), in Juhkentali neighborhood. When I was a young exchange student in Finland, I used this bus station frequently to travel back to my native Riga (Helsinki - Tallinn by ferry). Last time I was here, probably was back in 2006.We arrived here from Riga bus station using Lux Express bus to celebrate my 30th birthday in Tallinn and I was pleasantly surprised to see how this place has changed (seems it has gone though renovation in 2012 or 2013).Tallinn Bus Station in…
Fried Land Fast Food in Venice
After we finally arrived to Venice, settled up in our hotel room, it was still a few hours until New Year, we decided to locate some charming Venice restaurant, but they all either were fully booked or just looked suspicious, suddenly we noticed a small fast food shop, and I decided to take a look, so that's how we found Fried Land in Venice.
Huge was my surprise when searching for this places coordinates I found that on TripAdvisor Fried Land ranks #1 as Venice Restaurants (as on January 27, 2016) - Well, the explanation can be simple, the dude who prepared shaurmas for us, asked would we leave a review on TripAdvisor (and probably he has been asking it to all the rest folks visiting this…
Hotel Guerrini Review in Venice, Italy
We booked hotel Guerrini in Venice for New Years night (2016), because of it's location - Located just off the characteristic Venetian street of Lista di Spagna and 400 m from Santa Lucia Railway Station, Hotel Guerrini offers free Wi-Fi and simple air-conditioned rooms.
Now the biggest surprise was to learn out, that heating in our room didn't worked (seems it didn't worked for all the hotel), so called simple air conditioner also didn't helped much (it constantly showed +17C). Bathroom (for the price paid) was a parody (small, narrow)... I could complain of this place a lot, but probably that's just the way how they treat tourists in city center, right? Ask high price and…
Replacing Roof - Part 3: Removing the old roofing (Losing Chimney)
Now, when you are familiar with part 1 and part 2, it's time to tell the third part on home remodeling series replacing roofing.
Today's roof replacing adventures were about the most dangerous so far (with happy ending). It all started in quiet August morning, when I get up earlier, to remove old roofing, so we can continue our works on leveling beams and dragging over crosswind sheet latter that day. I was waiting help (brother and dad) to arrive around a noon, so I had a plenty of time to excel my demolisher skills.
Today we faced unpleasant discovery, we had to remove atop of the chimney so the roof would be in one straight level (more on that bellow)
Wooden boards…
Replacing Roof - Part 2: Beam Leveling & Crosswind sheet
It was second day morning when we re-started works on roof replacing. If you haven't already red, read Part 1: Removing Old Roof.
The idea was simple - if we are going to replace roofing, we will follow latest trends, and one of them involves using a crosswind sheet, which protects both against wind and humidity, I bought some super expensive crosswind sheet for about EUR 200 to cover in total about 180m2.
Since we were replacing roofing by parts today we had to drag a crosswind beam over leveled beams and add lathing.
Measuring crosswind sheet
Yup, the surrounding views are amazing
Leveled beams
As you can see, its just one fourth of total work done yet (not…
How Valentine's day was celebrated in Tbilisi
We were of to Tbilisi streets looking for Valentine's day photography, when I concluded - Valentine's day, thus not popular in Republic of Georgia, makes some good for local economy - first of all for local flower markets, second for cafes, bars, pubs and restaurants. We made a dozen of photos today, experimented with black and white, panorama and other photography techniques. Tbilisi didn't seemed too busy on celebrating Valentine's day, but we found some interesting scenes in Old Town and local flower market. This is how we saw Valentine's day was celebrated in Tbilisi, 2016, Piece of Life after all.Happy Valentine's day in shop windowsWhere is she?Children playground near…