Blog Archive: December 2015
Sieksāte Church and Monastery Complex Under Construction
| Tourism objects | 14 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
| Lakes | 18 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
About Kurzemes pērleKurzemes 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
| Tourism objects | 102 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
| Lakes | 21 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.
According to Agoda, there is actually a hotel located insideDesigned for both business and leisure travel, Pastaiga Makonos Hotel is ideally situated in Embute…
Kafe Bari Zodiako in Telavi
| Restaurant reviews | 22 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
| | 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
| Shopping Venues | 65 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
| 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
| Macroeconomics | 5 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
| Lakes | 13 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
| Churches and Monasteries | 19 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…
Listening to Classical Music at Tbilisi Baroque Festival
| Living in Georgia | 13 seen
Tbilisi Baroque Festival was held from November 13 till December 6, 2015 in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia.
There is something in the classical music. I don't know exactly what, but I have found that lately I'm starting to enjoy it. Maybe that was the reason I allowed to convince me to visit a Tbilisi Baroque festival.
On December 3rd we visited Sergio Azzolini and Christine Busch concert in Rustaveli Theater.
Tbilisi Baroque Festival
About Tbilisi Baroque FestivalThe word "Baroque" (French) – means a "rough or imperfect pearl." This style has been conceived approximately in 1600-ies in genres of sculpture, painting, literature, music and spread all over the Europe of those times. The course was aspiring to the greatness of art and to more effective, non-domestic forms. Many layers of the world culture had their influences on the formation of this phenomenon. Performing with maximally close manner and on the corresponding instruments, has a great popularity in Europe for decades already. Besides aesthetical and exotic load, such performances are interesting from the point of view of the history as well. For example, we…
Visa Free Travel For Georgian Citizens Entering European Union
| Living in Georgia | 4 seen
December 18, 2015 marked another important milestone for Georgia - European Commission agreed to lift visa requirements for Georgian citizens entering European Union.
According to record from European Commission visa free travel will enter in force in 2016.
I have been following Georgia's aspirations and developments entering and joining European organizations probably since day 1, when first arrived to Georgia back in April, 2011, and I believe this is a very important step for Georgia.
Here are few notes from my blog: Back on 2014 Georgia has signed Association Agreement with European Union after a short time Georgian government announced that Georgia Expects Visa Free Travel to EU by End of 2015 and that actually Georgia Plans To Have Full membership in EU in 5-10 Years.
Now the visa part is formally completed, it's time to look into further steps of joining EU. Who knows, maybe we will see Georgia joining European Union in a decade or so.
Georgian and European Union Flags in streets of Tbilisi
I took above picture on December 19, 2015 in the…
Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art in Tbilisi
| Museums | 113 seen
I don't call myself an art or museum person, thus time by time I visit some exhibition, and that's exactly happened again at start of December, 2015 - For the first time I visited Tbilisi MoMA (Museum of Modern Art). And it happened by accident. It started as a planed visit to classical music event in frames of Tbilisi Baroque Festival. We left our apartment early and had some time to spend on lively Rustaveli avenue, for a starter we headed to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to enjoy cup of tasty latte, when another great spontaneous idea arrived - let's visit a museum which proudly bares the MOMA name.
It turned out to be - Zurab Tsereteli Museum of Modern Art, as I have learnt now, by writing these lines - Zurab Tsereteli is very well known artist in Georgia and Russia, according to Wikipedia - Zurab Tsereteli is a Georgian-Russian painter, sculptor and architect who holds the office of President of the Russian Academy of Arts.
At Zurab's Tsereteli's Museum of Modern Art museum are featured his own works, as well other artist works are featured here in this…
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Rustaveli Avenue (Tbilisi)
| Restaurant reviews | 29 seen
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf seems is a popular coffee shop brand in US. Thus I thought this is some Georgian brand when first noticed (and a lot of times actually visiting) the one located at Tbilisi Mall. In today's article about Tbilisi restaurants I will speak about The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi.
In this location there were before another great French style pastry Entree. Entree still is in business and you can find it on other locations in Tbilisi.
Located on lively Rustaveli avenue in Tbilisi
It features an outdoor patio which most probably best is enjoyed in Summertime
Gingerbread cookies
Huge latte
Tasty chicken sandwich
The Bottom LineThe Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is a great place offering great coffee, delicious cakes and tasty sandwiches. It is run according to Western standards. Prices at this place are well above average, but hey you are getting what you paid for.