Wine Tunnel Near Kvareli in Georgia (Winery Khareba)

4 January, 2016 | Tourism objects | 116 seen

Wine Tunnel owned by a winery Khareba is located close to the town of Kvareli, in region of Kakheti, republic of Georgia. It features not only exotic manmade tunnel built in the rocks, but it also has a large territory offering interesting attractions related to Georgian heritage. Guests can book a wine tasting tour here and will be provided with best selection wines from winery Khareba.

I first visited this wine tunnel in the middle of October, 2015 together with my mom during a short one day trip around region of Kakheti,

Wine Tunnel at Winery Khareba near Kvareli town in Georgia

Winery Khareba is constructed of 15 tunnels. Two tunnels reaching 800 meters are parallel to each other and connect the other tunnels that are 500 meters. The walls of the tunnels are lined with thousands of bottles of Khareba wines. The tunnels keeps the temperature relatively constant and cool facilitating the storage of wine. Read more: Winery Khareba

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Clay pots at Khareba winery

Wine tunnel at Khareba winery

Khareba was established in 2004. Today the winery has 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of vineyards throughout…

Neighborhoods of Tbilisi - Varketili

3 January, 2016 | Tourism objects | 225 seen

In today's photo article I will speak about another neighborhood in Tbilisi - Varketili. Varketili is most probably famous because of the Varketili metro line connecting this part of city with city cente.In today's article most of the pictures are focused around exactly at this metro station.

Varketili is probably not the most tourist visited place in Tbilisi, if you are hoping to find lovely wood carved balconies here or enjoy a swim in a sulfur bath you most probably wont find anything from that here. I haven' t double checked this, but apartment rent in Varketili are one of the cheapest options in Tbilisi. I know at least two expats living in this neighborhood. On the other hand Varketili is one of the largest Tbilisi massive and it' s very huge.

The best way of getting here - Tbilisi metro.

Varketili metro

You barely can notice that somewhere here actually a metro station is located, connecting you with Tbilisi city center in matter of couple of minutes (10-15 minutes) Actually Varketili was one of the hardest neighborhoods to actually photograph for me. I was so confused of large masses of…

Giant Plane Tree in Telavi

2 January, 2016 | Tourism objects | 309 seen

There is a biggest tree in Georgia located in the city center of Telavi (Region of Kakheti). It's not only giant, it is more than 900 years old as well.

I discovered this tree back in October , 2015, during a day trip to region of Kakheti, we made a 5 minute stop here, I got an opportunity to photograph it with my mom posing next to it.

The Giant Plane tree in Telavi, Republic of Georgia

It's width is about 12 meters and height 46 meters.

The Giant Plane tree in Telavi, Republic of Georgia

The plane tree in Telavi is near the ‘Batonis Tsikhe’ (the Prince’s Castle), the Batonis Tsqharo’ (the Prince’s Spring) and the monument to the great Georgian King of the 18th century Heracles II. Source: Platan

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The Giant tree in Telavi

It is known that the great Georgian writers Ilia Tchavtchavadze, Akaki Dseretheli, Vazha-Phshavela and other Georgian or foreign public figures were visited to see the plane tree in Telavi. As earlier, there are so many guests to see the tree, which attract and charm the visitors by its greatness and beauty. Source: Georgian Genealogy

Platanus Orientalis…

One Second a Day Video Project (November 7 - December 9, 2015)

1 January, 2016 | Digital Photography School | 15 seen

I decided to great the New Year of 2016 with a 32-second video flashback I made at the end of 2015, filmed mostly in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.

​The idea of creating one second a day video project arrived at me after I watched the movie Chef (2014). I was already doing my 365 days photo project and for the 32 days it was both fun and entertaining to both photograph and film, then post-process, e.t.c. It was a harsh experience as well. But it was worth every additional hour spent to produce a daily second video.

• Master class in Asian Cuisine
• The Tiger Lillies Concert Review in Tbilisi
• ​Wanderings In The Tbilisi Old Town (HDR Efex Pro)
• Eating at some of the Tbilisi restaurants
• Lisi Lake in Tbilisi (Georgia)
• Listening to Classical Music at Tbilisi Baroque Festival
• East Point Shopping Mall in Tbilisi
• ​and other

All videos were shot with my Canon 1200D DSLR camera, some videos are shot from a tripod.

I wanted to make this in Adobe Premiere but ended up simply uploading…

Sieksāte Church and Monastery Complex Under Construction

31 December, 2015 | Tourism objects | 17 seen

"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28

There is to be constructed a new Lutheran church and a monastery in Sieksāte Latvia. In above image you can see construction works from site from Summer 2015.

Let me wish you all the best for next 2016!

Campsite Kurzemes Pērle

30 December, 2015 | Lakes | 19 seen

Campsite Kurzemes pērle is located in the beautiful and picturesque surroundings just 200 meters from the Sepenes Lake.

I discovered this place doing a random driving around spectacular places in Latvia. Just after Podnieku Lake and Pastaiga mākoņos we turned our car and drove here.

Kurzemes pērle actually is a campsite with accommodations, which should mean I should tag it under hotel reviews, but since we didn't stay here overnight I'm listing this site under Tourism objects -> Lakes 

Entrance gates at Kurzemes pērle campsite

Sēpenes lake

Info point at Kurzemes pērle

Gazebo 

Guesthouse Kurzemes pērle

At Kurzemes pērle campsite

Holiday House Kurzemes pērle

Kurzemes pērle is located in the beautiful and picturesque surroundings and just 200 metres from the Sepenes Lake. It offers self-catering accommodation with a children’s playground and a tennis court. The cottages and holiday home at Kurzemes pērle are done in wood and come with a TV and a private bathroom with a shower. Some feature…

Expo Georgia Exhibition Center in Tbilisi

29 December, 2015 | Tourism objects | 104 seen

One of my first memories from Georgia are very related with Expo Georgia Exhibition center, back in April 2011 when I first arrived to Georgia, just shortly I had an opportunity to visit a fair held here - Caucasus Tourism Fair. Back then I realized how important this venue place is for doing business in Georgia.

• Caucasus Tourism Fair 2014
• Georgian - Latvian Business Forum

If you are up to meeting new prospects or looking for some strong ties - fairs held here are absolutely worth of it.

• Potential Business Partner Search In Republic Of Georgia

In today's article I would rather speak of territory of this place and provide some cool pictures I made here at the start of December 2015.

Pavilion #1 at Expo Georgia exhibition center in Tbilisi

I above picture there are actually 5 pictures merged together, blended into nice panoramic photography. If you would like more how I'm doing these, make sure to check out my digital photography school tutorials.

Expo Georgia, set within the post- industrial Didube-Chugureti district of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is a 15-hectare campus…

Recreation Center Near Tirelu Lake - Pastaiga Mākoņos

28 December, 2015 | Lakes | 28 seen

We were just randomly driving around beautiful Latvia and headed here just after had a stop at Podnieku lake.

This place is pretty popular and well known for locals and huge was our surprise when we noticed a turnpike which stopped our ride in the territory of this recreation center. There were no people or no option to call somebody to open the gates, so we left were we were, I made a few photos and turned our car back. I hope to visit this place some next time to see it from "inside".

Gazebo with road signs

It took 4 km from this place drive to get to the Pastaiga mākoņos.

Turnpike 

Our drive ended here

Tirelu water reservoir 

You need to get a permit for fishing or using this water reservoir for any kind of activities

Pastaiga mākoņos near Tirelu lake

I took distance photography from here. Well, basically that's all. I hope to return to this place in future and hope to get past that turnpike.

Designed for both business and leisure travel, Pastaiga Makonos Hotel is ideally situated in Embute…

Kafe Bari Zodiako in Telavi

27 December, 2015 | Restaurant reviews | 23 seen

Kafe bari Zodiako, most probably in English would sound as Cafe - bar Zodiako, but I really enjoy the Georgian version. Kafe bari Zodiako is located in town of Telavi (Region of Kakheti) in Republic of Georgia. This place was recommended to us by our driver, when we were on Kakheti tour. 

Kafe bari Zodiako actually is a khinkali place, the only food you can get there is khinkali and really tasty and delicious khinkali. It is very much affordable place (well khinkali are one of the most affordable in Georgian cuisine)

For 30 pieces of khinkali, some sodas (lemonades) and coffee we paid less than 25 Lari (and we were four people)

Khinkhali place in Telavi

Kafe-Bari Zodiako

Unfortunately my written Georgian is not so good and I contacted a friend, with help of whom we transliterated it's written - Kafe-Bari Zodiako here

Outdoor Patio at Kafe Bari Zodiako

Grapes

It was in the middle of October, 2015 we visited this place, grapes were very juicy

Khinkali at Zodiako in Telavi

Operation - Saving Swans

26 December, 2015 | | 3 seen

That happened in Summer 2015 on a highway connecting Liepaja with Riga in Latvia. We were returning home from Liepāja and enjoyed a newly constructed (renovated) Liepāja highway, when suddenly we had to stop our car because of a Swan family walked just in the middle of the highway in front of our car.

Swans looked confused, they were trying to get somewhere, as we later learned - they were searching for a lake.

Swan family walking in the middle of highway

Swan family

Lady helping to lead swans to the lake

Searching for the happiness 

Happy ending

East Point Shopping Mall in Tbilisi

25 December, 2015 | Shopping Venues | 67 seen

There is a new and modern shopping center recently built and opened for public in Tbilisi. Meet East Point. Located in suburbs of Varketili (neighborhood of Tbilisi) next to Kakheti highway on the road to Tbilisi Airport.

More than 150 clothing, shoes and accessories fashion retailers under one roof for your unique taste. Bowling and 8-ball pool in a very exquisite environment. A huge entertainment area specially built for children, 10 movie theaters with brand new movies and world premieres.  You can pump up at one of the many food courts located on a special avenue to enhance your shopping experience. 

For past couple of years we have been doing our weekly or bi-weelky shopping in another shopping center located in other side of Tbilisi - Tbilisi mall, but now I feel we shall visit this place more often. I actually first time visited East Point mall for a photography practice in frames of Georgia Expat Photographer club organized event. 

East point shopping mall in Tbilisi

East point shopping mall in Tbilisi

This is actually a great place not only for shopping and…

Christmas Charity Winter Fair in Tbilisi 2015

24 December, 2015 | Living in Georgia | 12 seen

Christmas charity Winter Fair was held in Tbilisi's Radisson Blu Iveria hotel on December 5, 2015. Winter fair was organized by International Women's Association Georgia (IWAG) and as in all previous year we paid a visit here and bought a lot of goodies. Money spent on such fairs goes to the charity,

Read more:

• Christmas Charity Winter Fair in Tbilisi Sheraton Hotel (2014)
• Christmas charity fair in Tbilisi (2013)

In this year's Winter fair a total of 23 diplomatic missions located in Georgia took participation: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, China, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and United States of America.

Together with diplomatic mission  local artist and craftsmen works were featured during this fair.

Basket of sweets from Latvian Embassy in Tbilisi

Wood made toys from Georgian craftsmen 

Christmas trees at Radisson Blu Iveria Hotel lobby in Tbilisi

Traditional snacks from Czech Republic…

Minimum Wage Set to Rise in All Baltic States in 2016

23 December, 2015 | Macroeconomics | 9 seen

There have been some positive improvements for raising the minimum wage in all three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) in recent years. And there are more to come. In 2016 minimum wage is set to rise in all Baltic states. Estonia will have a minimum wage of EUR 430; Latvia - EUR 370 and Lithuania - EUR 350.

Update: Minimum Wage Set to Rise in the Baltic States in 2018

Here are my previous articles about minimum wage in Baltic states:

• Minimum wage in the Baltic States 2013 and 2014
• Minimum wage in the Baltic States 2015

*Minimum wage in Lithuania was increased twice in 2015; to EUR 300 at the start of 2015 and to EUR 325 in July 2015

Estonia is leading this trio with pretty impressive monthly minimum wage advantage of EUR 60 if compared to Latvia, and even EUR 80 if compared to…

Podnieku Lake Near Kalvene in Latvia

22 December, 2015 | Lakes | 16 seen

Podnieku lake is located close to the Kalvene in Western Latvia. We headed here while returning back from Liepāja (probably we were eating paella's and empanadas at Tex-Mex Klondaika restaurant prior).

This lake seems in past has been some popular recreational area, there were a lot of camping sites and rumor has it here even was a cafeteria. Nobody knows for sure what happened to this place and why any development tasks has stopped. I believe it won't take long and Podnieku lake will be turned again in a popular recreational area. But for know take a look how it looked like here in Summer 2015.

If you are up to for some eco tourism adventures - Podnieku lake has a lot to offer. Be careful with bonfire - most probably it's not allowed without a special permit to burn a bonfire in Latvia.

Abandoned camping house at Podnieku lake

Functional WC

Footbridge

A boat and footbridge at Podnieku lake

Most probably that boat is leaky and you shouldn't try it out. 

Podnieku lake

Akhali (New) Shuamta Monastery Complex

21 December, 2015 | Churches and Monasteries | 21 seen

If you are traveling to the region of Kakheti in Georgia and your road is leading through the Telavi town, there are a few interesting tourist sites to visit and one of them is monastery complex Akhali Shuamta. 

We arrived to this site just shortly we paid a visit to another Dzveli Shuamta monastery. In fact that's a good idea to visit both monastery complexes together. 

The monastery was founded in the XVI century by the king of Kakheti Leon and his wife Tinatin. Queen Tinatin was tonsured a nun in the same Monastery and is Buried there.

Akhali Shuamta monastery complex

New Shuamta Monastery lies near Telavi, on the wooded slope of ,,Tsivgombori’’ mountain. The Monastery got its name because of its site –it is surrounded from three sides by the mountains. ,,Shuamta’’ means – among the mountains.

The guests of the Monastery are requested to wait at the gate for the sister of the Monastery, who will lead them into the Church.

Notice, there is a smaller sign informing…