Blog Archive: July 2017
Okatse Canyon - Emerald - Green Journey in Georgia
| Tourism objects | 19 seen
Tourist destinations can vary from fancy shops and restaurants to alienated deserts and unknown highways that may lead nowhere. Being a tourist equals to explorer’s profession with a blank map under one’s arm and a pocketful of desired adventures. Georgia - the county that has gained a great popularity among tourists reveals its secrets year by year with an endless trust and kindheartedness. Places once sacred and sacramental hidden under the tree crowns shyly become the prior tourist destinations. The funny fact is that the spirit of adventurism pumps up foreigners to examine the far-away and little-known lands of inscrutable Saqartvelo that sinks into one’s soul and dwells in its matter.
Mountainous country welcomes its friends and guests with spiky mountains and green hills, expands its vast territory to the fields lined with flowers. The range of natural sights seems to be limitless and at some places even abnormal and enchanting. The country embraced with mountains shows one ore of its peculiarities in the face of canyons that fascinates not only the tourists but the locals as well. One of the reason why Georgians are characterized as very proud people takes its roots in the scrupulous nourishment of their natural resources. It is evident why Georgia, previously a very closed and unknown country, did not show its treasure to the rest of the world – Georgians just contemplated the pure beauty by themselves.
The time has finally come to open minds and make up the leeway –the time to be adored and be on everyone’s lips. The Georgians have become accomplices of their exuberant natural resources and are ready to put the plan of robbery into operation. The plan under the name ‘Humankind’s Heart Robbery’.
After having spent memorable days in the mountains of Georgia one must not lose the opportunity to discover the places in the depths of Georgian natural heritage. Canyons – the antipodes of the high Caucasian ranges can be put on your map of adventures as one of the most captivating places to see in Saqartvelo.
One of the most distinguished canyons is known under the name ‘Okatse’. It got the name after the river that runs through the Okatse gorge. The piquancy of the place lays in 140 meter suspension bridge that overlooks the whole territory of the canyon. It is better not to step on the bridge if you have the fright of the heights in order not to get dizzy. Those extrimals who adore vertiginous sights have to put down the Okatse canyon in the list of the ‘must visit’ places in Georgia. Emerald-green leaves of a thick forest layer massages both eyes and mind.
Those who are interested in getting acquainted with the beautiful Okatse canyon first have to get to Kutaisi bus station. Every day at 4 p.m. a mini-bus goes to the village of Zeda-Gordi – Okatse is situated right there. The price of travelling is 5 GEL. Still this option might not be optimal because the marshrutka arrives very late and on the way back to Kutaisi and you might have to practice hitch-hiking. Another way is to go to Khoni. First pay 2 GEL to get from Kutaisi to Khoni and then 3 GEL to get from Khoni to Zeda-Gordi for 3 GEL. Large companies of tourists may order a taxi and that might cost about 30 GEL.
When having approached Zeda-Gordi, it is important to find the visit center for the tourists, though the words ‘find’ may be a little bit exaggerated – a newly built office stands out so much at the background of the rural life. It looks like a futuristic place that somehow reminds you that you are in the 21st century and that civilization is just 50 km away. You have to purchase tickets there in order to show them at another checkpoint that is 2 kilometers away. Yes, the road is not short, but the overall impression later will not disappoint. The price of entrance is 7 GEL.
After entering the place you can get some visual information from the mini model of the canyon. It competently describes how to get to the canyon and what is the nearest route. The only intrusive force that can distract from the peaceful entrance into the canyon will be projected in the face of the local drivers who suggest giving a ride to the canyon as if referring to a long way. Still it’s better to have a walk especially if the weather is nice because in a couple of hours you will again merge with the busy pot of the civilization in Kutaisi.
Okatse canyon is known for the remains of the Dadiani family palace (XVIII century) though you will see nothing bit the lonely pillars. Maybe in a couple of years we will be lucky to see the renovated version of the palace and there will be one more reason to travel to Okatse canyon.
The road that leads to the suspension bridge of Okatse descends and is about 2km long. This fact makes the journey extremely pleasant especially after an exhausting travelling. When the road ends you get to the second check-point mentioned above and show the tickets you can finally start going down the steps (they say there are about 544 of them, but no worries, you will forget about your exhaustion and all mathematic rules after absorbing the beauty of the canyon.
There is no sense is describing the unprecedented beauty of the canyon because it should be contemplated in person. This part I will leave to the readers who will regret not being artists and those who are without any doubt will reproduce the Georgian beauty on the canvas.
When the journey is finished you might feel tiredness and fatigue so it will be rational to take the taxi because the road ascends all the time right after the canyon. Despite the weariness it is highly recommended to visit the Kinchkha waterfall and wash away the tiredness of the day.
Another option is to visit the Martvili canyon but you have to plan the lodging for the night. You can rent a room from the locals and then continue our journey. Other tips to take into consideration are to stock up the water supplies and get a comfortable pair of shoes. Okatse canyon will leave no people indifferent and the main luggage should consist of high spirits and lust for adventures!
Rafting in Georgia - The Black and White Beauty - Aragvi
| Outdoor Activities | 17 seen
According to the accepted standards Georgia is associated with high and spiky mountains that plough the skies and try to reach the sun with their lofty heads. The landscape creates the feeling of the high-rise sky that seems to be somewhere far-far away. It is also one of the reasons why even during the summertime it gets darker almost at eight o’clock in the evening. Mountains, without any doubt, occupy the honorable first place in the beauty contest of Georgia’s natural peculiarities. Bewildered by the beauty of the scenery many people forget about another crucial element of Georgian nature and the shadowed beauty of rivers is going to be the topic of my following discussion.
Swift and roaring rivers penetrate both eastern and western parts of Georgia that had always been the source of life beginning from the early signs of civilization. Rivers are wild, bear an unprecedented character, and this fact makes them not easy to conquer.
Book a rafting tour in Georgia
Aragvi – one of the most beloved rivers of the rafters has shown its obstinate temper. Extreme sport lovers confess that Aragvi wins heart immediately. At the beginning its turbulent waters are as if fighting with the human invasion and try to capsize the boats. The nearby forests, transparent air, and the spirit of adventure leave an unforgettable crust of freedom but the fight is with the nature forces is not over yet. Oars that substitute swords in the flamboyant race are enveloped by the foamy body of Aragvi.
The stress and pressure seem to fade away only in some time and the benevolence is bestowed to the assiduous conquerors of the river Aragvi. Those who cannot imagine their life without extreme sports and have a chance to visit Georgia this spring have to go on a tour and do their best to pacify the waters of the river Aragvi.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE RIVER ARAGVI
Aragvi is the river in the east of Georgia and it is the left tributary of the the Mtkvari river (the longest river in Georgia). The overall length of the Aragvi river is 66 km. Many people who are familiar with such tourist centers as Mtskheta and Jvari may see the place of fusion of one river into another. Those who come to see Aragvi in Mtskheta may also visit the Zedazeni monastery with its only dwellers – male monks. The monastery was founded in the VI century A.D.
There are four rivers under the name of Aragvi. One of them is White Aragvi that flows in parallel to the Georgian Military Road. The beauty of the river can be seen from the top of the Cross pass.
Zhinvali photo reservoir. Photo by Reinis Fischer
There also are Black Aragvi, Khevsuretian Aragvi, and the smallest of all is the Pshavi Aragvi. All of these four rivers flow into the Jinvali reservoir.
RAFTING ROUTES ON ARAGVI RIVER IN GEORGIA
One of the known routs to get to rafters’ assemble place lays through a small village – Chargali, the birthplace of the known Georgian poet Vazha Pshavela. The nature of the Pshavi district is striking. It resembles a shy and exotic Georgian woman that is hiding its beauty in the thickened forests. Those who will be lucky may even contemplate the ancient Georgian contest under the name ‘doghi’ (დოღი). It is a horse racing that is usually held to pay tribute to all the deceased people in the village.
The coven of rafters often finds special places where it is easier to put the boat on the water and one of those places is just near the Chargali village.
All in all there are 6 levels of difficulty and the instructor has to ask first which one you would prefer. The rafting team should also provide the fearless volunteers with caskets, special clothes, and all the rafting equipment. All in all it may vary from 30-70 GEL (approximately 12-30 USD), though the prices mostly depend on the agencies and their services. It might take about 4-5 days to sail the whole length of the river
Book a rafting tour in Georgia
Many novices feel a shiver in their knees because of the excitement and the panic but the journey on the river is absolutely safe. Experienced instructors are always there to help. They say that Pshavi Aragvi is the ‘kindest’ of all the four rivers as it is not that rough as others. During the spring season the river represents a deep-water body – a result of endless heavy rains in the mountainous region. Starting from July the river is calm and even novices can look around without any shadow of fright.
Another route takes the start in the village of Manaseuri. It is easy to get there by bus from Tbilisi that rides through the Georgian Military Road. Many rafters claim that the river’s surroundings ate the best place for hiking and sleeping under the sky in the tents. The White Aragvi’s route does not inspire any fear but you have to be extremely careful because of the gas pipelines and low bridges. There were several occasions when the bow nose hit the iron bars under the bridges and the boats would capsize if talented maneuvers of the rafters had not stopped the accident.
Those who are into rafting have a wonderful opportunity to try a new river and get new emotions and unforgettable emotions in Georgia. Shatili is another place where you can initiate rafting experience because one may find all the facilities needed for a perfect recreation.
After making a few stops at the river banks, the exhausted conquerors of the river Aragvi may have a substantial and delicious Georgian dinner made of organic and fresh products. The air is so fresh there even though the locality is just 60 km away (Shatili village) from the capital – Tbilisi.
One more joyful statement – it is possible to rent a bicycle in the mountains. Those who feel the burden of the tasty dinner in the stomachs can immediately burn the calories riding down the hill on the bicycles.
Georgia is an equivalent to an adventure. When you go to find one activity you may accidentally bump into another source of interest that will lead you on a long and impressive journey. The gurgle of the Aragvi, fresh air, and the Georgian pastoral make a memorable experience that will get curved in your hearts.
For the detailed information it is possible to contacts these guys: Aragvi Adventure Center
Mtirala National Park or The Green Canvas of the Crying Mountain
| Living in Georgia | 14 seen
We are used to seeing stunning nature beauty and emerald green forests on documentaries and National Geographic Channel as if keeping in mind that deep forests and unknown places must be thousands kilometers away from civilization. Somehow urbanization has created a big wall that separates humans from the peacefulness of big and rough mountains creating an unattainable representation of wild nature. Georgia, as always, has made its mark in terms of providing perfect conditions for those who are spoiling for natural seclusion.
Mtirala National Park has always attracted lots of tourists starting from the beginning of the 20th century and during the Soviet Era it was called the ‘bladder if the Union’ due to it was acknowledged as the most humid place all over the gigantic territory of the former Republic.
You get the vibes of adventure when you get to the National Park and wander in the subtropical jungles of Mtirala Mountain vicinity. You can find various natural treasures in the representation of numerous rivers, waterfalls, charming bridges and gorges. Though, there is no threat of being chased by a predator and you do not risk getting bitten by poisonous bugs. That’s why lots of tourists choose Mtirala National Park as their recreational destination in order to get the feeling of living in the wild subtropical forest. It might be the perfect place for artists and those who cherish liberal arts because the Park inspires and harmonizes one’s soul.
The first thought that comes to your mind is that it is really humid in Mtirala National Park. You adore the swift rivers, huge rocks and decuman trees covered with emerald moss, fresh air and overall calmness.
Despite being natural treasure Mtirala National Park is not that frequently visited as long as it is situated close to Batumi and people prefer to spend carefree days on the sunny beaches. Still, one should not miss the opportunity to travel to the National Park that is full of natural wonders.
The Park itself is situated on the mountain with the altitude of 1761 meters. The place is unique in many ways as it is a combination of different climatic zones. It is not only the most humid place in Georgia but in the whole Europe as well. The name of the Park ‘Mtirala’ means ‘The Crying Mountain”. What will really astonish you are the terrains with their own microclimate and small universes created by the different climatic zones.
The abundance of rare animals and plants will strike you. It is very common to see squirrels and hovering over the gorges hawks. The Kolkhidian Forests are full of natural beauties and secrets. In order to embrace the whole beauty of the place it is better to make your route longer and more diverse.
It is much advisable to start your journey from the Chakvistskhali settlement. There is a mountainous eco-trail trail that goes up to the pinnacle. You will go pass many forests including Kolkhidian Forest, Chestnut Forest, Deciduous Forest, and Boxwood Groves. Feel yourself in the midst of the history as many of threes are more than hundreds of years old! The air is fresh and crystal clear. No wonder that lots of long-livers can be found in the village of Chakvistskhali. The secret of such miracle is simple – people eat healthy food and drink mineral water from the springs.
Gastronomic tours are also present in such wild and alienated places – Adjarian Cuisine with its most famous boat-shape Adjarian khachapuri will make the journey more cheerful. You will have to spend lots of energy so that is why it is crucial to have a nice meal.
The route is really very pleasant despite being mountainous. It is well-equipped with all the needed trail marks, benches and tourists recreational zones that include camping areas.
Another option how to get to Mtirala National Park exists as well. If you are having fun in Batumi and spontaneously decided to visit the Mountain you can take a bus to Chakvi. Form that destination you can hire a taxi that will take you right to the entrance of the park. You might have to walk 7 km in case you do not take up the transport and those who are not well-equipped or do not like hiking in the mountains will not enjoy the walking tour. The taxi-driver may ask you for about 40 GEL but don’t be afraid to bargain. The price may seem a little bit high but, well, the road is not very nice and at some point the concrete laying disappears at all making it hard for a car to move forward. You can feel bumps and all the stones under the wheels while traveling to the entrance of the National Park.
Lots of people confess that they expect terrific conditions in the hostels and shelters of the National Park but to their surprise, especially after having spent some time on the road to Mtirala, they were pleasantly amazed. The rooms are well-equipped and the staff is very helpful as well.
After getting some rest push yourself into the greenery and start observing and exploring. The place is a real treasure for those who dream of jungles and green landscape. The gradation of green takes place everywhere! The only thing you have to remember is the humidity – it is at the maximum there. Don’t forget to take raincoats and spare T-shirts. Clothes get wet very easily and at some point you start thinking that it is hard to breathe. The main thing is not to stop on your way in order not to catch cold.
After visiting the waterfalls and looking around it will be such a relief to have a hot shower! The feeling of facilitation will pursue you till the end of the day.
Interesting fact is that when there are harsh storms in Batumi, Mtirala National Park seems not to be affected by the weather at all, though the calamity may be represented in the face of the hail.
What you should remember about your trip to Mtirala Park is that do not overload your bags as long as the shelters offer great menus with reasonable prices. Also try to spend two days there and do not rush to another destination – you will just spend lots of time to get to the Mountain and out of there. Moreover, raincoats are the most crucial equipment attributes as long as the humidity level is very high there. The most important thing is to enjoy your stay there and merge with nature!
Camping in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
| Living in Georgia | 36 seen
Mountains mesmerize. Mountains make you stronger. Mountains are irreplaceable. Georgia’s natural treasure in the face of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park represents a big portion of protected territories in the country.
The area is under government’s protection and the administrative center altogether with guides, tour operators, and rangers create all conditions for those whose choice falls upon extreme camping in the woods. If you plan going to Borjomi-Kharagauli Park you had better be prepared both physically and mentally as long as you have to walk a lot and in some places – no exaggerating, you are just climbing up the mountain, like a hobbit but, please, don’t get scared as long as this is just a warning!
Before going to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park it is better to plan your trip thoughtfully.
Borjomi
It is highly recommended to spend a night or two in the city of Borjomi in order to look for attractions and drink mineral medicinal water. Analyze what the weather is going to be and only then think of spending a night or two in the Park itself. If the forecast shows rainy weather it is better to postpone camping plans as soil is really slippery in some places and you will find yourself in a problematic and unpleasant situations , like, soaking in mud or even landslide can ruin the spirit of camping if the rain paralyzes you.
Let’s get closer to the camping itself.
First of all you have to go the Administrative Center which is 1 km away from the city of Borjomi. You don’t pay for entrance but don’t forget to bring your passport as you have to leave it there. Administrators will ask for your contact number and the number of nights you are going to spend there. In case you do not come back on the exact date, they will start looking for you in the forest. After you register there and take the special paper which can be checked by rangers in the Park later, you can choose the route and the places you would like to see in there. You can take up the 15 km route to Lomis Mta (The Lion’s Mountain) or Chitakhevi Shelter. You will be told by a nice administrator at the Tourist Center how to get to the destination, so, no worries, it is impossible to get lost in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. You can either rent a tent and sleeping bags or pay the rent for the cottages situated high in the mountains. Both options are nice and it is up to the preference of the hikers what to take up.
Before your journey begins keep in mind that the route starts in Likani settlement. It is 5 km away from the Administrative Center. The route to Lomis Mta is 15 km and to Chitakhevi Settlement 12 km. You can catch taxi to get to the entrance of the park that may cost about 7 GEL.
Borjomula river
So, the journey begins with the path that goes straight into the gorge. The road looks amazing as you are right at the mountain foot with the cool river on your left. This place is a real paradise for eco-tourism lovers. It is possible to see a deer or extraordinary birds on your way. Mostly you are going up high into the mountain and have to reach its top and only then your real journey begins.
The main thing to remember – don’t take heavy bags. It is more advisable to take really light backpacks with several liters of water. Good thing is that you can go up to the camping sights on horses, just inform the administrators about your choice one day earlier.
On your way pay attention to Alpine meadows, colorful flowers and myriads of butterflies – they are everywhere like in Disney cartoons!
When you get to your destination it might already be dusk. Lots of novices get scared by the wood thickness and mist density but there is nothing to be afraid of – the place is absolutely safe even though sometimes you may hear wolves howling at night. It is also recommended to buy a map at the Tourist Center so that you have an idea which direction you are going to.
Another option to roam through the National Park is to take up another route. All in all there are 9 paths. Lomis Mta – the tourist destination mentioned earlier counts as the first path. You climb to the altitude of 2198 meters. Pictures taken from there are picturesque and really unique – most people have seen those views just in wild nature documentaries or on the postcards.
There are one-day routes that do not require additional fees. It is route number 6. Some claim, it is difficult indeed while others prefer it to others as it is not that steep and difficult. The route runs from Likani settlement to Kvabiskhevi settlement and is 13 km long. If you do not plan staying overnight in the park it is recommended to take up the route number 6.
Those, who are short of time, can take up the symbolic route number 7 that is just 3 km long. It starts near the office and ends there as well.
Hiking in Borjomi (Georgia)
No matter which route you take up you will be astonished by Georgia’s pristine forests, crystal clear springs, abundance of flora and fauna, interesting routes, mighty mountains, and clean air.
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is an amazing place that people like to explore all year long. It is no just summer season that may interest tourists. The Park strikes with its beauty throughout the year and is famous for its seasonal tours. It is absolutely safe to travel there alone but it is a great place to spend some days with your family or friends.
In summer the temperature may go up to 30 degrees above Celsius but stay vigilant – it drops to 10 degrees as night covers the sky. Try to pack your bag wisely and this will help you to enjoy every single minute spent in the Park in peace and unprecedented Georgian natural beauty.
Chania Bus Station
| Railway / Bus / Ferry | 43 seen
There is a cheap and pretty convenient way to travel to the nearby beaches and more distant routes in Crete from Chania town. Your journey will start at Chania bus station.
In fact there is a bus service to/from Chania airport, with ticket price just about EUR 2 per person. The bus transport in Chania is cheap. I remember, once I paid about EUR 40 for a one way trip from an airport in Norway to the Oslo city center (see: Moss Airport, Rygge, Norway). Buses in Chania are cheap.
We spent one night in Chania (see: Lithinon Studio Apartment in Chania Review), but for next couple of days decided to locate to Agia Marina beach (we already booked a hotel there), so it was just a matter of getting there. Though I decided better to take a taxi from here, as it would be much easier to find our next hotel with taxi driver, and not trying to guess which is our stop by using bus. By the way for such taxi trip we paid just EUR 14 (fixed price to Agia Marina from Chania)
Chania Bus station
See complete bus routes and timetables at e-ktel.com website
The use of buses, as means of transport, in Western Crete began in 1927 . In the beginning, there was rudimentary service by the first handmade buses of that days.The need for substantial improvement of our services ,in favour of the best possible service of our passengers , submitted the adoption of legal provisions.Then buses began to operate in various forms until 1952 when the Prefectural Public Bus Service was erected with legislative Decree and the Public Bus Service began to operate with its current form in 1973.Nowadays,we achieve social work by transfering large families , students to and from school , with discount tickets.We cover the most inaccessible villages of our counties , during winter and summer, and expand our routes to and from Mainland Greece with two new destinations,Thessaloniki and Ioannina, where students study and our fellow men work.There are also stops in all major cities of the above destinations.The Public Bus Service operated according to the basis of law 102/73 and consistutes a private legal entity and there are shareholders who own the buses.
Mercedes Benz buses in Chania
About Organic Food in Tbilisi and Georgia
| Living in Georgia | 64 seen
Caucasian region is the motherland of various dishes that include meat. Georgians even say that real men must eat meat at least once a day as if only meat nourishes body with all the needed vitamins and organic elements. It may be just a gossip but you can find it yourself by just looking through the menus of most Georgian restaurants.
Despite being deep meat lovers Georgians cook an abundance of different vegetable dishes, make so called ‘kompot’ (stewed fruit drink), cook special sauces and astonish travelers with always full of fresh products baskets in the shops and markets.
Lots of tourists do not trust the place known as ‘bazaar’ situated near Station Square Metro because it looks differently from clean and cozy markets in their motherland.
Tbilisi Dezerteer bazaar
Bazaar is the largest place where merchants sell different kinds of fruit and vegetables, fragrant greens, savory spices, Georgian cheese, meet in all its possible variations, and sometimes even livestock. When you enter the open space you can see people selling products in any kind of weather. Any people say that this place is a real disgrace as it looks unsightly and untidy.
Despite lots of criticism there are some ‘buts’ in connection to this place. First of all, this place sells products for a lower prices compared to chains of big supermarkets. Another advantage of bazaar is that all products are Georgian that do not contain pesticides and are non-GMO. You may be perplexed at some point when you see the products but the main rule to remember is that if food looks extremely pretty, as if it was painted – it is non-organic. Organic food in Georgia may look not in the way we are used to see it, but the taste and its favor are really great.
Another rule to remember when buying food either in bazaar or in the streets – bring your own scales. Merchants might play tricks on you with their broken scales that give wrong information.
Actually, Georgian government is struggling against street trading but still you can find many people standing (even in main streets) with their baskets and sacks of fruit and vegetables under the open sky.
Products are even cheaper in smaller cities like Borjomi, Telavi, Akhaltsikhe and others.
Georgian traditional spices at Telavi market
People organize Bazaars in special places and all of the products are easily approachable so that’s why the prices are a little bit lower there. The guarantee that food is organic and fresh is close to 100% mark. Those who prefer eating out and cannot bear the thought of fast food and greasy dishes can find lots of different cafes and restaurants that serve organic and fresh courses.
Vegetarian cafes have become popular in the more recent past where you can taste dishes cooked with non-gluten and eco products.
One of the most densely-attended places is family café ‘Barbarestan’ that serves exclusively organic food.
Wine bar at Barebarestan
Lots of people fall in love with this place from the first bite and highlight politeness of the waiters. You can be taken on a tour to wine cellars where you can hear a wonderful story of the eco establishment. The menu served at the café includes mostly traditional Georgian dishes but in a new unprecedented format that astonishes the locals themselves. You can even taste a secret-receipt ice-cream which has been concealing its ingredients for 104 years. The place is situated in 132, Aghmashenebeli Avenue and also holds live music concerts every weekend.
Another place to visit is g.Vino though be prepared to spend a little bit more here. The place is mostly visited for organic wine and not only. If you once try wine at g.Vino you will start looking for the same flavor in your country – the staff as if knows what to suggest and how to satisfy your tastes. It is really difficult to find an empty table but you will be surprised to see people waiting for others to finish their courses. The address of the place is 6, Erekle II Street.
Kiwi Café is famous for its sensationalism as all liberals gather at this place. You can feel the vibes of pathos there as the founders of the place tried to make the café 100% vegetarian and are absolutely proud of their preferences. The place serves the best falafel in Tbilisi and offers various kinds of organic food including tofu, vegetable stews, mushrooms, fresh fruit smoothies and many-many other dishes. It is situated close to Liberty Square, 6, Machabeli Street.
Kiwi vegan cafe in Tbilisi
Orangery Restaurant is among the top-organic places that serves both Georgian and European cuisines. The ambiance is extremely pleasant as you are surrounded by the green trees, as if the place itself is ‘organic’ and you are far away from the city. Orangery is the place where taste competes with the service and beauty of the table setting. This place is popular with families who have small children as there is a play room designed for children. You can relax at the restaurant and try eco-clean food. You can find this place in 13, Mosashvili Street.
The place where the name speaks for itself is Organique Josper Bar in 4, Shardeni Street. The courses vary from non-gluten dishes to salads and from stakes to chopped cutlets. This is one of the rare places where fresh fish is cooked with a refined taste. You need just one glance to fall in love with the shapes and varieties of courses that are indeed anesthetically pleasing, but when you have just a bite you understand that this is the place you’ve been searching for in Tbilisi. Also don’t forget to taste waffles! They are baked right there and leave a nostalgic aftertaste of the place.
Those who like to raise vegetables and fruit themselves can try online sources like Bio Organic Georgia LTD where one can purchase fertilizers produced of vegetable wastes. You can apply it to the damaged parts of the roots or just improve soil properties.
When coming to Georgia you will find yourself on an unexpected gastronomy tour that helps you to forget about the junk food and mere burgers, no matter how tasty they may be. Food and products sold in Georgia are mostly organic but still one has to see into the interior kitchen of purchase and sale. Still, it is difficult to be disappointed in the food that you try in Georgia and that’s why help yourselves in this beautiful and unique country!
Why I Rushed to Buy Ripple (XRP) Cryptocurrency at $0.19
| Crypto | 22 seen
I've been a lot into crypto currencies lately, in fact it's not even a full month passed since I've started my investment adventures into crypto currencies.
For crypto investments I've a verified coinbase.com account and right now coinbase offers to buy just following three crypto currencies by VISA card - bitcoin, ethereum and litecoin, unfortunately there is no support yet for ripple. To buy XRP at coinbase you will need at first buy BTC, then exchange it on Poloniex.com or some other exchange. Although seems there are some exchanges that offer to buy XRP directly, as I haven't tested them out, I cannot say for sure.
Remember your capital is at risk, never invest capital you cannot afford to loose!
I've bought all three currencies available now on coinbase this month, and frankly speaking I've a little clue what's behind scenes, I'm just into the rush for the next big thing, though at one time from my short crypto investor carrier I've lost more than 50% in total value. That should be a bold warning for you - crypto currencies are volatile. So don't take further written as advice or something, as I'm already losing money in crypto investments. I keep investing because of one reason - I believe there is a future for crypto currencies and their value will appreciate.
Answering on question why I rushed to buy Ripple (XRP) crypto currency - FOMO - fears of missing out and Diversification.
Let me explain, buying bitcoin at $2,706, ethereum at $222.48 or litecoin at $43.39 (exchange rates as of writing this article) is expensive. Sure, bitcoin could surge to $10,000 in a few years (there are tons of positive forecasts for crypto currencies, just check them out on reddit) and you could double, tipple or even quadruple your investment. But if you are limited with funds to allocate for crypto currencies, the best bet would be probably to use dollar-cost averaging approach and by little amount of coins each month.
$0.19 for XRP, seems a reasonable price to enter and acquire a lot of coins with little investment. If XRP price will skyrocket, so do will your investment.
I bought 282 XRP coins for about EUR 50 (I had to buy bitcoins at start, then exchange BTC to XRP). My plan is to buy and hold for a long term (at least until the end of 2020), I cannot predict price for ripple, bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin or any other crypto currency, I see there are two scenarios, either they will go to the moon or thew will doom.
With a small investment at EUR 50 I don't feel concerned about negative outcome, I will loose just EUR 50 or more if I wil acquire more coins in coming months, if XRP will appreciate I see there high returns. Simple.
About Ripple
Ripple is a venture-backed startup that provides global financial settlement solutions that reduce the total cost of settlement by enabling banks to transact directly and instantly, while ensuring certainty. It aims to "enable the world to exchange value like it already exchanges information – giving rise to an Internet of Value (IoV).” Read more: Ripple Is Up 3800%: Should You Be Buying?
XRP is currently the third largest cryptocurrency in terms of market capitalization; with almost $10 billion in market capitalization, it accounts for roughly around 9% of the cryptocurrency market. Its price has gone up from $0.006684 in the beginning of 2017 to $0.258368, an increase of over 38x.
Lithinon Studio Apartment in Chania Review
| Hotel reviews | 15 seen
Situated 100 m from Chania Old Venetian Harbour in Chania Town, this air-conditioned apartment features a terrace. The apartment is 100 m from Mosque of Kioutsouk Hassan. Free WiFi is provided .
We booked this apartment in Chania for a one night stay at the start of June 2017.
As we hadn't yet booked a rental car in Crete, we took a public bus from Chania airport to get to the city center and then using Google Maps navigation went some 10minutes from Chania coach station to find this place. Located on pretty silent Lithinon street, this place still is just a block away from lively Chania harbor, see: Postcards from Chania
Lithinon street in Chania
There is a dining area and a kitchen equipped with dishwasher. A flat-screen TV is offered. Free private parking is also available at this apartment.
Lithinon Studio apartment in Chania
For dinner we went our tonight and spent lovely time at Taverna En Plo in Chania
Outdoor yard at Lithinon studios
Archaeological Museum of Chania is 200 m from Lithinon Studio With Yard, while Municipal Art Gallery of Chania is 200 m away. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 11 km from the property.
Taverna En Plo in Chania
| Restaurant reviews | 59 seen
This was a very long and tiring day, in the morning we left Tbilisi to travel to Athens, spent whole day there, and in the evening fled to Chania, Crete, after we checked in at out apartment in Chania, I took a tripod and we made a lovely evening photo walk.
Our evening ended at this nice Greek tavern - En Plo on Portou street 20.
En Plo seems is a quite popular tourist place, we hardly managed to get a free table here once we get one we spent a good time of waiting our order to be taken.
En Plo tavern in Chania, Crete
This place offers a kind of typical Greek menu (Cretan) - wide variety of grilled meats and so on. We decided to stick with a platter for two for about EUR 35.
Because of a lot of people tonight, we had to wait about an hour for our meal to be served, though cokes and other drinks were served almost instantly.
Grilled meat plate at En Plo
A oot of variety of meet under potatoes there, grilled sausages, steaks and so on. Tasty. Probably served in a touristic way, but still tasty and affordable.
After our meal we were offered free ouzo drinks, we kindly rejected by promising to return for some ouzu next time :)
CoinLend.org Review - Automating Cryptocurrency Lending Free Bot Investor
| Crypto | 26 seen
A couple of weeks ago I purchased first crypto coins at coinbase.com, about a week ago I decided to invest them on Poloniex.com, today I decided to use bot-investor to manage my crypto investments, I choose CoinLend.org
The service seems is quite new and is built by German enthusiasts / crypto investors, a pretty good introduction post about this service is provided here: Coinlend.org - The Lending-Bot for Poloniex & Bitfinex
Remember your capital is at risk, never invest capital you cannot afford to loose!
About CoinLend.org
We are currently a small team of cryptocurrency investors and we are lending out our coins for years now. Initially we started lending manually on the exchanges, but soon noticed how cumbersome it is to monitor and renew your loans all the time. That's why we created Coinlend.org. At first only for ourselves, but as we noticed that the fully automated lending is much more profitable than the manual lending, we now made it publicly available for free, so everyone can benefit from it.
Opening account at CoinLend.org took me less than a minute, setting up the robot took another minute. As I currently have investments just with Poloniex.com, I configured bot to work with it only:
Configuring CoinLend.org bot
From my Poloniex.com account I had to enable API access, and there I got both my API Key and API Secret to enter in Coinlend.org. Simple and straightforward. Now speaking about security, here is what is told by CoinLend.org:
IMPORTANT: There is no risk in providing your API-Key to Coinlend. There is no trading or withdrawal of funds possible with the key. So to use our service, you don't need have to trust us.
As soon as the credentials are stored, the bot will start it's work and lend all funds available in your lending wallets. All other cryptocurrencies which are supported by the exchanges can be lent via the bot as well.
For the sake of a good sleep I double checked settings from Poloniex.com and made sure withdrawals with API access are not enabled
API settings for Poloniex.com
Robo investing with CoinLend.org
Now, as I had already some loans invested manually on Poloniex.com , I went to the lending page and turned off auto-renew for all loans. From now on - CoinLend bot should do the job!
Turning auto-renew off
From CoinLend settings page for Poloniex I left everything intact, but you have some options to play with there:
Setting for CoinLend robo invest
It's nice that developers have enabled Reserved amount option - although there is one thing I'm missing - maximum investment in one loan.
Almost instantly CoinLend account was synced with Poloniex and from My loans tab I could see all of my investments, as I had some bitcoin already lent manually, robo investor took non invested litecoins and automatically lent them out.
CoinLend My Loans page
For the best possible revenue, it is needed to login at regular interval to manage and renew the loans. On the platforms there is an auto-renew functionality, which renews loans automatically, if they are paid back. The renewed loans are created with the same interest rate as the previous one. That's why they are now probably above or below the current optimal interest rate. Therefore, the loans are priced to cheap and potential interest is thrown away - or the loans are price to expensive and will not be taken by borrowers. During the time, the loan is not taken, you are missing out on interest as well. Here comes to Coinlend bot into play: The bot lends out all your funds for the best possible rates and this fully automated and 24 hours around the clock.
I like that there are My interest tab showing total interest earned, as in case with Poloniex it's pretty complicated to get out actual return rate and it involves a lot of excel stuff.
CoinLend will do it automatically. Sure, if you keep your excel sheets, you will need to take raw data still from Poloniex at the end of month and make your accurate calculations, as of right now, CoinLend shows interest for 30 day cycle. Good and informative. For better reporting I would love to see more in deep analytics but still, this is great as it is.
CoinLend My interest tab
CoinLend is completely free to use, API service connecting it to other exchanges (Poloniex and Bitfinex) makes your coins kind of save, even if CoinLend.org gets hacked. Attackers cannot withdraw money using CoinLend APi access. At least I hope so!
As service is free of charge, it's funded by donations, in case you like service, consider donating a small coin, see: Donations.
Launching Simple AMP Version for Drupal Website
| Drupal Development | 6 seen
I might be late to the party of implementing AMP for my Drupal powered website, as AMP have been around for a while already, it was just tonight I finally managed to implement and validate AMP for this blog.
In this article I'll share some of my notes on how to implement AMP for Drupal, compare load times before and after and of course will touch a topic of about possible SEO gains (though, seems that AMP is not a ranking factor yet)
Here is the short version about what's AMP:
The AMP Project is an open-source initiative aiming to make the web better for all. The project enables the creation of websites and ads that are consistently fast, beautiful and high-performing across devices and distribution platforms. Learn more: https://www.ampproject.org/
I should admit, that implementing AMP for Drupal was kind of challenging and in total took me more than8 months to get first validated results. I started working on Drupal AMP version at the end of 2016, spent some good time learning how to use composer and even started using Drush.
There is a great module for Drupal - Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP), if you are looking to build AMP for Drupal, that's the module you are looking for and start with.
Unfortunately I faced a lot of errors at start and was not able to validate my site, as AMP valid, for a pretty long time. I faced issues with making to work AMP and CDN modules together. Google Webmasters central screamed I've just way of too much errors. And I abandoned my efforts building an AMP friendly Drupal website.
Google Webmasters reporting AMP Errors
It was until yesterday's night, when I decided I should get AMP up and running. And I succeeded.
I won't go much in technical details on how to setup AMP for Drupal (if you need any help with that, contact me or drop a comment bellow), but here are two major obstacles I wasn't able to validate AMP:
Issue with AMP and CDN module - from AMP configuration page (admin/config/content/amp) tick box next to Power User: Run the whole HTML page through the AMP library. This simple checkbox saved me a lot of time and solved most of the problems.
<amp-ad> - I faced another problem when tried to enable AdSense for AMP, turned out I had to update lullabot/amp library to the latest, for that I spent a good time of configuring composer, if you have composer installed and you are looking to update dependencies (lullabot/amp) to the latest run:
php composer.phar updatefrom folder composer PATH_TO_YOUR_PUBLIC_HTML/sites/default/files/composer
Now, huge was my joy after seeing my blog AMP friendly. Of course I spent some time on building custom blocks and views for AMP theme, but in short yes - it's simple AMP version - bare minimum:
Drupal AMP enabled
Now I should mention, for AMP validating and testing I'm using Google Chrome extension AMP Validator
If comparing page speed for non-AMP and AMP page, results are really nice:
Page load time and performance without AMP
I cannot complain much about load times and page size here (well there are still room to grow), but now let's see what are results for AMP enabled for the same webpage:
Page load time and performance with AMP
Truly amazing - load time is 2.5 times faster, page size compression by 4.39 times. Awesome.
As stated in the intro of this article - possible SEO boost from Google. Right now there is not yet decent amount of data to report, but I hope to come out with an article after 30 days. Right now this blog gets about 80,000 users monthly, less than 50% comes from mobile devices. Now, let' s see how many of them will land at ?amp version.
About Night Life in Tbilisi
| Travel guides | 7 seen
Any city looks different when the night falls and the muffled lights are sparkling in the yellow rays of lampions. Level of intimacy is at its highest and you just have to dissolve into the dark.
Tbilisi is extremely beautiful at night as all its main attractions’ virtues are highlighted by the strong bright projectors. It really looks like a phantom city with its old castles and ancient churches. Of course I am talking about the city-center and not its outskirts or uptown as the main beauty is concentrated in the heart of the city that embraces Liberty Square, Rustaveli and Marjanishvili Avenues.
When coming to Tbilisi the first rule you should remember is that the gurgling night-life with lots of people in the streets is not a part of Georgian reality as all the locals prefer to stay at home or in the yards and play backgammon and drink beer while talking about football. Night can radically change one’s opinions and desires. Something miraculous happens out there in Tbilisi – suddenly you feel free from the system and as if the second wind opens - you want to live, learn, and even create.
It was mentioned many times by the tourists that Tbilisi holds absolutely different and unprecedented atmosphere which changes your attitude, especially at night. Many people will say that there is no night life in Georgia, and, the truth is that they are partially right, because you yourself create your night party. Georgia loves hosting guests and the thickest partying and entertainment clusters go to individual families or groups of friends.
Previously Tbilisi used to hold an ‘Encounter’ night-game where you were brought to some deserted place and had to fulfill missions, like, taking your rival a hostage and trying to find the so called treasure chest first, though nowadays this enterprise is not popular anymore due to low demand from the citizens. Also Tbilisi arranges ‘Night at the Museum’ event but you have to be lucky to attend it as this occasion is held once a year, in the end of May. Cable-car closes at 10. No transportation is available after 12 except taxis. What can you do in Tbilisi at night, huh?
There is no reason to be upset as long as there are many places to go yet. For example, gamblers and risk-takers should definitely try one of the casinos. Adjara-Bet is situated in Saburtalo near Holiday Inn Hotel. The gaming area is vast with an abundance of slot machines. You can relax at the Prive Club situated at the casino’s territory. It offers two gamin rooms as well. At 7 p.m. Casino Adjara holds daily tournaments and you can participate without registration. There is a lot of positive feedback from many travelers concerning this place but still many people advise to stay vigilant especially if you play alone against purely Georgian players.
Another casino is Iveria attached to the Radisson BLU Iveria Hotel in Rustaveli Avenue. You can find tables for Black Jack, Poker, slot machines and roulette tables. This place is loved by lots of players as it offers both Georgian and European cuisine. Lots of travelers notice that this place is mostly attended by foreigners and Russian is one of the most popular languages spoken there.
The third casino worth visiting is Shangri La near the peace bridge but you cannot proceed to the game room without registration - do not forget to take your passport. The view over the river from the second floor is truly picturesque at any time of the day but at night it is breathe-taking. Unlike other casinos, in Shangri La there is an XO Room for special guests. This place has the best reviews and they say it is impossible to leave the casino dissatisfied.
Near the casino you can find lots of hookah bars that are open throughout the night. If you are lost in choice and have no idea where to go, do not worry. The bar will find you by itself as very polite clickers stand right at the entrance of each café.
Those who are not very much into gambling have a chance to take a walking tour in the calm and quiet streets of Tbilisi without any fear of being robbed. Tbilisi is one of the safest cities on the territory of Europe and you never have that uneasy feeling that someone is following you or wants to do any harm. As you walk through the main streets you can see many markets working 24/7, like Smart, Ioli, and Nikora. You can find a big diversity of products in those markets starting from bread and finishing with alcoholic beverages. Though, it is not a good idea to drink alcohol in the street. Officially it is prohibited to drink even beer outside but it is fine to sip it in your yard.
If you get tired of your walk you can also visit bars and clubs. Among the most popular ones is Magti Club. It is open at night on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The prices are quite reasonable and the menu is really diverse. The main advantage of this club is that you can listen to fine live music and dance all night long.
Dive Bar and Canudos Ethnic Bar are more underground places where you can find new acquaintances and sit right at the door of the bars and talk to random strangers who will gladly start conversation with you. Canudos is extremely popular in summer as you can sit outside at an open place. Dive Bar is also popular for Beer Pong which you can also play with people you have met for the first time in your life.
If you want to contemplate the beauty of the city from above and have no interest in the night-life but still cannot sleep you had better go to Mtatsminda Park by funicular. The place is especially peaceful and calm at night but remember that the station closes at 4 a.m.
Some might say that Tbilisi is not the place where you can have fun at night but better not to listen to others and try to find out it yourself and make adequate decisions. It all depends on your mood set and desire to explore something new all by yourself.
Postcards from Chania
| | 9 seen
At the start of June, 2017 we traveled for a 3 week leisure trip to the island of Crete, Greece, and our first stop was lovely coastal town Chania. We spent a lovely night discovering local Cretan cuisine and I photographed a lot nightly scene, equipped with a tripod and long exposures, lovely.
That said - postcards from Chania!
Chania lighthouse
Lively Chania promenade with lots of cafeterias
About 18 months ago we visited the so called Italian Riviera - Portofino, see: Portofino - picturesque harbor village in Italian Riviera, now we can draw parallels with both coastal town - truly amazing for romantic escape.
Street vendors in Chania
Ah, those lovely ghost long exposures.
A bench
Just love this long exposure.
the girl and the lighthouse
Amazing, beautiful and truly inspiring. Chania we love you!
Invest in Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum and other) Peer to Peer Lending - Poloniex.com
| Crypto | 21 seen
Seems that crypto currencies are a hot thing on this blog during this Summer, though it was just recent, not even a month ago, when I decided to diversify my investment portfolio and allocate up to 5% space in it for crypto currency investments (buy and hold here).
From my initial investments in crypto at the start of July (see: First Investment In Crypto Currencies - Bought 0.2 ETH for EUR 50) I've lost in value more than -50% in just 2 weeks, see: Crypto currency volatility, lost -54.42% in just two weeks
Now, despite the pretty serious loses here, I still feel pretty optimistic about crypto currency future, and plan to invest there once in a month using dollar average cost approach by the end of 2020.
For about last 6 month I've been investing in a more casual form of peer to peer lending - mintos.com, focusing my investments in Georgian loans. See: Invest in Georgia - Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending - Mintos.com
As I'm already familiar with peer to peer lending concept, and currently in the exploration phase for crypto currency investments, I thought it would be cool - if I could lend out some or all of my coins and earn some income on that. The solution was just around a corner (Google search) - I did find a few bitcoin lending sites, but chose to stick with one at the start, meet Poloniex.com an US-based digital asset exchange offering maximum security and advanced trading features.
Poloniex.com website
The sign up process is simple and pretty straightforward, in couple of minutes my account was ready and setup. Now Poloniex.com doesn't offer direct fiat deposits, you will need to have some coins already purchased in other service, which you can then transfer to your poloniex.com address.
I've a coinbase.com account, where I'm purchasing coins (see: How & Why To Buy Crypto Currencies (bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin) Online - Coinbase ) and I just transferred my coins from coinbase to poloniex.com. Actually this was first time I transferred crypto currencies from one address to another. It was fun.
Depositing bitcoin to poloniex.com
I just copy/paste my deposit address and transferred coins from coinbase.com to poloniex.com
Sending bitcoins from coinbase.com
Coinbase took a small network fee for this transfer and after about 5 minutes my coins were deposited on poloniex.com. That's damn fast, how blockchain technology actually works.
My balances on poloniex.com
Now I was ready to start lending bitcoins for a margin traders, but before that I had to transfer my funds one more time inside the poloniex.com from exchange account to lending account:
Quick Transfer
I decided to split my initial investment into two loans and experiment with two different rates, first rate I set about the same as most of the other lenders offered at - 0.0473% while for other loan I set it a little bit higher yield at 0.0485%. For my surprise both loans were taken instantly and I started to watch fees rolling in:
Active loans
For the record:
- 0.0473% daily rate would be 17.26% annually
- 0.0485% daily rate would be 17.70% annually
Those are awesome rates. On the other hand it seems that daily rates can fluctuate a lot, as they are driven by demand and changes quickly.
I deposited and lent additional litecoin coins, unfortunately I was not able to lend ethereum at this time, as minimum amount for deposit in ETH required is 0.5. As of writing this I've just 0.2. Most probably I will add ETH next month here, after will purchase more coins.
For litecoin I lent at 0.040% making annually - 14.6%
Crypto currency volatility, lost -54.42% in just two weeks
| Crypto | 16 seen
In the past two weeks, my investments in crypto currencies have lost it's value by -54.42%, that's insane, but here is the thing - I don't care much, as I believe in the long term run they should raise, break even and even grow in value.
My story with crypto currency investment started just about two weeks ago, during a leisure trip to Crete, Greece I decided to allocate a small piece (up to 5%) from my investment portfolio in crypto currencies. Also I decided to use dollar cost averaging approach and constantly buy more coins each month.
After seeing a drop by more than 50% in just two weeks I've started to think to limit crypto currency part in my portfolio to some 2-3% instead of 5%, as such huge volatility actually impacts my overall portfolio performance.
Cryptocurrency volatility
How To Track Your CryptoCurrencies Portfolio Automatically Using Google Spreadsheets
From three crypto coins in my wallet, ether has lost the most, -101,18%, bitcoin - 41.16% and litecoin -35.64%, and that all have happened in just two weeks. Insane!
On the other hand I feel sorry I don't have more funds available this month to buy more coins, and in fact I wouldn't mind seeing price drop to -80% till the end of month and buy more coins for less money in August.
The bigger picture from my investments in crypto currencies is to buy more coins every month until the end of 2020.
Right now it seems if there is a failing price for one coin, the others will fall as well, and vice verse, if price is raising for one currency it will raise for all. Again, that's pretty insane, as using a well diversified stock portfolio at the end your stock portfolio shouldn't been so volatile as it is with crypto currencies.
It will be interesting to see, will ether or some other currency bypass bitcoin it total market cap and hopefully change the way how crypto market acts as of today.