Libyan Princess Hotel Review in Palaiochóra, Crete
| Hotel reviews | 14 seen
The Libyan Princess Boutique Hotel is located in one of the most beautiful resorts of Crete, gorgeous Paleochora, also known as “Nymph of the Libyan Sea” 75km from the city of Chania.
Paleochora, built on a peninsula between two scenic gulfs, is an idyllic location harmoniously combining mountains and the deep blue coasts of the Libyan Sea.
We booked this hotel for one night in June 2017, for detailed description how we get here using Google Maps navigation, please see the following article: Crazy, Stupid, Love - Tranquil Rough Adventures in Crete
Hotel Libyan Princess
We arrived late. After we parked our car at underground parking we finally got our room. Hmm, that's actually our rental car in front of the hotel. Probably we got the room before parked car.
King size bed at Libyan Princess
Each room at this hotel is air-conditioned and is equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Some units have a sitting area for your convenience. You will find a kettle in the room. Every room is equipped with a private bathroom. Extras include bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries. Superior rooms include a…
Top Hotels and Apartments in Stavros, Crete
| Hotel reviews | 14 seen
Stavros is a village and a popular beach destination located close to the Chania town in Crete, Greece. The beach and surroundings were the place where in 1964 Michael Cacoyannis partly made the popular Greek movie "Zorba the Greek" starring Anthony Quinn.
During our latest trip to the island of Crete, we booked a luxury Kavos Beach Apartment and Studios for about 2 nights. Kavos was amazing, it's not a surprise seeing it among top rated on Booking.com
Stavros is a great destination if you are arriving in Chania international airport. When heading to Stavros you should be willing to spend about 40-70 EUR for a good apartment/hotel/ guest house - which actually is one of the cheapest destinations in Crete I've discovered so far.
Alternatively see: Top 12 Luxury & Boutique Hotels in Chania Town
Please note: hotels listed below may contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
Kavos Beach Apartments & StudiosThis…
Renting an Office in Tbilisi
| Living in Georgia | 23 seen
Just google it - rent an office in Tbilisi, or office for rent in Tbilisi and you will be mesmerized with zillions of search results. In today's Living in Georgia article series, I will share my experience about renting an office space in Tbilisi.
In short - it is a pain in the ass. There is a lack of A-Class or B-class office space for rent in Tbilisi. And if there is something it will cost you a wealth. There are plenty of questionable quality office spaces. Sure, they could be cheap.
Most of the visible office spaces in Tbilisi already is taken by small travel agencies, moving in and out on the monthly basis, I guess.
In normal circumstances, you would hire a real estate agent - but from my latest experience - you should be very lucky to find a decent one. (If you know someone, leave a comment).
In total, we dealt with a dozen of realtors, but at the end find office space to rent from the direct owner of the premises.
Online search for office in TbilisiFor finding real estate I prefer to use place.ge. On this website, there are many commercial rentals…
Crazy, Stupid, Love - Tranquil Rough Adventures in Crete
| | 23 seen
This was one of the most beautiful and craziest days we experienced in Crete during our three-week trip around the island (June 2017).
It feels like just this morning, we picked up our rental Opel at Agia Marina and set off with no destination in mind, just exploring the island. We had a lovely breakfast at Cafe Mixail Malandrakis in Kalydonia, spent some time at the beautiful beaches near Kissamos, followed a rough route to Balos Beach, turned back, and enjoyed one of the best Cretan meals at Gramvousa in Kaliviani. We also found a cafe with a spectacular view and even met a donkey at Beata's Orange Juice Bar.
Sounds like a lot? Nope, it wasn’t nearly enough! By the end of the day, we had visited at least three more beaches—although, admittedly, I lost track of their names (just captured the moments in photos). Late in the evening, we booked a room at the 4-star Libyan Hotel in Palaiochora (Top Hotels and Apartments to Book in Palaiochora, Crete). And as if that wasn’t enough, a wrong route (thanks, Google) led us off-road, literally—some 900 meters above sea level.
That’s what I call independent travel! In today’s Piece of Life photo series, here’s a small…
Bitcoin Price Increases Altcoin Market Bleeding
| Crypto | 15 seen
For the past couple of weeks, the price for Bitcoin price has soared to all-time height $5,852.48 (October 15, 2017), while it might sound like a great news for bitcoin holders, altcoin market instead is literally bleeding.
As I'm new to crypto investments, with just a little bit more than 3-month experience, this seems both thrilling and scary. At the start, I thought if bitcoin price goes up, the same should happen with altcoins, turns out I was wrong. Luckily investments in altcoins take just the 10% from my total crypto portfolio. And as a matter of fact, my portfolio hasn't been negatively affected (yet).
Since, July 2017 I keep investing for a long-term (buy&hold) in following coins - bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin and ripple. The long-term portfolio gives a lovely +30.75% value growth. With value growth for Bitcoin taking its lions share (+60.16%)
Bitcoin and top altcoin portfolio
For tracking cryptocurrencies, I've built a custom Google Spreadsheet, you can read more and download here: How To Track Your CryptoCurrencies Portfolio Automatically Using Google…
Cozy Latvian Family Run Tbilisi Hostel 17/17 - Centrally located, Close to the Opera
| Hotel reviews | 22 seen
Hostel 17/17 is a family run Tbilisi hostel, located on the Rezo Tabukashvili Street No. 17. This place has been just recently renovated and opened for public.
Hostel 17/17 offers great quality for a budget price - you should be willing to spend just EUR 12 per night (per person) to stay at Hostel 17/17.
This hostel is run by Mr. David Iakobidze - a great storyteller and mastermind in finances - make sure to listen to some of his banking experience stories, they are awesome. Interested in cryptocurrencies or Georgian Stock market? David has an opinion. A helping hand to manage this hostel is provided by another family members, like Davids mother - Regina Jakobidze, a long-term chairman of the board at Latvian Society in Georgia Avesol.
Interested in Latvian footprints in Georgia? Ask Regina! See: Jūlijs Straume: Caucasus on my mind; exhibition at Tbilisi State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts of Georgia
Daily tours and excursions can be ordered on site
Hostel 17/17 in Tbilisi
Quite an interesting interior for this place.…
Net Worth Reached $10,000
| Investments | 10 seen
On October 13, 2017, my net worth for the first time reached $10,000 Milestone. It was just 10 months after I started my million dollar journey and I was 32 years old.
To celebrate this little victory I've decided to wrap up a brief article for the history.
It doesn't come as a surprise, as I have been preparing to reach $10,000 milestone this year, just I thought it will happen most probably after a month. But rising Bitcoin price and great performing Baltic stock market gave a nice boost to the total value of the portfolio, on this October 13 Friday night.
On the overall I've exceeded my initial plan for this year's investments - originally I planned to deposit $8,561 this year in several batches. There are still 2 months left before the end of this year and I've already invested $9,640.67.
Net worth $10,000
Month after month I keep adding money to my portfolio. In 2017 I was investing in - peer to peer lending, mutual funds, stocks, crypto-currencies, and cash. Starting with the May 2017, I provide monthly dividend income report coverings earnings and happenings on a monthly basis.
So far, portfolio has been performing…
Top Hotels and Apartments to Book in Palaiochora, Crete
| Hotel reviews | 3 seen
Palaiochora is a small town in Crete, located some 77 km south of Chania, on the southwest coast of Crete and occupies a small peninsula 400m wide and 700m long. The town is set along 11 km of coastline bordering the Libyan Sea.
We booked a 4-star hotel here in June 2017, during our about 3 weeks long trip around the Island of Crete.
In today's article, I've listed top hotels, apartments and guest houses in Palaiochora, according to actual user reviews on Booking.com.
When heading to Palaiochora you should be willing to spend about 30-100 EUR for a good apartment/hotel/ guest house - which IMHO is fantastic.
Alternatively, see:
- Top 12 Luxury & Boutique Hotels in Chania Town
- Top 20 Apartments in Agia Marina Beach, Crete (Aparthotels, Villas & Hotels)
- Top 20 Luxury 5-star hotels in Athens, Greece
Please note: hotels listed below may contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
Vakakis-ME…Bond Market Overview in Georgia (Fixed Income) 2017
| Living in Georgia | 64 seen
Investments in Georgia, have been on my focus, probably since the day one since I relocated here (see: Living in Georgia), back in 2011. Unfortunately, it was hard to find a transparent and easy to understand stock exchange.
Sure, I found Georgia Stock exchange website, but what I saw there a few years ago, didn't give me a lot of confidence to trust the platform and investigate more, On the other hand, I was more interested in buying stocks, rather investing in bonds. For me, bonds have always sounded kind of boring, and in fact, I haven't yet invested in bonds.
Now, at the end of 2017, some things have changed, I've started to build my million dollar investment fund, and I have been heavily investing in Georgian peer to peer lending, aka paydays loans. See: Invest in Georgia - Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending - Mintos.com.
For a short period of time (2014/2015), I invested in compound savings account in Georgia in national GEL currency, thus when Lari depreciated against both EUR and USD currencies for more than -15% I stopped my activities with savings accounts. See: My February Savings Report - GEL Loses Another 16.5%…
How To Add a Custom Token Balance in MyEtherWallet.com
| Crypto | 8 seen
MyEtherWallet.com is a free, open-source, client-side tool for easily & securely interacting with the Ethereum network.
I'm not an expert in MyEtherWallet usage, in fact, I discovered it just recently, when faced a need to swap tokens from Waves platform.
Around the middle of August, I decided to take participation in my first ico, and I opted for a Golden Fleece tokens, which back then were served on Wavesvallet.io, see: Invest in Georgia - First Georgian Crypto Currency - "Golden Fleece Token" ICO
By the end of September, developers of Golden Fleece project announced about a swap
We switch from Waves to Ethereum platform with a purpose to improve ICO process and reach a larger group of investors.
At the start, I mistakenly sent my tokens to Coinbase account, but with the help of Golden Fleece dev team we figured it out, and guys agreed to fix this if I will provide MyEtherWallet address:
coinbase doesnt support Tokens, unless they give you private key of that wallet, which they will not :) there is some recovery tool if you use there multisig, but we havent dealt with that
https://support.coinbase.com/…
4 Year Blog Anniversary
| Blogging | 8 seen
Today, on October 10th, 2017, ReinisFischer.com website is celebrating its 4th birthday. Each blog anniversary is a huge milestone for me and the 4th birthday is no exception. What has started as a simple experiment has turned out to be a successful online business venture!
It was just yet another Autumn evening when back on October 10, 2013, I registered domain name www.ReinisFischer.com, but in fact, I started this blog some 7 days earlier on October 3rd, 2013. I had blog been set up and it already was filled with a few articles, before it was actually launched. Yes, such strange behavior probably can be explained that geeks do geek things, though I don't see a geek in me.
Make sure to check out these great articles on historical blog's birthdays below:
- Blog One Year Anniversary
- Two Year Blog Anniversary
- Three Year Blog Anniversary
I started a blog with a simple goal - To blog 365 consecutive days in a row, and when launched, I was looking to reach about 6,000 monthly users by the end of first blogging year. Now, four years latter blog proudly…
Colorful Autumn Tour to the Region of Samtskhe-Javakheti in Georgia
| Travel guides | 13 seen
It is no surprise that Georgia is a diverse country that in its run can be divided into regions.
Samtskhe-Javakheti, situated in the south of Georgia is really interesting to explore not only from the perspective of a traveler who encounters the extraordinary beauty of the place. Samtskhe-Javakheti is a historical place full of mysteries and legends connected with early Georgian monarchs like Queen Tamar. Lakes hidden in the mountains, dormant volcanoes, and enigmatic forests will not leave you indifferent. On the contrary, people say that they feel an inexplicable burst of energy during their journeys in the mountains of Samtskhe-Javakheti.
When planning your trip to Samtskhe-Javakheti don’t forget to visit Borjomi first. This small town is a picturesque resort which is close to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. If you decide to stay there for a couple of days don’t miss your chance to take an easy trail in the Park and merge with nature. The entrance to the National Park is free of charge and no matter the season and whether you will enjoy your stay there. It is not highly recommended for the beginners to stay out there in cold…
Top Five-star and Luxury Hotels in Kiev, Ukraine
| Hotel reviews | 41 seen
For a luxury stay in Kiev's top-end hotels, you should be ready to spend about EUR 200-300 per night.
I first visited Kiev and Ukraine at the end of 2016, during a connecting flight to New York City, while waiting for a connecting flight, it was announced that our flight is delayed by some 10 hours. Decided to use these 10 hours and visit the city. See: Short Day Trip To Kiev, Ukraine
After a short unplanned day-trip to Kiev, we decided it's worth to return here again, most probably in Summer, and so we did. Returned to Kiev for a couple of days in August to celebrate my birthday here. During our 3 or 4 days stay in Kiev we stayed at hotel Ukraine which is a very centrally located (just behind the Independence Square) 4-star hotel. It was good, I even got a small complimentary gift on my birthday.
In this article, I've listed top 5-star and luxury hotels in Kiev, according to Booking.com
Please note: hotels listed below may contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.
Premier Palace…Mintos.com Peer To Peer Lending Review After 9 Month of Investing
| Peer to Peer Lending | 12 seen
Mintos is a Latvian made peer-to-peer lending marketplace operating Globally, it connects investors with borrowers of non-bank lenders.
It is an easy and transparent alternative to the traditional banking system. At Mintos both retail and institutional investors can invest in fractions of loans originated in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Currently, they serve agricultural loans, business loans, invoice financing, mortgage loans, personal loans, pawnbroking loans, car loans and short-term loans. The minimum investment in one loan is EUR 10.
Both individuals and entities can invest through Mintos. Individual investors must be at least 18 years old, have a bank account in the European Union or third countries currently considered to have AML/CFT systems equivalent to the EU, and have their identity successfully verified by Mintos. At the moment, US citizens or taxpayers cannot register as investors at Mintos.
Affiliate link here: Signup to Mintos.com here. By using this affiliate link for registration both you and I will receive — 1% of our average daily balance which should be paid in 3…
October - Perfect Time for Rtveli in Kakheti (Grape Gathering in Georgia)
| Travel guides | 20 seen
Grape harvest gathering is a big occasion in Georgia when the whole nation comes together to honor ancient traditions of winemaking.
See: Grape Harvest Rtveli in Georgia (Region of Kakheti)
Regions like Kakheti, Racha and Imereti are famous for grape-gathering. In Georgian the process is called ‘rtveli’ that literally means plucking ripe grapes from the vine. The flavors and colors differ depending on the region where grapes were picked.
The names of the most famous grapes like Rkatsiteli, Tsolikauri, Tsitska, Saperavi, Aladasturi, Usakhelouri and many others are known to lots of tourists who visit Georgia. Tasting the whole list of all Georgian wines may be on the list of any foreign ‘sommelier’ that is ready to enrich their knowledge of refined wine.
In Georgia grape is picked late in August till the middle of November. There is no certain date when to begin gathering harvest- it all depends on the variety of grapes. The main point is not to miss the precise moment when a grape is full of miraculous nectar and not let it wither. The process of grape gathering is a long and…
Latest video
Tsikhisdziri & Batumi Botanical Garden
After returning from our amazing trip to Thessaloniki, we decided to extend our holiday a bit longer — this time in beautiful Tsikhisdziri. Huge thanks to Eto for kindly offering her cozy apartments at Bambo Beach, where we enjoyed a full week of relaxation by the sea.During our stay, we explored local gems like Shukura Tsikhisdziri (შუქურა…
Summer in Latvia 2025
Summer in Latvia movie is out - Join us on our July (2025) journey through Latvia: installing a bathtub in our countryside cottage, setting up a pop-up store at Bangotnes, celebrating a birthday in Vērbeļnieki, traveling via Riga to Jaunpiebalga, Vecpiebalga, Smiltene, and Valka. From sipping sparkling wine with swallows to running 4K morning…
Chateau Ateni. Gori
This time (May 2025), our journey takes us to Gori and the enchanting Chateau Ateni - a hidden gem where authentic Georgian cuisine blends seamlessly with avant-garde natural wines, soulful traditional dance, and even the charming surprise of a small chick farm.What makes this trip extra special is sharing it with our Latvian/Georgian friends,…Living in Georgia
Mziuri Tennis Club in Tbilisi
Our family has been attending Mziuri Tennis Club in Tbilisi since September 2025, after several recommendations from our BIST community. We signed up our 7-year-old for the junior program, which costs 300 GEL per month. After a few months…
12 Rounds Boxing Club in Tbilisi
Sometimes even the most loyal gym-goers need to shake things up—and that's exactly what I did this month. After years of training at the "luxurious Axis Tower gym", I decided to take a short break. Not because I had any complaints about…
Tbilisi Circus: A Historic Landmark with a Surprising Past
Tbilisi Circus is an iconic part of the city's cultural landscape. Having lived in Georgia since 2011, I have passed by the Tbilisi Circus almost every day. However, it wasn’t until I attended a show that I truly appreciated its grandeur…
Foraging for Mushrooms near Tsodoreti Lake: A Day in the Suburbs of Tbilisi
Back in June 2024, I first came across Tsodoreti Lake during one of the Tbilisi Trails races, which turned out to be one of the most challenging runs of my life. While I tackled the 10K trail route, my partner and our kiddo took a gentler…
Piece of Life
Postcards from Marseille
It’s been nearly two years since our last trip to Marseille, a sun-drenched jewel on France’s southern coast that left an indelible mark on our memories. That summer of 2023, we set out to explore the city’s vibrant beaches and winding old town, arriving and departing through the bustling hub of Marseille St. Charles train station. As I sit…
Christmas Eve at Palolem Beach: Fire Shows, Old Monk
While we just celebrated Orthodox Christmas in Georgia, I can’t help but delve into the memories of our Western Christmas last year (2024), spent on the serene shores of Palolem Beach in Goa, India. That evening was magical in every way, filled with vibrant energy, beautiful scenery, and a new discovery that made the night unforgettable.Palolem…
A Family Guide to Borjomi: Hiking Trails and Sulfur Bath Tips
As summer came to a close, we continued our family's tradition of visiting Borjomi. This year marked yet another memorable trip at the end of August 2024, reaffirming our love for this beautiful Georgian town. Visiting Borjomi at least twice a year has become a cherished routine, a piece of life that we look forward to, blending relaxation,…
Travel guides
Gateway of India, Mumbai
I first visited the Gateway of India at the end of December 2025, during our three-week trip to India. We spent only a few short days in Mumbai, and this stop was not planned in any deep or academic way. We arrived from The Lalit Hotel by…
Summer in Latvia 2025
Summer in Latvia movie is out - Join us on our July (2025) journey through Latvia: installing a bathtub in our countryside cottage, setting up a pop-up store at Bangotnes, celebrating a birthday in Vērbeļnieki, traveling via Riga to…
Birthday in Thessaloniki, Greece
Turning 40 is a milestone worth celebrating in style, and what better way than in Thessaloniki — a city that seamlessly blends history, culture, and cuisine. From affordable flights and boutique stays to seafood feasts and hidden beaches,…
Hotel Reviews
Stays & Trails La Maison Hotel Review in Panaji
At the tail end of 2024, just before catching our flight back to Delhi, we decided to book a one-night stay at Stays & Trails La Maison Fontainhas in Panaji, Goa. After weeks staying in Palolem beach, we wanted to wrap up our trip with…
Schuchmann Wines Château: A Long-Awaited Stay in Georgia’s Premier Winery Hotel & Spa
It took us over a decade to finally make it to Schuchmann Wines Château & Spa, and it was well worth the wait! We’ve spent years recommending this stunning winery hotel to visiting friends and business partners, yet somehow, we had…
Hotel Belvedere Prague: A Practical Stay with Easy Access
During our recent trip to Prague in mid-October 2024, we stayed at Hotel Belvedere. My partner attended the MEET Central Europe Translators conference, and we were joined by one of our office employees, so we opted to book two rooms. …
Review: Art Hotel Prague – A Cozy Stay in a Tranquil Part of Prague
During our recent trip to Prague in October 2024, we opted for a one-night stay at the Art Hotel Prague. We arrived at the hotel via Bolt taxi from Václav Havel Airport, which was straightforward and efficient. At about EUR 120 per room…
Toursim objects
Plage des Catalans: A Shrinking Memory in Marseille
Plage des Catalans, a sandy crescent tucked along Marseille’s coastline, holds a special place in my travel tapestry. I first visited this beach in the summer of 2003, a carefree stop during my early adventures in the city. Back then, it felt like a haven—close to the bustling port yet offering a slice of Mediterranean calm. When I returned…
Colva Beach: Golden Sands and Tranquility in Goa
Colva Beach, located in South Goa, is known for its expansive golden sands and tranquil atmosphere. Stretching for several kilometers along the Arabian Sea, the beach offers a peaceful escape from the busier tourist hubs in the region. Its wide shoreline, framed by swaying palm trees, provides plenty of space for visitors to relax, stroll, or…
Charles Bridge: A Timeless Landmark in Prague
The Charles Bridge (Karlův most) in Prague is one of the most iconic and historic landmarks in Europe. Built in the 14th century under the reign of King Charles IV, this Gothic stone bridge spans the Vltava River, connecting Prague's Old Town with the Lesser Town (Malá Strana). Adorned with a series of 30 Baroque statues and surrounded by…