Blog Archive: January 2017

Blog Traffic and Income Report 2016 - 635,048 Users / $18,586.41

31 January, 2017 | Blogging | 47 seen

It is just that time of the year  when I'm looking back on previous 2016 year in my blogger's career.

In today's article I will reveal some data behind the blog scenes - both traffic and income for the whole year of 2016.

This blog now is more than three years old, and for the last three years it has gone a long way, I have developed my writer skills from so so to average, there is still a long way to make them good and polish to perfect. The good news - I have enjoyed blogging process a lot, it have helped me to make new connections, make new friendships and grow me as a personality. 

If you have been following my blog for a while, you have already probably noticed that I publish quarterly reports (In fact for the years of 2014 and 2015 I made monthly income reports, but I decided to go with quarter reports since, as I think they illustrates better overall scene about blog growth)  Make sure you check them out: Online Income reports. This article is a round up posts for previous four quarterly reports. 

See previous yearly reports:

• Blog Income Report 2014 - $3,334.20
• Blog Traffic and Income Report for 2015 - 347,035 users / $9,819.71

About blog traffic in 2016

Blog has gone a long way in 2016 and has increased it's monthly visitor count from  about 45,000 in January to more than 70,000 users in December. 

• In total blog have reached 635,058 users in 2016
• In average it is 52,921 monthly users or
• 1,739 daily visitors

Blog traffic report (monthly view). Data source: Google Analytics

As it happened back in 2015 and 2014, the biggest traffic gains happened in the last two quarters of the year (Q3 and Q4), with December making all times best. Blog  generated a little bit more than 900,000 pageviews in 2016. Would love to see cracking 1 million page views. See: How I grew my blog to 1 million Pageviews in 34 months

2016 VS 2015

I can proudly report that in 2016 blog have experienced 83% traffic gain if compared to 2015

Blog traffic 2016 vs 2015 (monthly view). Data source: Google Analytics

Both sessions and unique users are up by more than 70%, page views are up by more than 77%, but pages per session have decreased by -3.74% from 1.30 in 2015 to 1.25 in 2015.

This is the position makes me worried the most - low pages per session ration isn't good, and I really need to figure out how to increase pages per session in 2017. On the other hand Bounce rate ration is down by -4.31% from 67.95% in 2015 to 65.02% in 2016. Average session duration has been the same both in 2015 and 2016: 01.30 minutes. 

Top 10 most popular articles

In total I have written 469 articles in 2016, on average that is 1.28 article per day. Back in 2015 I have written 479 articles and Back in 2014 I have written in total 428 articles. More or less I have pretty stable schedule.

Top 10 articles (according to Google Analytics) generated 50.93% from total page views on blog. Ten articles generated more than half of the page views. 5 articles in this top have been written back in 2015, 2 articles are from 2014 and 3 articles are from 2016.

Pretty similar scene I observed last year, when most of the content was from previous years. I believe it's normal, of course I would love to see more fresh content being the most viewed, but on the other hand having a massive archive really helps on getting more traffic.

Desktop VS Mobile VS Tablet

For the third year I'm including data about devices users are accessing this blog

Mobile device users (Data Source: Google Analytics)

Nope, desktop still dominated in 2016. 

As you can see from image above - Desktop users still accounts for most of the visits at this blog making in total 57.43%, followed by mobile devices (36.59%) and tablets (5.97%).

On the other hand the percentage of desktop users are decreasing, back in 2015, there were 63.51% desktop users and just 29.46% mobile users. In 2016 users from desktop have lost it position for about 6%, while increased for mobiles (6%) and decreased for tablets (-1%)

One thing I have noticed here - bounce rates from mobile and tablets are lower than from desktop, and pretty significant lower, the same applies for average time spent on blog.

Demographics: Age and Gender

Using Google Analytics Display features I was able to track down demographics for my blog. Learn How To Enable Google Analytics Display Features

Demographics: Age & Gender (Data source: Google Analytics)

According to the Google Analytics primary audience for this blog are males (68.7%) in age between 25-34 (37.35% from total sessions). I'm a male and I fell into this age category as well, so probably it's not a surprise seeing we have some common interests?

The next biggest audience are persons in age group 18-24, making 24.05% from total session, followed by age group 35-44 with 18.44% from total sessions.

Persons in age group 18-44 makes about 79.84% from all sessions. So if you are wondering who is actually reading blogs, now you have some basic idea.

Demographics: Location

There are no huge changes in TOP 5, with except that India have switched places with United Kingdom, climbing to the second place. And Georgia have switched ranks with Canada. Georgia (country I have been living for the past 5+ years now ranks 4th, that is not a surprise for me not at all, as I cover many articles on Georgia. See All About Georgia. 

Demographics: Location (Data source: Google Analytics)

• Around 1/5 of blog traffic are coming from the US (21.18%), followed by India (10.02%) and United Kingdom (7.88%). Traffic from the US if compared to previous year of 2015 has decreased from about 22.73%, while UK has decreased from 10.22% and India increased from 7.80%.
• Georgia ranks 4th with 5.24% (increase from 4.14% in 2015) and Canada ranks 5th with 3.29% (decrease from 4.26% in 2015)
• United Arab Emirates (2.63%), Philippines (2.25%) and Indonesia (1.77%) are newcomers to top.
• Germany (2.05%) and Australia (1.72%) also have made to the top 10 in 2016.

Now I believe in future traffic from countries like India, UAE, Philippines and Indonesia will only increase

Traffic sources:

Google dominates for the third year in a row

Traffic Sources 2016 (Data Source: Google Analytics)

• Google sent majority of visitors (83.66%)
• Direct traffic, which I believe is a repeat visitors from Google, counts for 8.80%
• Facebook turned out to be the most successful social media site to drive traffic in 2016, desktop and mobile combined sent  2.61% of traffic
• Reddit - 1.17%
• Yahoo - 0.41%
• Bing: 0.28%

I wouldn't say I have developed some good social media strategy I was looking to do back at the 2015. Social media actually is tough to compete in - I have been spending on Facebook ads but don't consider them important right now. 

About Blog Income

Combined income streams from affiliate marketing and display ads in 2016 made  $18,586,41, which is almost double I made with blog in 2015.

See complete list of tools, resources, affiliate partner programs and display ads I'm using: Resources

• $18,586.41 is around $1,548.86 per month or
• $50.92 per day

Combined RPM from all revenue channels stands at $20.50 for in 2016.

RPM (Reach per Mile) - stands for earnings for 1000 page views/impression

RPM 2016

Throughout the year RMP values have varied from about $13 at the start of year to $26.05 at the last quarter in 2016.

Actually after having average RPM for about $20 makes me feel very good, as I think it's a good value. I wonder will I manage to increase RPM in 2017? As speaking for the previous year (2015) RPM was at $19.27. A slight increase or decrease can make a lot difference at the final earnings. 

About Expenses in 2016

Now this is the tricky part - as I've a simple philosophy regarding to spending, I like to keep it short - to earn some money, you should spend some money.

In 2016 I spent in following positions:

• Facebook Ads: $164.54
• KeyCDN: $58
• Linode VPS: $412.50
• Godaddy: $17.17
• Google AdWords: $58.4
• Other: $156

Total: $866.61

Goals / Forecasts for 2017

As usually I will end report with some thoughts about future plans and forecast. But before that, let's see what I was forecasting a year ago:

In 2016 I'm looking to reach 650,000 unique visitors, which makes about 54K in month (I think very doable) and $12,000 in income ($1,000 per month) - hard but doable.

Now, I've missed about 15,000 users in 2016 from my initial goal, though I would love to count in this goal as achieved. Speaking of financial goals I set for 2016, I have completed and even exceeded it for more than $6,000. Excellent.

Speaking about goals for 2017: I'm looking to cross 1 million user milestone, which makes about 83,3K users monthly. My financial goal is more humble - $22,000 income. 

Fall Through The Ceiling, Dig a Trench Around Foundations, Stone Wall Concreting

29 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 7 seen

Think I have written about all topics mentioned in title already?

You are right, I indeed have, see: Digging a trench around existing foundation, Stone Wall Concreting. But that's just for the other part of house, now we are mowing to other side and repeating most of the works we did on opposite side - we will remove old log walls and replace them with aac blocks, but before that there is still some need to perform preparation works.

So what about falling through the ceiling? Yes, indeed, this was one of the scariest days in my life as for the second, while removing some boards from loft, I accidently put my foot, where I knew I shouldn't, at one part of house, there were just a fake ceiling made from cardboard. Once I accidentally stepped on it, it went all dark along my eyes and for that short milliseconds I was failing, I made a lot of thinking, what I was thinking about? Not to broke anything and how to re-group my body to fall safely. It's just wonders what our mind can do to us in critical moments, I indeed regrouped my body and landed safely without any trauma or something just some scratch on hands and legs and a huge startle. 

Ceiling through which I fell out

I landed safely not hitting that large canister or any other traumatic element down there. I landed perfectly not hitting anything. The total height here, not so high after all, maybe just some 2 meters.

I believe in mystic things, my life have taught to believe. After this fall out, I started to think something bad is happening somewhere else, with somebody probably, with somebody close to me. I called all my relatives and asked is everything is fine, when my mom told, that a sister of my grandfather is being buried today (I never had chance to know here) - and I understood, this fall was related to my distant relative, probably she was angry I haven't remembered her or something. 

Think I'm joking? I'm not! Last time when I almost got hit by a car in Tbilisi while ridding a bicycle my dear uncle (brother of my grandmother died). I take things like this seriously. Later in evening we lighted some candles and paid respect to deceased one.

Anyway home remodeling is a tough one, probably not meant for everyone, a year ago my brother almost fall of from the roof, while taking chimney down. See: Replacing Roof - Part 3: Removing the old roofing (Losing Chimney)

Gosh, sounds like some cursed house we have, which is not true actually. Yes, there are some formations probably living in house ( the house is more than 120 years old), but here is the thing I did in Spring when we left Tbilisi - I took our Georgian home spirit and we traveled together to this house - I introduced the old spirits with the new Georgian guy, and Georgian spirit did the trick. We are safe and blessed. Gaumarjos and Didi Madloba!

Now back to the remodeling stuff:

Preparing stone wall for concreting

We will need to install bearing beams here and we will need to fix old and ruined wall. I had a great assistant, a hired worker, who did most of the work, I just photographed and prepared mortar.

Digging a trench around existing foundation

Now, this was a total disaster, it turned out that there is no foundation at all, just rubble in two rows above ground. And I thought a tragedy is just a missing foundation. No -  a tragedy is no foundation at all.

Work scene

At this stage we started our prays again, praying that the corner without foundation wouldn't just fall as I did in the morning, as we still had to dig a trench and start pouring in concrete.

Stone wall concreted

At least we managed to concrete this stone wall. With a concrete mixer it's actually pretty easy work to do.

The loft

See how we took a chimney down here, earlier this Summer.

So what we are building here? We are building an auxiliary room to store water pumps and stuff like that, it's planned that there will be a nice entrance to the bath, but that's a story for another year.

Georgia in Winter (Photos from Tbilisi)

29 January, 2017 | | 14 seen

There is a good reason to visit Georgian skiing resorts in Gudauri, Bakuriani or Mestia if you are up to a winter holidays in Georgia.

See: Gudauri - Georgian Winter Capital for skiing, snowboarding, paragliding and heli-skiing

On the other hand, here at Piece of Life series, we love to feature and document photo stories happening around us. A simple thing like a snow in Tbilisi (which is rare, actually) or Total Lunar Eclipse makes us to leave our cozy apartment and go out and document. 

A year ago (January 24, 2016) we featured our first story on snow in Tbilisi See: Tbilisi - Fairyland in Winter

A year later, on Saturday's morning, January 28, 2017 snow in Tbilisi surprised us again

Snow in Tbilisi

We started our story on recently reconstructed David Aghmanasgebeli street, see: New Life for Agmashenebeli avenue, Tbilisi

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Metal cat overlooking David Aghmeneshabeli street in Tbilisi

There are many cool sculptures/ installations on Aghmeneshabeli street

Still waiting for customers

Embankment near Dry Bridge

Actually a very good place for photography, see: 6 Tips For taking awesome night photography or read article about: Flea Market Near Dry Bridge In Tbilisi

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Dancing sculptures near Shardeni

Rike park in snow

See article about Rike Park In Tbilisi

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View from our apartment's balcony

I would say a historic photo, as during our more than 3 years lease here, it was the first time I've seen snow, the tree in front is a laurel (Laurus nobilis)

Kiev Boryspil International Airport

28 January, 2017 | Airports | 52 seen

Boryspil International Airport  is an international airport in Boryspil, 29 km  east of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

It is the country's largest airport, serving 65% of its passenger air traffic, including all its intercontinental flights and a majority of international flights. It is one of two passenger airports that serve Kiev along with the smaller Zhulyany Airport.

Kiev's Borispol airport marks my first entrance to the Ukrainian land (at the end of December 2016) during connecting flight Tbilisi - Kiev - New York by Ukrainian airlines.

Unfortunately our connecting flight to New York was delayed for 10 hours and I had plenty of time to explore this airport.

Photo exhibit at Borispol airport's transit zone

As a reminder for travelers like me - that Ukraine is having really hard times right now - Photo exhibit dedicated to the Ukrainian soldiers.

Speaking of airport itself - cozy and very good. There are smoking rooms available plenty of cafeterias and of course Tax Free shopping. For my surprise, goods at Borispol airport weren't expensive at all. The best there is a Free Wi-Fi with high speed internet available throughout the airport terminal.

Waiting lounge at Borispol airport in Kiev

Boryspil International Airport handles most of Ukraine's international traffic. Terminal B, with only eleven gates, two of which were air bridges, was not enough to handle all international flights. This was the reason for the expansion of that terminal, which started in 2005. The first-stage expansion of Terminal B was opened on 27 January 2006. In 2008, passport control within Terminal B Departures was moved further east (along with the entrance to the main duty-free shop so that it remains airside).

There are plans to expand the airport further by building several new terminals. The government has been having meetings with the owners of nearby land, trying to buy more land for expansion. The construction of Terminal D was approved on 28 July 2008 and was completed in 2012 at a cost of UAH 1.661 billion (USD 208 million). The terminal will have a capacity of 1,500 passengers per hour and cover an area of 44.9 hectares.

By 2020, if all plans proceed, the airport should have a capacity of 18 million passengers per year.

A railway connection to Kyiv is still projected, however, realization seems to be very uncertain due to lack of funds.

Top 10 Plovdiv Hotels in Bulgaria

27 January, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 6 seen

For today's article I've decided to take a look on average hotel price in Bulgaria's Plovdiv and also list TOP 10 hotels there based on Booking.com recommendations.

Now, just recently I booked my first flight to Sofia (capital of Bulgaria), after that I made some "investigation" what to expect in Bulgaria and crafted an article: Planing a Trip to Bulgaria - Hotels, Car Rental, Things to Do, Places to visit and Let's Buy a House There.

In that article I talking about many topics, but one of the first I'm looking to have a nice hotel room both in Sofia and Plovdiv (hopefully with a nice view). 

See: Top 10 Hotels in Sofia (Bulgaria)

I don't find 5-star or luxury hotels in neither in Sofia or Plovdiv being out of my league, seems there are nice hotels in Plovdiv (even in 4 and 5 star category) for a really affordable prices, with the highest price being set at 136 USD per night , average USD 70-80 and lower class, but still really good and decent hotels even starting at ~ USD 35 

In this article I have listed TOP 10 Plovdiv hotels, based on Booking.com recommendations in Plovdiv.

Hotel Evmolpia

Boutique Hotel Evmolpia is set in a traditional Bulgarian Rennaissance house in the heart of Plovdiv Old Town, and just a 2-minute walk from Kapana District. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar, as well as some free wine and the cheese bar.

The rooms are furnished with authentic antique beds and wardrobes and have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Certain rooms feature a seating area where you can relax. You will find a kettle in the room. All rooms are equipped with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find free toiletries and a hairdryer.

Evmolpia Hotel features free WiFi throughout the property. You will find a 24-hour front desk at the property.

The hotel also offers car hire. Roman Theatre Plovdiv is 600 m from Evmolpia Hotel, while International Fair Plovdiv is 900 m from the property. Free parking is provided. 

Price: ~ USD 45 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Ego

Hotel Ego is a newly built hotel furnished to the highest standards, situated in the centre of Plovdiv in the immediate vicinity of the main street and the old town.

The International Fairground and the train station are only a 10-minute drive or a 15-minute walk away, and the historic centre can be easily reached in just a few minutes.

Most rooms are situated on higher floors to provide a quiet stay. In addition, the hotel also features a Finnish sauna, a hairdresser and a dentist, as well as a conference hall with multimedia equipment that can accommodate 25 to 30 people. 

Price: ~ USD 55 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Landmark Creek Hotel & Spa 

Located in the Park of the Rowing Channel in Plovdiv, Landmark Creek Hotel & Spa features a free outdoor pool, a free fitness centre, as well as a spa and wellness centre, including a sauna, for a surcharge. All of the rooms are air conditioned and feature free WiFi.

A flat-screen TV with cable channels and a minibar are offered in each of the rooms. There is also a seating area. A balcony is available as well. The en-suite bathroom comes with a shower, free toiletries and a hairdryer. The rooms open to mountain or creek views.

At guests' disposal, there is a restaurant with a summer garden on site. Services at a surcharge, offered at the Landmark Creek Hotel & Spa include shuttle transfers and car hire. Massages are offered upon request.

The centre of Plovidv and the Old Town can be reached in a 7-minute drive. The building of the International Fair of Plovdiv can be found 6.5 km away. Plovdiv Airport is located 23 km away. 

Price: ~ USD 54 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Residence Hebros

Situated in the heart of Plovdiv’s Old Town, the elegant Hebros is housed in a 200-year old Renaissance building. It features lavish interiors, an award-winning restaurant, and a sauna. The rustic patio is ideal for outdoor dining.

Hotel Residence Hebros offers luxurious guest rooms complete with antique furniture. The modern amenities include free Wi-Fi and a flat-screen TV. Some rooms have a claw-foot bathtub in the bedroom.

The restaurant serves Bulgarian gourmet dishes and international cuisine. The extensive wine list includes over 400 labels, and the restaurant’s sommeliers can recommend suitable wines for each meal.

The closest bus stop lies 150 m from the hotel, while the train station is 2 km away. A popular local attractions is the Balabanov House, just 50 m away. The reception can arrange a pick-up at Plovdiv Airport, 20 km, or Sofia Airport, 120 km away. 

Price: ~ USD 71 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Ramada Plovdiv Trimontium

 Located in the city centre, Ramada Plovdiv Trimontium is 15 km away from Plovdiv Charter Airport and 500 m from the bus station.

The property enjoys an ideal location near the main shopping and business district as well as the old town of this second largest Bulgarian city. It is also next to city garden, with beautiful green scenery and a pleasant, calming atmosphere.

Ramada Plovdiv Trimontium faces the ancient amphitheatre and it is close to the railway station. The elegant rooms with state-of-the-art equipment and a free internet access add to your comfortable stay.

The hotel offers diverse restaurants and bars as well as many great facilities, including swimming pools, a beauty salon, a sauna, a fitness centre and massage services. 

Price: ~ USD 136 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Grand Hotel Plovdiv

Situated at the heart of Plovdiv, on the side of river Maritsa, Grand Hotel Plovdiv looks out towards Plovdiv Old Town and the picturesque Rhodope Mountains. The International Fair is a 5-minute walk away, while Plovdiv's Old Town is a 15-minute walk away.

The spacious, contemporarily designed rooms offer any possible comfort and all those who have to keep in touch can enjoy the convenience of the free Wi-Fi in the entire hotel.

Grand Hotel Plovdiv houses 3 different restaurants, a café and 2 bars, where you can taste delicious delicious local and international meals from the à la carte menu in a friendly and stylish setting.

The hotel also offers at a surcharge a heated indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna, steam bath, hair studio, fitness and relax center with a variety of massages. Facilities include 8 conference halls, with different hosting capacity.

Price: ~ USD 81 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Leipzig

Hotel Leipzig boasts a central location at the foot of one of the Seven Hills of Plovdiv, offering sophisticated and state-of-the-art interior with impeccable services. The biggest mall in the city is only 30 m away.

Set within the centre of the administrative, business and commercial area of the city, Hotel Leipzig is 650 m from the Central Railway Station.

The stylish accommodation units feature individual decorations and modern amenities.

Plovdiv International Fair is a 10-minute drive away. The Ancient Plovdiv, the historical, well-preserved part of the city, is also nearby. 

Price: ~ USD 43 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Old Plovdiv House in Kapana Area

Located in the centre of Plovdiv, 600 m from the Roman Theatre, Old Plovdiv House in Kapana Area offers air-conditioned accommodations with free access to a sauna, a Turkish bath and a fitness centre. Complimentary WiFi is available in all areas.

The units come with flat-screen cable TVs and each features a private bathroom with a shower. The apartments enjoy private terraces with city views and come with well-appointed kitchens.

Guests of Old Plovdiv House in Kapana Area can enjoy traditional Bulgarian dishes in the on-site restaurant, which is set in a historic building. Further dining and shopping options are available in the surroundings and the Plovdiv old town can be reached in a 3-minute walk.

Private parking is available on site, at a surcharge. The guest house is 700 m from the International Fair and 14 km from the Plovdiv Airport. 

Price: ~ USD 38 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Alliance Hotel

Alliance Hotel is situated in the centre of Plovdiv, only a 3-minute walk from the Railway Station and a 10-minute drive from the Plovdiv International Fair. It offers spacious, air-conditioned rooms and free secured underground parking.

All of the rooms, bathrooms and restaurants were renovated in November 2010, adding a modern touch to the Alliance.

The old town of Plovdiv is just a 15-minute walk from the hotel. You can visit the Roman Stadium and the ancient Roman Theatre, which is still active as a cultural centre.

The air-conditioned restaurant Kopcheto serves international cuisine and local dishes. The restaurant is equipped with a fireplace. It also has professional DJ-equipment and a large TV screen. Private transfers from/to Sofia and Plovdiv Airports, are provided upon request at surcharge. 

Price: ~ USD 54 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Apartments Plovdiv

Featuring air conditioning, Plovdiv Apartments are situated in Plovdiv, 900 m from International Fair Plovdiv. Roman Theatre Plovdiv is 900 m away. Free private parking is available and the building has a lift. Free WiFi is also provided.

The accommodation is fitted with a flat-screen TV with a variety of international channels. All units have a dining area, a terrace with panoramic views of the city, a kitchenette filled with a stove, a toaster, an electric kettle and a fridge. Mosquito nets and anti mosquito devices are available. Some units have a washing machine and devices for preparing healthy food. There is a private bathroom with towels, slippers, a hairdryer and free toiletries in each unit. Towels and bed linen are provided.

Continental breakfast and packed food are available upon request. An iron and storage are featured and all beds are equipped with anti allergy, ergonomic mattresses and pillows. There are chess,backgammon, cards, dominoes, mikado and other games on site. Upon request and at a surcharge the property can also arrange car hire, bike hire, horse riding, shuttle services, massage services, cosmetic services, hairdressing, DVD, computer.

Price: ~ USD 45 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Makhuntseti Arched Bridge

26 January, 2017 | Tourism objects | 274 seen

The Makhuntseti Arched Bridge is located in the village with same name, in the Keda municipality (region of Adjara in Georgia) on Batumi - Khulo road.

The bridge is pretty large and holds together on the natural rock stones and lime. The bridge is located above Acharistskali river.

Makhuntseti Arched Bridge

The horizontal length of the bridge among piers is 19.5 meters. The walkway length is 28.7 meters and the width in the middle is 2.5 meters. The height of the arch from water level is 5.6 meters. The piers of the bridge have no holes.

Makhuntseti Arched Bridge

There is a small info board located next to the bridge, with detailed information both in Georgian and English.

During the centuries  restoration works have been made for the bridge. Wit latest restoration works been made in 2018.

Makhuntseti Waterfall is located in a walking distance from this arched bridge. 

Waiting For The Water Level To Rise In The Pond

25 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 11 seen

In the mid Summer 2016, we did a major task - dug a pond, after pond excavation works we were left with a large hole in the middle of our rural property.

There are no incoming streams actually which could fill pond faster and we are left with just rain and snow waters.

Luckily, there were a lot rain this Summer and our small pond started to fill with water.

Pond

Lovely evening mood and cat on the inspection walk.

Pond seems rather really small from picture above, which is not true in fact,it just has been recently excavated and waiting for water to fill in. It took less than two months and even grass have grown back. See: Pond Digging - Part 3 - The Result 

Pond

View towards house from the road side. 

I wonder what will we see this Spring?

About Tbilisi - Kiev - New York Flight by Ukrainian Airlines

24 January, 2017 | Travel guides | 15 seen

In mid-November 2016 I faced an issue which I had to handle in the United States. I had to fly there soon.

In the past I have flied twice to the United States, both time leaving from Warsaw, Poland by Polish Airlines LOT and once have returned back via Istanbul using Turkish airlines flight from Houston. 

This time I decided to make it happen with less layovers as possible and even smaller waiting times. Our first choice was to fly with Turkish Airlines with connecting flight in Istanbul, the price for two persons round trip (Tbilisi - Istanbul - New York) was nice about $1,200, but it involved 8 hour waiting time in Istanbul, which is not nice for such long flights.

We didn't considered Polish Airlines, as the connecting flight in Warsaw is pretty far from Tbilisi. And last time we flied with them the airplane was some old can from 70ies.

And then Ukrainian Airlines popped up - offering amazing deal, waiting time in Kiev airport just about 2 hours for a connecting flight and price the same as Turkish airlines (about $1,200 for two persons round trip Tbilisi - Kiev - New York). So we booked our flight to NYC with Ukrainian Airlines.

Please note - Turkish Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and UIA Ukrainian airlines all have direct flights to Tbilisi, with  connecting hubs in their  base countries (Turkey, Poland and Ukraine)

Before booking our flight we had to renew our ESTA (Visa Waiver Program for select nationals) and here we were at the end of December heading to the New York, to handle some business issues and celebrate New Year's night in New York city.

Flight from Tbilisi to Kiev (Borispol airport) was just a regular, short (about 2 and half hour flight) - regular small Boeing plane, not new not old. Simple and very OK for such a short flight. 

When we arrived to Borispol airport in Ukraine, it was announced that our New York flight will be delayed for 10 hours. Personal at UIA Ukraine airlines was not very polite and didn't wanted to answer on our fair questions, there were a bunch of people flying route Tbilisi - Kiev - New York, at least some 10-12 persons. We all were told to wait some official announcements. I told screw you Ukrainian Airlines I'm going to  take at least some city sightseeing trip by my own, as I don't want to sit at airport for 10 hours. It would be just normal if the representatives of airline would offer such possibility because of delayed flight, but they didn't (I'm not sure is that even legal)

Anyhow, not to piss ourselves even more, we went to the border check point, presented our passports, got stamps and went for a city sightseeing by our owns.

Kiev is really cheap city, we spent about 40 EUR and drive both taxi's, public buses and even Kiev metro, spent some hours at fancy Kiev restaurants and returned back to the airport some 2 hours before our proposed flight. At that time it was announced flight will be delayed for 30 minutes more. I could start to scream, but I chose not to and just spent the rest of the times at the airports smoking rooms and cafeterias,

Our next connecting flight to New York started. Ohh gosh, the place was the same old can we avoided Polish Airlines because of... the most fun I didn't even had legroom (yes economy class). Luckily we got asleep (somehow) and opened our eyes just after some 9 hours, when it was just about an hour to New York. Thanks Good we had a nice sleep. And thanks God, we landed safely - which is actually what matters most.

It was supposed that we will arrive to NYC in midday, we got booked a hotel in New Jersey, and I was already familiar about public transport options in NYC, so I thought it won't be expensive to get there. As our flight was delayed, we arrived in NYC after midnight, and as I believe there are some of the public transport heading to the Manhattan at that time I was not so sure about public transport to New Jersey. That's why I approached one of the limo service guys at JFK airport and asked what price he would take us to our hotel. We quickly googled and told me $140 (I was ready to pay $200), so I agreed and after about an hour drive though the beautiful Manhattan we checked in at our hotel just shortly after 2:00 AM. We even managed to order Pizza there by phone which was delivered shortly before 3:00 A.M.

Our flight back was after some 10 days again with the same Ukrainian Airlines - New York - Kiev - Tbilisi. We had changed our hotel to the heart of the city (in the Chelsea area, with a nice view towards Empire State building). We checked out from hotel and arranged a yellow street cab to the airport (they have a flat rate from Manhattan to JFK for about USD 65).

Luckily there were no delays at the airport this time and we boarded timely. The plane was still the old junk from 70s with no legroom for me, but again luckily for us, we got asleep and awakened just shortly before landing in Kiev. 

Flight from Kiev to Tbilisi was on time (our waiting time was about 3 hours), and for the surprise of me, the last plane we fly with Ukrainian airlines was the most modern (no, no screens in front of you, but  at least plenty of legroom in the same economy class).

Gosh, we felt lucky being back in Tbilisi.

Makhuntseti Waterfall

23 January, 2017 | Tourism objects | 51 seen

I was more than sure that the name of this waterfall in Keda municipality (region of Adjara) is Queen Tamar Waterfall, and was surprised latter to learn official name is Makhuntseti Waterfall.

No matter of the name, it is just second waterfall I have discovered in Georgia (the other been located behind Tbilisi sulphur baths in Abanotubani district). Waterfalls and water are great for photography. It was in the morning, we left hotel Sputnik in Batumi (in last evening I arranged a taxi driver to take us on the ride to Khulo from Batumi) and this waterfall was our first stop.

It was pretty early still, no tourists on site. The morning was still covered in mist and it was a little bit freezing.

Makhuntseti Waterfall

There are some small cafeteria located near this waterfall, probably it would be nice to enjoy a cup of coffee here. At the time we arrived here, everything was still closed. 

A small channel formed from waterfall

Very lovely place for a photography. Could spend hours with long exposures here.

Makhuntseti Waterfall

The Last Row of Aerated Concrete Blocks Masonry

22 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 16 seen

Now, it was pretty easy to build first six rows of wall from aerated concrete blocks, see Constructing Wall From AAC blocks + Finishing Foundation Concreting Works for Bathroom, Another Day, Another Wall and Lintel Installation & First Coffee Break.

For today's task it was to add last row of aerated concrete blocks, prior to that a 

Wall and supporting beams

Before adding the last row of aerated concrete blocks I made final strengthening of the upper beams.

Pile of aerated concrete blocks

In total for this part of house (bathroom) I have spent about 1/4 from the total stocks.

Final row

At one stage I had to use chain saw to saw up a hole to fit aac block in. Also at the end of the day I started to even out soil around fundament.

Top 10 Hotels in Sofia (Bulgaria)

20 January, 2017 | Hotel reviews | 5 seen

Just recently I booked my first flight to Sofia (capital of Bulgaria), after that I made some "investigation" what to expect in Bulgaria and crafted an article: Planing a Trip to Bulgaria - Hotels, Car Rental, Things to Do, Places to visit and Let's Buy a House There

In that article I talking about many topics, but one of the first I'm looking to have in Sofia is a nice hotel room (hopefully with a nice view). I don't find 5-star or luxury hotels in Sofia beeing out of my league, seems there are nice 4-star and 5-star hotels perfectly in price budget about USD 100 per night.

In fact, once in Sofia, you don't need even to spend $100 or more for a hotel, as you can get a decent one under $50. Amazing.

In this article I have listed TOP 10 Sofia hotels,based on actual user reviews on Booking.com

Best Western Plus Bristol Hotel

Just 199 m from Serdika Metro Station and a 10-minute walk from the central Vitosha Boulevard, Best Western Plus Bristol Hotel provides a stylish lobby bar, and a restaurant serving international cuisine. Free Wi-Fi access is available.

A Sony LCD HD TV with cable channels and individually adjustable air conditioning are standard facilities in all of the elegant rooms at the Best Western Plus Bristol Hotel. Free coffee and tea facilities are provided upon arrival. The large bathrooms include a shower cabin and free toiletries. Some units feature a comfortable sitting area with upholstered sofa.

Excursions and tickets can be reserved for you at the concierge desk, and car rentals and laundry services are offered at the 24-hour front desk.

The major city attractions like Alexander Nevski Cathedral, Parliament and Sofia University are within 20-minute walking distance from the property.

Shuttle service to Sofia Airport, 11.3 km away, can be organized upon request. Sofia Bus and Train Station is 1.6 km away. 

Centrum is a great choice for travelers interested in budget-friendly travel, churches and city trips.

Price: ~USD 51 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Grand Hotel Sofia

Set a 5-minute walk from the Serdika underground railway station, the 5-star Grand Hotel Sofia is located right in the heart of Sofia, overlooking the City Garden. It offers large rooms, free Wi-Fi and free indoor parking.

The National Theatre, the Bulgarian National bank and all government institutions are just a few steps away from the Grand Hotel Sofia. The closest metro station is a 5-minute walk away.

The hotel interior benefits from a unique collection of over 400 original oil paintings. All rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with satellite flat-screen TV. Private bathrooms come with a shower and a bath, as well as a hairdryer, free toiletries, bathrobes and slippers.

The Shades of Red gourmet restaurant overlooks the City Garden and offers a wide selection of delights from the international and local cuisine. The Triaditza restaurant features a summer terrace and guests can also enjoy breakfast there. The hotel also provides a private lounge area.

The Grand Café with open-air terrace is the ideal venue to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee, a drink to quench a thirst, or the delights of an extensive pastry menu. With its lush green plants and elegant décor, the terrace provides a magnificent setting for relaxing or enjoying afternoon coffee while watching the world go by.

At Grand Hotel Sofia guests can also benefit from using a fitness centre, a health centre and a hairstyle studio. A 24-hour lobby bar, room service, laundry and dry cleaning are also available. A complimentary yoga set can be delivered to the guests room upon request, including a DVD with hatha and flow yoga or ashtanga yoga in English or Kundalini yoga in Bulgarian and a yoga mattress.

Sofia Airport is located 11 km away and the hotel offers a 24-hour airport shuttle service upon request and at a surcharge. Sopharma Business Towers are 4 km away and there is a direct connection to them from the nearest underground railway station. From there guests can also take a line to Business Park Sofia, located 10 km away. 

Price: ~ USD 150 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Central Park Hotel

 Set right next to the National Palace of Culture Subway Station, Central Park Hotel enjoys a prime location in the very heart of Sofia on the famous Vitosha Boulevard, steps away from the Palace of Culture, the biggest convention centre on the Balkans.

Overlooking the Vitosha Mountain, with easy access to all sites of interest in Sofia, it is the ultimate venue for business and leisure travellers alike. Guests, who book a breakfast, receive a complimentary light dinner.

The trendy pedestrian zone, which is lined with luxury shops and fashion boutiques, banks, cinemas and cosy cafés, is nearby. Sofia International Airport is 10 km away providing a smooth connection.

The Central Park attains the very highest standards of comfort and all amenities essential to modern living. It offers contemporary design and an intimate, homely atmosphere, combining elegant living standards with warm Bulgarian hospitality. The outstanding personal services guarantee to please the most discerning guests. 

Price: ~ USD 100 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Ibis Sofia Airport Hotel - Park & Fly

Opened in August 2014, Ibis Sofia Airport Hotel is just 500 m from the airport and offers a free airport shuttle, free WiFi, and free private parking. There is a restaurant with a summer garden and a bar serving snacks and drinks around the clock.

The rooms are all air-conditioned and soundproof, and come with a flat-screen cable TV, a telephone and a bathroom with a shower and free toiletries.

Breakfast is served from 04:00 to 10:00. The Sofia Airport Ibis features a business corner, and offices can be rented for a day.

Garage parking is available at an additional cost. A bus stop is a 1-minute walk away.

Airport Sofia Metro Station is set 1 km away from Ibis Sofia Airport Hotel. Park & Fly service is provided by the property at an additional charge. Megapark, European Trade Center and Arena Armeets are within a 2-minute drive, and the Interexpo Centre is a 5-minute drive away. 

Price: ~ USD 66 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Best Western Art Plaza Hotel

Art Plaza Hotel is located in the city centre of Sofia. Vitosha boulevard pedestrian street with cafes and shops is a 1-minute walk away. Free WiFi access is available at the property.

Each room here will provide you with a TV, air conditioning and cable channels. There is also an electric kettle. Featuring a hairdryer, private bathroom also comes with bathrobes and free toiletries. Extras include bed linen.

At Art Plaza Hotel you will find a 24-hour front desk. Other facilities offered at the property include luggage storage. Complimentary coffee and tea facilities, as well as a business center with copy machine are at guests disposal.

The hotel is 600 m from NDK, 700 m from Ivan Vazov Theater and 800 m from Archaeological Museum. Sofia Airport is 7 km away. 

Centrum is a great choice for travelers interested in budget-friendly travel, churches and city trips.

This is our guests' favorite part of Sofia, according to independent reviews.

This property also has one of the top-rated locations in Sofia! Guests are happier about it compared to other properties in the area.

Price: ~ USD 69 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Light Hotel

Delightfully set in the very heart of Sofia down a quiet side street, this hotel combines the finest traditions of Bulgarian hospitality and a cordial homey atmosphere.

The level of services and facilities endeavor to satisfy the most discerning guests. The hotel houses a selection of tastefully furnished, comfortable and contemporary accommodations, with luxurious suites that include a cozy living room and large terrace.

The hotel has 2 state-of-the-art meeting rooms providing full-scale equipment and all the necessary accompanying amenities. The restaurant offers a wide choice of delicacies and beverages, a contemporary design and attentive service. The lobby bar is the perfect place to unwind in. 

Centrum is a great choice for travelers interested in budget-friendly travel, churches and city trips.

This is our guests' favorite part of Sofia, according to independent reviews.

This property is also rated for the best value in Sofia! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other properties in this city.

Price: ~ USD 41 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Sofia Hotel Balkan, A Luxury Collection Hotel

In a great location in the heart of Sofia, next to Serdika Underground (subway) Station, the exclusive Sofia Hotel Balkan, A Luxury Collection Hotel provides free access to the on-site casino. It includes the Pliska Bar and the Stardust Restaurant.

The Sofia Balkan Hotel includes various dining options, a health club, a 24-hour business center, and various shops. Guests receive free Wi-Fi access in the lobby and in the rooms.

Sofia Airport and the Mladost Business Park are 9.7 km from this Luxury Collection Hotel. The Mall and the Armeec Arena are both just 5.6 km away. 

Centrum is a great choice for travelers interested in budget-friendly travel, churches and city trips.

Price: ~ USD 133 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Ramada Sofia

The Ramada Sofia is situated within walking distance to tourist sights and commercial areas of the city, offering comfortable rooms in a modern building. Free WiFi is available in all areas.

Being 12 km from Sofia International Airport, near to Central Railway and International Bus Station, the hotel enjoys a convenient location and won the Bulgaria's 2009 Best Convention Hotel prize. An airport shuttle service is available on request and for a surcharge.

The lobby bar has a pleasant ambience, and the Meridien Restaurant serves international cuisine.

You can use the indoor pool and fitness centre for free. You can also indulge yourself with some of the exceptional spa treatments in the Real Asian Victoria SPA centre. 

Price: ~ USD 72 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Fashion

he uniquely designed Hotel Fashion is located in the exclusive Lozenez area, near South Park, Paradise Centre and Vitosha underground railway station. Modern rooms have a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, minibar and bathroom amenities.

Guests have access to free underground and outdoor private parking. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Hotel Fashion. Clothes can be dry cleaned the same day.

You can use the spa and wellness facilities at the spa complex located opposite the hotel, for an additional cost. A snack bar is available on site, where breakfast is served.

The hotel offers airport transfers and is 13 km from the Sofia Airport. The nearest ski slopes are a 10-minute drive away and the Ring Road can be reached in 2 km. A shopping centre and a public bus station are both 200 m from the property. 

Price: ~ USD 48 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Best Western Hotel Europe

Best Western Hotel Europe in Sofia is centrally situated near the Tsarigradsko Shose Boulevard, offering luxuriously equipped and stylish rooms and an outdoor swimming pool. Free WiFi is available in all areas. Private parking is also provided on site and is free of charge.

The majority of rooms have balconies with a panoramic view of Sofia and the Vitosha Mountain.

Restaurant Europe has a capacity of up to 120 seats, serving European and international dishes accompanied by fine wines. It can be used for a formal lunch or dinner, cocktails, family celebrations or weddings. There is also a Sky Piano Bar Europe on the rooftop. In addition, Best Western Hotel Europe offers a fitness centre.

The property is located 800 m away from Sky City Mall, a 7-minute drive away from Arena Armeets and an 8-minute drive away from Boris Garden Park. 

Price: ~ USD 47 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Samikitno Batumi Restaurant

19 January, 2017 | Restaurant reviews | 25 seen

Samikitno is a popular restaurant chain across Georgia.

We visited this Batumi restaurant in the late evening during our latest trip to the lovely seaside town of Batumi, after discovered that restaurant at hotel we stayed was already closed. See Hotel Sputnik in Batumi.

There is a very popular Samikitno restaurant located in the Old Tbilisi. See: Samikitno / Machakhela Restaurant review (Meidan square, Tbilisi)

Combo meal at Samikitno

Grilled vegetables, rice, sliced onions, meat and of course tasty Georgian tradional Satsebeli sauce.

Q4 2016 Blog Traffic & Income Report - 197,850 Users / $6,921.16

17 January, 2017 | Blogging | 9 seen

That time of the year have come and it's time to wrap up a round up income and traffic report post for the last quarter of 2016 (October, November and December).

If you are new to my blog or just wondering why I'm sharing such data, here is a brief explanation on sharing data on traffic and income:

In short, it helps me to track my online success of failures. It makes me accountable. I have been collecting and sharing data for my online success or failures since January 2014, back then my blog was 3 month old and I decided to start an online experiment - can someone actually make money through blogging? Now, I know  - yes, you can, but it takes a time and determination. Back in January 2014, I made enormous eight dollars. I hope my online income reports could  inspire you as well.

Last quarter of the year for me was pretty easy, not to say lazy, I spent some time on a few day trips around Georgia, photographed a lot and made dozen of Georgia related articles. At the end of the year I went to the United States to handle some financial issues (latter on that). I believe the last quarter of the year was the long deserved rest after Q3 and Q2 spent on home remodeling works. 

Anyway, despite being easy and slow I experimented for the very first time with Google AdWords and put some money into Facebook ads to build brand recognition. 

As usual I managed not to miss a single day without a blog post - that has been one of mine corner success strategies since day 1 when I started this blog. 

About Blog traffic in Q4 2016

Last quarter of the 2016 set a new record in terms of visitors coming to blog and yes it did set a new record on income (see bellow). Almost 200,000 users in three months. By now each month my blog gets about 65,000 monthly users, compared with previous quarter blog have experienced a small but nice 15% traffic gain. Awesome.

For the second quarter in the row I have completed my goal I did set up at the end of 2015, to get more than 162,000 users quarterly. 

About Income Q4 2016

Combined income from affiliate sales and display ads in Q4 made me a nice revenue of $7,342.01, which actually is more than amazing and awesome.

About half of that money was made during December holiday season. For the second year in the row I have noticed following pattern - October is one of the slowest months in terms of affiliate sales (thus for the first time this October cracked $1,000 milestone), with the real deals starting at the end of November (Black Friday and following Cyber Monday) and December is just a killer in terms of sales in internet. Holiday season, after all.

Combined RPM from all revenue channels stands at $26.05 for Q4 2016, what is up from $22.77 at Q3 2016. RPM - stands for earnings for 1000 page views/impression - Reach per Mile. Again this have been one of the highest RPM values so far this blog have experienced.

That's actually double I got at the start of the year, when reached RPM just $13 at Q1.  I believe a RPM rate close to $20 per 1000 page views is pretty satisfactory. Of course raising this number more would increase overall income, but as long it is close to twenty - I'm a happy hippo. 

About expenses Q4 2016

To earn some money, you should spend some money on some basic or advanced things. In last quarter I spent in following positions:

• Facebook Ads: $53.95
• KeyCDN: $29
• Linode VPS: $107.50
• Godaddy: $16
• Google Adwords: $58.4
• Other: $156

Total: $420.85

Other Stats:

• Twitter: 6,347 followers (-154)
• Facebook: 2,895 likes (+375)
• Email subscriptions: 68 subscribers (+7)
• Alexa global rank: 175,075 position (+4,726)
• Web push subscribers: 4,963 (+4,508)

Thoughts on Q1 2017

Now, speaking about goals for the first quarter (January, February and March) of 2017 - Traffic combined should be at least 220,000.  I have that good feeling that soon blog should start cracking 100,000 page views per month. Speaking of Income - I will stick with a positive $5,000 goal. 

Can You Buy a Good Life in Tbilisi With $500 as a Foreign Expat?

16 January, 2017 | Living in Georgia | 22 seen

A time ago I did an experiment - counted our (two persons and two cats) daily expenses for a month to find out that our monthly expenses have been at about USD 1,800 for that month. You can see my findings with detailed positions in this article: Cost of Living in Tbilisi (Republic of Georgia).

I have counted for a few more times - and very often the amount we spend per month in Georgia is more or less the same. From my side I should add we travel a lot across the country and spend many evenings at the fancy Tbilisi restaurants. My spending habits have helped me to build a pretty popular blog about food and travels in Georgia. 

As my blog gets older, and hopefully more mature, it gets more visits (in December it set a new milestone - about 70,000 users) and more questions on contact form. Just recently I got an interesting question from a solo female expat from Dubai, UAE - wandering could she have a decent life in Tbilisi with $500 per month if se decided to move here.

Hi, i read your travel blog on Republic of Georgia. I am surprised to know one needs around 1,000 to 2,000 dollars to live here. Is that US dollars?

I was going to move to Georgia from totally inflated Dubai because i thought it would be much cheaper to live there. I was calculating if i get a decent apartment not in City Center but little outside but in good location for around 300 Dollars and then pay bills which are not much and i got 2 cats their food and little traveling, cooking at home and we dont entertain much, then i can survive in 500 US dollars? Am i dreaming.

I want to live a humble not high fi but good life in Georgia. I am going to eventually move their permanently and perhaps find some job or start some small business. Are the laws to start small food vendor business easy. Here in Dubai it is extremely difficult. Kindly let me know and if you tell me how safe is the place for a single lady to live in Tbilisi? How are the people there and is it pet friendly place. Is it good to Muslims? Thanks a lot.

Seems there is a trend or at least a minor expat re-routing from United Arab Emirates to Georgia. 

Now, I felt a bit confused and didn't know what to answer at first, so I decided to give it a free flow in an e-mail reply:

Sure you can have a decent live in Tbilisi by $500, most of the Georgians live on $500 or less. See: average salary in Georgia. Speaking of quality of life - it depends. 

At start you could make it fun and cheap, but latter I would suggest to raise your minimum, but hey it all depends. Yes you can get a cheaper flat in the suburbs for about $200 or even less. And yes you can afford pretty decent living on the rest in Tbilisi. It will involve public transport, see: How to Get around in Tbilisi by Taxify (Taxi Mobile Application),  less travels across the country, and at the end you might end wandering - why did you move to the suburbs in Tbilisi.

 
Sure you can survive with $500

It's complicated for me to answer, by not knowing your requirements.

Basically it might be tricky with food permits in Georgia, but I believe easier than in Dubai - thus, I don't know for sure, haven't never tried to open a food store here :)

For the single lady part and Muslim. I believe it is safe for solo female. I doubt there are problems being a Muslim, as long as you pay respect to Georgian traditions I believe it's fine. 

About pets - we are pet owners, we have two cats, as they live in the apartment, we haven't faced any problems. There are some pet clinics here, see: Veterinary Clinic Natia Beridze in Tbilisi, but sometimes its hard to get specific cat food.
Sorry for giving such fuzzy answers.

To make my "investigation" more realistic I contacted two other female expats and asked could they give me their thoughts on living in Georgia with $500/mo. I got reply from Michelle:

Hi, short answer is yes and I definitely do. However, this totally depends on lifestyle! I live in an unmodern studio flat downtown for $200 USD and cook 70% of my meals and shop 50% from produce vendors on the street, don't eat meat, not fancy tastes, etc. I rarely go to bars. Someone could find a room in a shared flat (nicer) for $150-$200. 

How about you, do you think it's possible to buy a good life for a $500/mo in Tbilisi? Leave a comment!

Lintel Installation & First Coffee Break

15 January, 2017 | Home Remodeling | 10 seen

If you have been following my blog and in particular home remodeling series you are already familiar with our construction works at our rural country house we started back in 2015. 

In the Summer 2016 we started another major reconstruction project - demolished old log walls for bricklaying new aerated concrete walls, I have been documenting most of the construction works on blog. In today's home remodeling series  - installing a lintel and enjoying first coffee break at upcoming bathroom (we are building a bathroom here).

I bought a special lintel to install over window opening - I had to hire two guys today to help me install it over. It wasn't so bad after all - we might get along by two people, but three is better (if you don't have special equipment)

Lintel installed over window opening

Walls from AAC blocks

It's not only about installing a lintel today, we added the supporting corner beam. It's just a matter of few more aac blocks and nice finishing and roof at this part of house will be fixed again, as for the last couple of days it was supported just by vertical supporting beams.

Coffee break

Ahh, cant wait to see the day when hipster style flower boxes will be hanging at outer walls of our bathroom, but for now - a large bowl of coffee is what is needed the most.