Black Sea Arena Georgia
Black Sea Arena is an indoor arena located on the coast of the Black Sea in Shekvetili, Guria, Georgia, some 45 km north of Batumi, the country's second largest city.The venue, designed by the architects from the German company Drei Architekten, is the largest open concert hall in the Caucasus. The auditorium has a capacity of 10,000 seats in circular grandstands.The American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera performed at the official opening of the Black Sea Arena on July 30, 2016.Black Sea Arena in Georgia
Batumi McDonald's
The coolest McDonald's building probably is located in Georgian seaside town Batumi.Officially opened for public already back in 2013, this place has been featured in countless architecture award magazines across the World.Named as the World’s Best Commercial Building 2014 (source: Batumi McDonald’s: World’s Best Commercial Building 2014)The restaurant, designed by Harvard-graduate and Georgian architect Giorgi Khmaladze, was named Building of the Year in the Commercial Architecture category in an international competition by world architecture firm Arch Daily.Batumi McDonald'sThe Batumi building combined a McDonald’s restaurant with a fuel station and recreational areas…
Joseph Stalin Museum in Gori
The Joseph Stalin Museum is a museum in Gori, Georgia dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, who was born in Gori. The Museum retains its Soviet-era characteristics.The museum has three sections, all located in the town's central square. It was officially dedicated to Stalin in 1957.With the downfall of the Soviet Union and independence movement of Georgia, the museum was closed in 1989, but has since been reopened, and is a popular tourist attraction.The Stalin Museum (in the background), with the birth house of Stalin in the foregroundEnshrined within a Greco-Italianate pavilion is a small wooden hut, in which Stalin…
Villa St Maria Boutique hotel Jūrmala
Offering a sauna, boutique hotel Villa St Maria is set in the heart of Jurmala on the main pedestrian promenade Jomas street, some 400 m from Dzintari Concert Hall.In summers guests can enjoy a lounge terrace on the rooftop of the hotel and an on-site restaurant with Japanese, Korean and European cuisine and drinks.We booked this hotel for a short one night stay before departing back to Tbilisi in May 2019. We paid EUR 68 for a stay here.Aparthotel Villa St Maria in JūrmalaEvery room at this hotel is air conditioned and comes with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.They feature an individual design and are equipped with a kitchenette, seating area and a private balcony or a terrace.…
May 2019 Dividend Income Report - $216.17
Welcome to the twenty-fifth (#25) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks, peer to peer lending (both fiat and cryptocurrencies) in May 2019.Summer is finally here in Georgia and more time we are spending outdoors.Actually, at the start of May, we took a short 10 day trip to Latvia, trying delicious seafood at Jūrmala restaurants and more. I would love to feature some great landscape of Latvian nature here, but I missed it as most of the time I made nice family portraits instead.Photo of the month - HDR clouds over TbilisiTime after time I love to install a tripod at one (out of three) of our balconies and…
How To Merge Vocabularies on Drupal (Taxonomy Manager)
A couple of years ago I launched the Piece of Life project in the frames of this blog. The idea was simple - instead of building a separate website for our photo stories, incorporate it in already established blog
After a quick brainstorming - it was realized using additional content types and vocabularies
I decided to run this project as a separate entity inside the frames of my blog for two reasons: Firstly, I'm an author of about 50% of images made for Piece of Life, so yes I have a voice to be heard by the other 50%. Second - we could go with a separate photo project website, most probably beautifully built on Drupal, but here is the catch - I didn…
Resort Ujarma
Resort Ujarma is located on the banks of Iori river some 32 km from Tbilisi (about 40 minute drive with a car)The main feature of the Resort Ujarma is healing water with iodine and bromine. The entire territory of the resort covered in forest. The climate is characteristic of the low mountains of eastern Georgia, relatively wet.We discovered this interesting - back to the USSR style, place on a lovely Saturday morning in early June 2019, after agreeing to drive after one of the most delicious barbeques you can find at Iosebis Duqani restaurant in Sasadilo village near Ujarma.Additionally, the better side of me took a quick look at Google Maps to see, what's nearby - and…
Grill Bar Lighthouse Jūrmala
Grill bar Lighthouse is centrally located on Jomas street in Jūrmala. We visited this place in early May 2019, during a short 10 day trip to Latvia. Before diving in details - I should note - grill bar Lighthouse is a kid-friendly place, our then 9-month old daughter enjoyed here a lotGrill bar Lighthouse serves traditional seasonal Latvian cuisine and not only, but you will also find seafood like shrimps and tuna.Grill bar Lighthouse in JūrmalaGrill bar „Lighthouse” is a familial, comfortable and opened place. The light interior with elements of homely design is simple and sophisticated at the same time. The restaurant is friendly to families with children because it provides…
Secret Tunnel Near Tbilisi Sulfur Bath's
Ok, probably this tunnel is not so secret after all.In fact, I was more than 100% sure that the name of this place is Kolga Tbilisi Photo Tunnel, as I have seen a photo exhibition at this tunnel, but Kolga.ge is stubbornly silent on this matter.Turns out the name for this place is "Leghvtakhevi Tunnel" and the owner of the place is Meidan Group. (see comments)Kolga Tbilisi Photo organises exhibitions throughout the city, but it doesn't mean that Kolga Tbilisi Photo owns the tunnel, Baratashvili Bridge, galleries and etc.Located on one level with the river flowing through the Sulfur bath districtTbilisi sulfur bath districtAbanotubani is one of the most attractive…
Rebi Gurjaani Restaurant
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 restaurantMenu at Rebi GurjaaniKababs and mcvadi at Rebi Gurjaani restaurant
Castello Mare Hotel & Wellness Resort
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 viewEach 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…
Chateau Eniseli
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 EniseliOffering 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 EniseliAs we were traveling in a large company, I had to book 3 rooms…
April 2019 Dividend Income Report - $164.24
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 KazbekMount 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…
Autosole Economy Motel in Riga
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 RigaAll 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…
Restaurant Antre Batono Ubisa
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 BatonoLovely reminds me of the places seen in Greece or SpainFresh cucumber/tomato saladsRestaurant Antre Batono near Ubisa
Restaurant Marani in Vertkvichala
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 MaraniThe 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 MaraniThe 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…
Park Inn by Radisson Riga Valdemara
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 hotelEach air-conditioned room is equipped with a…
Hofbrau Munchen Gudauri
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/enAnyhow, 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 TbilisiOutdoor…
Tsalka
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…
Restaurant 'Piano" in Liepāja
The 'Piano' is a World class restaurant located in Promenade hotel in LiepājaEnjoy 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…