Blog Archive: October 2018

Tbilisi by day (New Apartment Version)

31 October, 2018 | Living in Georgia | 13 seen

It has been already more than 10 days since we have moved into our new Tbilisi apartment.

For today's article in the series Living in Georgia, I just wanted to share some picture with surrounding views towards mount Mtatsminda, TV Tower and other.

For the first part, please visit: Tbilisi by night (New apartment version)

View towards mount Mtatsminda and TV tower in Tbilisi

No doubts,best viewed during night time. This is one of my favorite spots in the apartment to take daughter on the shoulder and tell stories. Quite impressive.

Rooftops of Tbilisi

Street in Tbilisi

Next probably will be golden hour photography(HDR)

Istanbul Airport

30 October, 2018 | Airports | 19 seen

Istanbul Airport will be the main international airport serving Istanbul. It is based in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey.

The opening ceremony took place on 29 October 2018, scheduled so as to coincide with the 95th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.

On November 1 2018, five daily flights will start to arrive and depart from the airport: Ankara, Antalya, Baku, Ercan, İzmir.These flights will all be operated by Turkish Airlines. Regularly scheduled flights to these destinations will still depart from Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen airports alongside these trial flights. On December 31 2018, all equipment from Atatürk Airport will be transferred by truck to the new airport via the O-7 Motorway.

Atatürk Airport, Istanbul's current main airport, is located in the Yeşilköy neighbourhood of the Bakırköy district and is surrounded by urban Istanbul. Additionally, there is an increasing problem of air traffic congestion. Atatürk Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe. Since 2013, it has ranked among the five busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic.

There is no space to build an additional runway on the Atatürk Airport site, as the airport is surrounded on all sides. Because of the limited capacity, the Turkish Airport Authority does not allow additional cargo or charter flights to the airport. Due to a lack of slot capacity and parking spaces, some of Turkish Airlines' aircraft are based in Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Sabiha Gökçen Airport itself is already at maximum terminal capacity of 25 million passengers, and handled 28 million passengers in 2015 after posting traffic growth rates averaging over 20% a year since 2013.

In 2015 and 2016, the two Istanbul airports handled almost 90 million passengers, with more than 95 million passengers in 2017. In terms of area airports, the six London-area airports serve more than 150 million passengers a year, while the three Paris-area airports serve around 100 million passengers a year.

An Inconvenient Border: Where China Meets North Korea

27 October, 2018 | Documentaries | 3 seen

An Inconvenient Border: Where China Meets North Korea is a great documentary by ABC news I would highly recommend to all interested in North Korea / China.

Both North Korea and China has been on my radar for the last decade at least.

Bob Woodruff’s daring 880-mile journey along the China-North Korea border examines the delicate relationship between the two countries and the United States.

Watch it on YouTube

Traveling to Madrid? Here are Top 14 5-star Luxury Hotels in City Center

26 October, 2018 | Hotel reviews | 11 seen

After two great week-long travels to the regions of Catalonia (2014) and Andalusia (2016) in Spain, Madrid is planned as our next destination in Spain.

To prepare better I decided to explore what are our options, this time staying in the city center.

Planning a Trip to Spain: How to Get a Prepaid SIM Card in Spain

Madrid City Center is a great choice for travelers interested in tapas, architecture, and parks.

In today's article, I've listed top 14 5-star luxury hotels in Madrid, Spain

Disclosure: hotels listed below contain links to Booking.com, by clicking on links on this page and by making a reservation on Booking.com site, I might earn an affiliate income, at no cost to you.

NH Collection Madrid Paseo del Prado

Located on Paseo del Prado Boulevard and offering wonderful views of the Neptune Fountains, NH Collection Madrid Paseo del Prado offers free WiFi, an on-site restaurant, and gym with city views.

Spacious, air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screen TV and Nespresso coffee machine. Their Indian marble bathroom comes with a rain-effect shower, bathrobes and slippers.

Set in a 19th-century, Neo-Baroque palace, the hotel building still has some of its original features.

Tapas by Michelin-starred chef Paco Roncero are served at Estado Puro Tapas Restaurant, which also has a terrace overlooking the Neptune Fountains.

Guests can also enjoy the hotel's Antiox healthy buffet breakfast. The hotel also offers a tea and wine bar.

Prado Museum and Thyssen Museum are both less than 5 minutes’ walk from the hotel. Reina Sofia Museum is 10 minutes’ walk away.

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

NH Collection Madrid Suecia

Featuring a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city, NH Collection Madrid Suecia is located in central Madrid, beside the Círculo de Bellas Artes Cultural Center and Gran Vía.

Modern, air-conditioned rooms feature flat-screen satellite TV, free WiFi and a mini-bar. The private bathroom includes a rain shower.

The hotel’s Casa Suecia Restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine. You can also enjoy a drink at the lounge cocktail bar or on the rooftop terrace.

Meeting and event spaces are available at the hotel, and you will also find an on-site fitness center.

Originally opened in the 1950s by the Swedish royal family, NH Collection Madrid Suecia has hosted guests such as Ernest Hemingway and Che Guevara.

Price: ~ EUR 140 Book this hotel on Booking.com

VP Plaza Espana Design

Located in Gran Via, in Madrid city center, VP Plaza España Design offers 5-star accommodations with parking, a wellness center, and a seasonal pool.

All rooms in this stylish hotel offer an exclusive décor and are equipped with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, free WiFi, and a desk with a coffee machine, and a private bathroom with shower and bath tub, including free high-end toiletries and bathrobe. Some rooms include a terrace.

Guests at the accommodations can enjoy a buffet breakfast, or have a meal at Botania, the Mediterranean restaurant located on-site. Guests can also relax after work at the Ginkgo Sky Bar, enjoying the stunning view of Madrid City.

VP Plaza España Design offers 1400 square yards of meeting and conference-rooms, as well as green areas and parking.

Price: ~ EUR 211 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Gran Hotel Inglés

Located in the Barrio de las Letras, Gran Hotel Inglés is set on a 19th century building, and offers 5* accommodations 300 m from Puerta del Sol and only 601 m from the main museums.

All rooms feature a stylish décor reminding its original art-decó style. They are all fitted with a seating area, and flat-screen TV.

Guests can enjoy an à la carte buffet breakfast with hot and cold options.

Lobo 8 is the restaurant from Willy Moya Chef, it offers a modern view of Mediterranean cuisine. Guests can also enjoy a meal at the cocktail-bar LobByto located at the hotel’s hall.

The Gran Hotel Inglés also offers business facilities such as conference or meeting rooms. Wellness services can also be provided at their wellness center, Egoïste.

Price: ~ EUR 340 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Westin Palace Hotel

This luxury hotel is located in the heart of Madrid, within the Art Triangle. The Parliament is across the road, and the Royal Palace and Opera House within walking distance.

The Westin Palace offers elegant facilities only 302 m from the Prado, Thyssen and Reina Sofia Museums.

The hotel is famous for its beautiful stained-glass dome. Here a fantastic buffet breakfast with music is served.

Rooms at the Palace are elegant and modern. They have the award-winning Westin Heavenly Bed and Heavenly Bath. There is also antique furniture and an internet TV.

Cocktails, coffees and aperitifs are offered in the Palace Bar, under the dome. Offering live music, the bar was made famous by Ernest Hemingway in his novel The Sun Also Rises.

Price: ~ EUR 262 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid

Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid is located in the heart of Madrid and features a 24-hour gym, a bar and on-site dining. Gran Via Metro Station is 150 m away. Free WiFi is offered throughout the property.

Each room is stylishly decorated featuring custom designed furniture, city views, functional work areas, 55-inch TV, air conditioning, and heating. The private bathroom comes with free toiletries, bath or shower, and hairdryer.

A buffet breakfast is served daily at the property and in the summer months, there is a secret rooftop bar with panoramic views. Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid also features a music studio, Ondas, where guests can enjoy a vermouth or gourmet coffee while listening to some foot-tapping tunes or enjoy a light snack.

The property has a 24-hour front desk and a concierge service and books and magazines about Madrid are available in the lobby.

A 7-minute walk will take you to Puerta del Sol while El Retiro Park is 0.9 mi away. Madrid-Barajas Airport is a 45-minute metro ride away.

Price: ~ EUR 226 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Villa Real

Set in the cultural heart of Madrid, this luxury hotel has a fine art collection. Each elegant room has an LCD TV and a CD player.

Hotel Villa Real is located in the Triangle of Art. The Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is just 150 m away. The Puerta del Sol, Plaza Cibeles and the Retiro Park are also nearby.

Hotel Villa Real is considered a classic among Madrid’s luxury hotels, decorated with wood and marble. The art collection includes Roman mosaics and Greek ceramics, some from the 3rd Century BC.

Rooms at the hotel are soundproofed, and have a laptop safe and a mini-bar. Some rooms have a sofa or a balcony.

The hotel’s East 47 restaurant serves creative Mediterranean food, tapas and cocktails.

Guests have free access to the swimming pool at the Hotel Urban, open in summer. The hotel is also pet friendly.

Price: ~ EUR 220 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques

Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques is located 300 m from Madrid's Royal Palace, the Royal Theater and the Cathedral. It features a seasonal rooftop pool and a terrace with panoramic city views.

Set on a 19th-century palace, Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques is inspired by Velazquez's famous paintings and has its own private lush historic garden. There is also a Thai Room wellness center and a 24-hour gym.

Rooms and suites at this hotel feature elegant decor, a 49-inch LED-TV, iPhone docking station, Nespresso coffee machine and free WiFi. The private bathroom includes a rain shower, bath, heated floors, and Clarins free toiletries.

Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques offers 3 restaurants serving Spanish and French cuisine and wines. There is also a cocktail bar and a tea corner.

Plaza Mayor is 500 m from Gran Melia Palacio de los Duques and Sabatini Gardens are 300 m away. The Prado Museum is 20 minutes’ walk away. There is private parking on site.

Price: ~ EUR 294 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Hotel Urban

This boutique hotel houses a permanent display of art from Papua New Guinea. Hotel Urban has a small rooftop swimming pool open in summer, a terrace and a cocktail bar.

The hotel has beautiful design, and facilities include a gym.

The hotel features a Michelin-starred restaurant: CEBO, with Aurelio Morales as the main chef. There is also a cocktail-bar on the roof-top terrace "La terraza del Urban", and a gastro-pub Glass-Mar with chef-made tapas and cocktails.

The décor of the hotel and the rooms includes special lighting, natural wood and stone and Oriental art. All rooms are soundproofed and offer free wired internet, a flat-screen TV and a DVD player.

The Thyssen-Bornemisza Gallery is 200 m away. Puerta del Sol, Madrid’s main square, is just 300 m away.

Price: ~ EUR 233 Book this hotel on Booking.com

URSO Hotel & Spa

Set in a restored palace, URSO Hotel & Spa is 5 minutes’ walk from Alonso Martínez Metro Station. It offers elegant rooms, free WiFi, a spa and gym.

Decorated with stylish, designer details, the rooms come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV and a mini-bar. Each one has a private bathroom equipped with a bath and shower, as well as slippers, bathrobes, toiletries and a hairdryer.

The hotel spa includes a water area, hamman, massage service and a gym.

The on-site restaurant Media Ración offers local cuisine and tapas. Many dining options are also available in the surrounding streets. Serrano, a popular shopping area, is just 15 minutes’ walk from the URSO Hotel & Spa.

Staff at the 24-hour reception can provide tourist information and a ticket service. Madrid’s Puerta del Sol and the Retiro Park can be reached in under 20 minutes on foot.

Price: ~ EUR 200 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Principal Madrid

Iconic views of Madrid’s Gran Via Avenue are offered at the elegant rooftop terrace and Atico restaurant/cocktail bar of The Principal Madrid. This luxurious boutique hotel offers a gym, and stylish rooms and suites.

The Wellness Suite with sauna can be booked entirely and exclusively for couples or individual treatment sessions. Some room and suite types include free access to Wellness Suite services.

Spacious air-conditioned rooms and suites all have a TV with cable and satellite channels. Each has a desk, safe, mini-bar and private bathroom with a hairdryer. Just a few of the extras in certain rooms or suites include butler service, and Nespresso coffee machines.

Apart from spectacular views, the hotel’s Atico restaurant/cocktail bar offers avant-garde haute cuisine and classic cocktails in a laid-back atmosphere of modern loft club with glamorous original architecture from 1917.

Located at the heart of Madrid, the hotel is surrounded by an array of entertainment, dining and shopping options, and is just 400 m from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

Price: ~ EUR 264 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Barceló Torre de Madrid

Set in Madrid’s Plaza de España Square, Barceló Torre Madrid offers elegant rooms with free WiFi, an indoor pool and on-site restaurant. Plaza de España Metro Station is right beside the hotel.

Modern, spacious rooms come with large king-size beds, air conditioning, a 42-inch TV and a laptop safe. Their private bathroom comes with a rain-effect shower and hairdryer.

As well as an indoor pool, you will find a fitness center, sauna and therapy rooms for massages.

Barceló Torre Madrid’s restaurant offers á la carte meals. Guests can also enjoy a bar with a DJ.

Price: ~ EUR 189 Book this hotel on Booking.com

NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa

Set in a restored, 19th-century palace, NH Collection Madrid Palacio de Tepa offers a 24-hour gym, free WiFi and on-site restaurant. Puerta del Sol is 350 m away.

Elegant, spacious rooms come with a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a mini-bar. The modern bathroom includes free toiletries.

The hotel was built in a Neoclassical style and you can still see the remains of the historical canal system inside.

The hotel has an elegant and contemporary restaurant. Breakfast includes a wide range of quality products.

Located in Madrid’s Las Letras District, the hotel is 5 minutes’ walk from Plaza Mayor Square and 15 minutes from the Royal Palace.

Sol and Anton Martín metro stations are both a 5-minute walk away. The Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Art Center and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum are within 0.6 mi of the hotel.

Price: ~ EUR 197 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Melia Madrid Princesa

With views of the Royal Palace, Meliá Princesa is a luxury hotel located in Madrid, 8 minutes’ walk from Plaza España and Gran Via. It offers a gym and modern rooms with flat-screen satellite TV.

The stylish rooms at the Meliá Madrid Princesa includes a private bathrooms with a hairdryer.

The hotel's restaurant features an elegant design and offers international gastronomy. There is also a bar integrated in the reception.

The upper floors of the hotel are dedicated to The Level exclusive rooms, with panoramic views over the city or the mountains as well as specific superior services and facilities such as a wellness area or an indoor pool for adults only. Guests can enjoy elegant and spacious rooms with pillow menu, private check-in and check-out space, Nespresso space, concierge service and high quality and exclusive bathroom amenities and toiletries, organization of activities around the city, a private area with drinks and snacks and private show cooking, press in the lounge, etc.

Oeste Park and the beautiful Debod Temple are 7 minutes’ walk from the Meliá Princesa. Ventura Rodríguez Metro Station, located next to the hotel, provides links to the center of town in around 10 minutes.

Price: ~ EUR 179 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Tbilisi Office 2.0.

23 October, 2018 | Living in Georgia | 11 seen

In October 2018, we changed not only apartments but also offices as well. In short, we moved from Agmanashabeli avenue to Vake district in Tbilisi.

There is a little change compared to previous years when trying to find a new office in Tbilisi. Let's say this, this time we got lucky. See: Renting an Office in Tbilisi

See pictures from the previous office here: Audio & Video Transcription Service by Caucasus Translations

Working space in the new Tbilisi office

The office is located on the tenth floor in a residential / office/aparthotel building in Vake

Interior at the new office

We bought furniture (shelf, table, and chairs) at local Jysk store, paying about $1,000 for it

Second room

It's planned to equip this space as a meeting room

View from the balcony

The dwelling house in the front kind of reminds me of the ones I have seen a lot in Turkey.

View from the balcony

As you can see, construction is booming in Tbilisi (at least in 2018). If I would have a spare couple of millions I would most probably invest right now in Tbilisi real estate development.

View from the tenth floor

TP-Link TL-WN725N 150Mbps Wireless N Nano USB Adapter Review

22 October, 2018 | Gadget Reviews | 12 seen

TP-Link is a popular brand in Georgia, and most probably in CIS region, manufacturing Wireless routers and wireless adapters (probably a lot of other useful gadgets as well).

I remember about 10 years ago I used a PCI WIFI adapter to have a WiFi functionality for a desktop PC.

Now, in 2018, when moving into a new office, I decided it would be cool to get rid of at least some of the wiring for or desktop computers. And here comes miniature, I would even say nano-sized TP-Link Wireless adapter

Sleek miniature design so small that once plugged in, can be left in a Laptop’s USB port
Speedy wireless transmission at up to 150Mbps ideal for video streaming or internet calls
Advanced Security: Supports 64/128 WEP, WPA, PA2/WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK(TKIP/AES)
Connect in no time with easy setup utility in 14 languages

I was amazed I even didn't have to run any installation, once plugged in the PC's USB port, it just worked out of the box

Office Computers Equipped with WIFI USB adapters

Audio & Video Transcription Service by Caucasus Translations

TL-WN725N in the box

Really small USB WiFi adapter

Tbilisi by night (New apartment version)

21 October, 2018 | Living in Georgia | 6 seen

It has been a while since I last time did a night photography (one of my favorite photography techniques).

The thing is, recently we moved in to a new apartment here in Tbilisi, which offers a very fantastic views towards Mtatsminda, TV tower and other..

Back in the night of October 21, 2018 I took out my tripod, put it on one out of three huge balconies and here you go:

Tbilisi by night - long exposure

What's really great, the next time I will want make those cool stripes I won't even need to leave my apt. Everything I can get from the balcony. Awesome.

See: Practicing Photography: Doing Night Shots - Tbilisi By Night

View towards mount Mtatsminda

Guess what? I now have the best spot in the city to make New Years fireworks photography. Ha.

Old New Year's fireworks in Tbilisi
Happy New Year! Fireworks Photography from Tbilisi 2018

View towards Tbilisi Railway station

Here I'm playing with long exposures, high ISO and wide aperture.

Old and New

King David tower in the background. Been documented for the last 5 years. See: Super moon Total Lunar Eclipse 2015: Tbilisi, Georgia

Growing Blog Audience to 200,000/mo users in next 365 days

20 October, 2018 | Blogging | 8 seen

Five years ago I started this blog with an experiment - Can you blog 365 days in a row? Now, five years later I know for sure, yes you can, you even can blog 5 X 365 days in a row. At least that what I just did.

Now, five years ago, when started this experiment I was looking to get a blog traffic of 6,000 users/mo at the end.

Here was my motivation five years ago:

The reason I'm asking this question is - when starting something new - it all seems so exciting, so adventurous. But then comes routine, especially for blogging thing - you see that results are not so great.

In the past five year's blog has attracted more than 3 million users and generated more than 4.2 million page views.

Blog traffic October 2013 - October 2018 (Data source: Google Analytics)

For the past five years, I have been writing every single day - that's more than 1800 days not missing an article (Ok, I missed two days back in 2014 actually) - consecutive writing has been my corner strategy.

Since the second half of 2017, the average blog's audience has been more than 100,000 monthly, with the following being the top 3 months in the past

121,000/users - July 2018
120.000/users - January 2018
113,000 /users - August 2017

Unfortunately, or for good, there has been a decline for the blog's traffic since the August 2018, with the past two months traffic being less than 100,000/mo

Goal: 200,000 users monthly by November 2019

To beef it up and add some spice to the blog, I have decided to almost double blog's traffic in the next 12 months. Currently, I plan to use content marketing and Facebook advertisement to reach my goal. I believe more in depths, top best of articles will be produced much more for this challenge.

Top 17 5-star Luxury / Boutique Hotels in Manhattan, New York

19 October, 2018 | Hotel reviews | 8 seen

Get the celebrity treatment with world-class service at the finest 5-star luxury hotels in Manhattan, New York.

For a luxury stay at one of the 5-star hotels of Manhattan, you should be ready to spend starting ~ $250 per night up to $1,250. From my own experience, I have spent "just" $600 for a 4-night stay at INNSIDE New York NoMad Hotel back in 2017

In today's article I've listed top 17 5-star luxury hotels in Manhattan, New York

The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel

The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel is located 500 m from the Brooklyn Bridge and the Westfield World Trade Center.

The rooms and suites boast custom beds, leather headboards, oak floors, craft cocktail tables and marble bathrooms.

The Beekman is architecturally distinguished by its 9-story atrium that has a pyramidal glass ceiling at the top. The upper stories of the atrium are bordered by balconies. Artwork adorns the walls of the The Beekman.

Restaurateur and chef, Tom Colicchio, and restaurateur Keith McNally have restaurants at Beekman, offering guests distinguished culinary experiences.

Price: ~ USD 256 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue

Located in Midtown Manhattan, between Bryant Park and the Empire State Building, this hotel offers rooms with iPod docking stations.

The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue rooms include an espresso maker and bottled water during turn-down. All the rooms are also equipped with WiFi access. Guests who stay in the suites have complimentary access to bottled water and sodas.

Concierge services and a 24-hour front desk are provided for guests' convenience. Complimentary ironing services for up to 5 items upon arrival is also provided (only once per stay).

Guests can dine at Ai Fiori, which is the onsite Michelin-star restaurant at The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue. The restaurant serves modern Italian cuisine that is inspired by the French and Italian Riviera. Enjoy drinks and small plates at Bar Fiori.

Price per night: ~ USD 386 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York

The Pierre, A Taj Hotel is located across from Central Park at 61st Street. A part of the New York City skyline with its copper mansard roof, The Pierre offers guests white glove luxury service. The hotel is close to high-end shopping destinations and is only steps away from Barneys New York. The boutiques of Fifth & Madison Avenues are in close proximity.

The Pierre has played host to many society events since opening in 1930. The newly-opened restaurant, Perrine, offers seasonal French-American cuisine with daily specials inspired by Pierre culinary classics. The hotel also offers a bar/lounge, Two E, with traditional afternoon tea by day and live jazz by night every Thursday through Saturday.

Located at the intersection of Midtown and the Upper East Side, white gloved elevator attendants, a Les Clefs d'Or concierge team and trained housekeepers help maintain the quality of service. The Pierre also has Forbes Five Star & AAA Five Diamond to their name.

The Pierre offers a variety of exclusive experiences for young travelers as well. A host of child-friendly amenities await - from special treats to movies, toys and special museum passes on demand.

Price per night: ~USD 650 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The NoMad Hotel

Featuring a French decor and complimentary WiFi, The NoMad Hotel is located 645 m from the Empire State Building and Herald Square. Madison Square Park is 161 m from the property.

Every room offers a view of the atrium or New York City. Mahogany work desk, iHome docking station and an in-room safe are included in every room at The NoMad Hotel. Nightly turn down service is provided.

Enjoy a workout in the fitness center or read the daily newspaper. Laptops and iPads are also available upon request.

The subway station is 50 m from the property while The Museum at FIT is 484 m away. Times Square is 0.7 mi away.

NoMad is a great choice for travelers interested in city walks, food and museums.

This is our guests' favorite part of New York City, according to independent reviews. In this area you can shop 'til you drop for popular brands like H&M.

Price per night: ~ USD 410 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The New York EDITION

Located in the iconic landmark Metropolitan Life Clock Tower 22 m from Madison Square Park, The New York EDITION offers a Michelin star restaurant and free WiFi access.

Featuring oversize windows and sweeping city views, every room includes photography by Melvin Sokolsky. Rooms offer a 48” flat-screen TV and each room has a private bathroom with custom Le Labo bath amenities.

The Clocktower restaurant offers updated classics and contemporary British fare by Michelin starred Chef Jason Atherton. Located on the hotel’s landmarked second floor, The Clocktower includes three uniquely-designed dining rooms, a billiards room, and a bar made entirely of gold leaf.

Bespoke cocktails and Magic Owl Easy Blond Ale, brewed exclusively for The New York EDITION, are offered at the Lobby Bar, as is breakfast, lunch and light dinner.

Eataly is 221 m from The New York EDITION, while Dover Street Market is 851 m away. The nearest airport is LaGuardia Airport, 9.1 mi away.

Flatiron District is a great choice for travelers interested in architecture, walking and city walks.

Price per night: ~ USD 455 Book this hotel on Booking.com

1 Hotel Central Park

Offering a restaurant and a fitness center, 1 Hotel Central Park is located in New York.

Each room here will provide you with air conditioning and a seating area. Featuring a shower, private bathrooms also comes with a hairdryer, cotton slipper socks and bathrobes. Extras include a desk, a safety deposit box, a laptop safe, a yoga mat and a Nespresso® machine.

At 1 Hotel Central Park you will find a 24-hour front desk, a bar and a snack bar. Other facilities offered at the property include meeting facilities, luggage storage and dry cleaning.

The on-site restaurant, Jams, features an open kitchen, exposed brick and reclaimed oak. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.

Price per night: ~ USD 490 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Conrad New York

With 2000 pieces of artwork on display and an atrium, this all-suite property is located 500 m from the World Trade Center.

Each room features a separate living room, 2 flat-screen TVs and an espresso machine. Guests can enjoy views of the Hudson River from some of the suites.

The Atrio Restaurant offers Mediterranean cuisine, while the seasonal rooftop bar serves cocktails alongside a view of the Hudson River. Guests will also have access to the 24-hour fitness center.

For those who enjoy shopping, Brookfield Place is across the street from Conrad New York and Westfield World Trade Center is 651 m from the property.

Price per night: ~ USD 365 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown

Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown is set in the Tribeca district in New York, 300 m from One World Trade Center and 400 m from Ground Zero. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar.

All rooms are equipped with a flat-screen TV. All rooms come with a private bathroom. Extras include bath robes and free toiletries.

This Four Seasons Hotel comes with a lap pool, a spa, and a gym. The onsite restaurant, Cut by Wolfgang Puck, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Private and in-room dining options are also available.

Price per night: ~ USD 900 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Mark New York

In Manhattan and just 1 block from Central Park, this boutique hotel also houses The Mark Restaurant. With artistic design, the Mark Hotel includes a state-of-the-art gym and spacious guest rooms.

Free Wi-Fi, an iPod docking station and 32-inch flat-screen TV are included in all modern rooms. The large marble bathrooms feature a large soaking tub and mini flat-screen TV. Each room is decorated in ebony and sycamore furnishings.

The Mark Restaurant by Jean Georges serves European and globally seasoned dishes. Signature cocktails and classic drinks are featured at Mark’s Bar.

The Mark features a concierge desk for guests’ convenience where various activities can be arranged. Frederic Fekkai Salon is on site and offers hair and beauty treatments. The business facilities include laptop computer rental and wireless printing services.

Price per night: ~ USD 865 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Crosby Street Hotel

Located on a cobbled street in the SoHo neighborhood, this contemporary design hotel features a beautiful inner courtyard and an on-site terrace restaurant. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

The Crosby Street Hotel offers bright, modern rooms with high ceilings and full-length windows. Each is equipped with flat-screen cable TV, DVD player and iPod docking station.

Guests of Crosby Street are welcome to work out in the 24-hour gym or relax in front of the fireplace in the plush drawing room. Films are shown in the hotel’s private theater each Sunday.

The Crosby Bar and Terrace serves gourmet items including breakfast and brunch. An afternoon tea with pastries and sandwiches is offered daily.

The Crosby Street Hotel is adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art Design and 1 block from the Spring Street subway station.

Price per night: ~ USD 1,250 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Whitby Hotel

Located in upper midtown Manhattan, 484 m from the Central Park, the Whitby Hotel is a short distance away from stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman. The Whitby Hotel offers complimentary WiFi to all guests.

Each room at The Whitby Hotel is individually designed with floor to ceiling windows. Some rooms have a private terrace and offer views of the Manhattan skyline. Interiors have been designed by Kit Kemp.

Guests will also have access to The Whitby Bar and Restaurant, an Orangery, a book-lined drawing room as well as a fully equipped gym.

The Museum of Modern Art is 484 m from the property, while Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral are 805 m from the property. Guests will find many restaurants in the vicinity as well.

Price per night: ~ USD 715 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Wagner Hotel

This hotel features New York harbor and Statue of Liberty views, a 24-hour fitness center, a spa and restaurant. The Wagner Hotel is 325 m from the Circle Line Statue of Liberty Ferry and offers rooms with a flat-screen cable TV.

Each accommodations offers a work area, refrigerator and ironing facilities. There are bathrobes along with a safe in each room.

The fitness center at The Wagner offers panoramic views of the New York skyline.

Guests at this Battery Park hotel can enjoy on-site dining at 2West, a modern American bistro.

The One World Trade Center is less than 0.6 mi from the property. Local points of interest like Bloomingdales and The Highline Park are reachable within 1.9 mi and 2.5 mi, respectively.

Price per night: ~ USD 205 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Bowery Hotel

Featuring a lobby bar, The Bowery Hotel is located at the intersection of the Lower East Side and East Village, 450 m from the New Museum. Free WiFi access is available.

Each room at this boutique hotel features floor-to-ceiling windows and city views. Guests can request for a crib in the room. The industrial design is paired with residential loft-style amenities like hardwood floors, Oushak rugs and 400 thread count bedding. Every room also has a marble bathroom with rain showers, plush towels and luxury C.O. Bigelow bath amenities.

There is 24-hour concierge service at The Bowery Hotel. Bicycle rentals are complimentary, as are newspapers, laptops and iPads upon request.

Gemma, the on-site Italian restaurant, offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. Brunch is offered on Saturday and Sunday, and 24-hour room service is also available.

The Bowery Hotel is within walking distance of several music venues. Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge are 801 m away. The nearest metro station is Bleecker Street, 290 m away.

Price per night: ~ USD 575 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Baccarat Hotel and Residences New York

Featuring Baccarat crystals in every room, the Baccarat Hotel and Residences is located in New York. Guests can relish in the intricate architecture and design features while enjoying the indoor pool, fitness center and on-site French restaurant. Free WiFi access is available.

Each room at the hotel is furnished with contemporary Parisian décor and offers a flat-screen TV, sofa and desk. Private bathrooms include a hairdryer, free toiletries, slippers and a bathrobe. An iron, coffee machine and safety deposit box are also provided.

A 24-hour front desk welcomes guests to New York’s Baccarat Hotel and Residences, which provides a personal host with every reservation. Additional amenities offered at the hotel include a spa and wellness center, laundry and concierge services.

Price per night: ~ USD 1,095 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Sherry Netherland

Centrally in Midtown Manhattan on Fifth Avenue, this hotel is across from the Grand Army Plaza and Central Park's main entrance. It features on-site dining and free Wi-Fi.

A flat-screen TV and iPod docking station are included in each room at The Sherry Netherland. The rooms feature high ceilings and marble bathrooms. Belgian chocolates and a bouquet of flowers are provided upon arrival. All rooms include complimentary soft drinks and water, as well as Keurig coffee machines.

The Sherry’s Harry Cipriani is designed after the famous Harry's Bar in Venice. This stylish restaurant has classic Venetian cuisine. It is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner. Room service is available.

A gym with floor-to-ceiling mirrors is part of this Manhattan hotel. Concierge and ticket services are available.

Price per night: ~ USD 659 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Greenwich Hotel

This New York City hotel is located in the city’s Tribeca neighborhood. It features an underground pool and fitness center, as well as an on-site restaurant and spa.

All 88 rooms at the Greenwich Hotel are individually decorated with luxurious goods from around the world. The rooms include free Wi-Fi access and a mini-bar stocked with free snacks.

The Greenwich Hotel has a knowledgeable concierge staff to help guests plan their stay in New York. Other features include the on-site Shibui Spa, offering a variety of massages and treatments.

Locanda Verde is the hotel’s on-site restaurant. It serves drinks and Italian cuisine in a relaxing and casual setting.

The Tribeca Performing Arts Center and Washington Market Park are both within 500 m of the Greenwich Hotel. LaGuardia Airport is 15 mi away.

Price per night: ~ USD 795 Book this hotel on Booking.com

The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, New York City

This art deco, boutique hotel is within a 5-minute walk of Broadway theaters. The 5-star hotel offers a 42-inch flat-screen TV, personal butler service and free Wi-Fi in every guest room. The property is renowned in the travel industry for their quality customer service and luxury amenities.

A combination of contemporary luxury and old fashioned design, the Chatwal Hotel features on-site spa services at the prestigious Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. The well equipped gym is open 24-hours and personal training can be arranged.

Guest rooms at the Chatwal feature 400-thread-count linens and down duvets. A DVD player and stereo with MP3 connectivity are available upon request. The bathrooms offers his and hers bath amenities and comfortable terry cloth robes.

The Lambs Club at the Chatwal is a bar-and-grill with modern takes on American classics. The restaurant offers a 2,500 square foot mezzanine lounge with 20-foot viewing windows with city views.

Times Square is a 3-minute walk from the hotel. Central Park is a 17-minute walk away.

Price per night: ~ USD 675 Book this hotel on Booking.com

Funicular Restaurant Complex

18 October, 2018 | Restaurant reviews | 54 seen

High above Tbilisi you will find the most stylish centre for food and drink in the city: the Funicular Restaurant Complex.

Without doubt, the Funicular Complex is one of the most important places in Tbilisi, with its significant long history dating back to 1905. I have been visiting this place on rare occasions, during trip to Mtatsminda mountain.

My first visit here, probably was back in 2014, during Latvia - Georgia business forum. Nowadays, Funicular Restaurant complex has become one of the most popular Tbilisi restaurants among city guests.

Panoramic views toward Tbilisi

The Funicular Complex includes 4 separates dining facilities: Chela (traditional Georgian), Puri Guliani (bakery), and the signature Restaurant Funicular and its Ball room. Ball room is perhaps the ultimate venue for a conference, wedding reception or party, with the facilities and service to match.

Goodies at Puri Guliani

With a brand new Funicular train going from Chonkadze Street, one can take a magnificent trip to the Funicular Complex and enjoy dinner with stunning panoramic views over Tbilisi.

Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi

13 October, 2018 | Tourism objects | 47 seen

Mtatsminda Park is an amusement facility located atop on Mount Mtatsminda on a 770-meter height overlooking the Georgian capital Tbilisi.

It is the highest point in Tbilisi. Located on more than 100 hectares. Park has more than 100 years of history. Mtatsminda Park is the most popular theme park in Tbilisi. It is the best choice for fun and relaxation.

You can find various cafes, Souvenirs shops, child entertainment center, a wedding house, picnic zones, a Ferris Wheel at the edge of the mountain, offering splendid views over the city, funicular tram and other fun attractions on the venue.

Carousels in Mtatsminda park, Tbilisi

Fresh air, fascinating view of Tbilisi, fun rides, attractions, constant events, excellent customer service will let you relax, have fun and enjoy your free time with your friends and family members.

Views over Tbilisi

To use most of the park's attractions you should buy a special plastic card of Mtatsminda park at the cash desk in front of the entrance. The card can be used at rides and funicular. Each attraction cost some money, you should additionally put money on your Mtatsminda park card.

Ferris Wheel in Tbilisi (Mtatsminda park)

Roller coaster in Tbilisi

Park train

Have an amazing trip around the park on a colorful train. Enjoy beautiful views and just have fun. 5 people are needed to start the journey. The train leaves from the central square. It stops in two places upon request: the territory in front of the Rollercoaster and the upper station of the Funicular. The carriages are well-equipped, have soft seats and air conditioning system

Number of seats: 40
Travel time: 10 min

During this time you will be able to look around almost the whole territory of the park. This is an alternative way to is especially convenient if you are walking with kids which is tiresome

Tbilisi TV Tower

12 October, 2018 | Tourism objects | 25 seen

Tbilisi TV tower probably is the most visible construction in the city, located inMtatsminda I haven't heard though it would be opened for public.

Here is what we know about it:

Georgia Tbilisi TV Broadcasting Tower is a free-standing tower structure used for communications purposes. The tower is located in Tbilisi, Georgia and was built in 1972.

The preceding structure, built in 1955, was moved to the vicinity of the city of Gori.

Tbilisi TV tower

The tower is operated by "Georgian Teleradiocenter", that was established 1955. Communication systems on the tower include regular broadcast, MMDS, pager and cellular, commercial TV, and amateur radio repeater. The tower is 274.5 m (901 ft) high on a mountain at 719.2 m (2,360 feet) above sea level.

The present tower has been put on the list of the unique European TV towers.

Five Year Blog Anniversary

10 October, 2018 | Blogging | 4 seen

Today, on October 10th, 2018, ReinisFischer.com website is celebrating its 5th birthday. Each blog anniversary is a huge milestone for me and the 5th birthday is no exception. What has started as a simple experiment has turned out to be a successful online business venture!

It was just yet another Autumn evening when back on October 10, 2013, I registered domain name www.ReinisFischer.com, but in fact, I started my blog some 7 days earlier on October 3rd, 2013.

I had my blog been set up and it already was filled with a few articles, before it was actually launched. Yes, such strange behavior probably can be explained that geeks do geek things, though I don't see a geek in me.

I started this blog thing with a goal - To blog 365 consecutive days and when I launched I was looking to reach about 6,000 monthly users by the end of my first blogging year. The fact is, after the first year of consecutive blogging I reached just 3,364 monthly users, what was just a half of my goal. Now 5 years later I'm reaching an audience of 100,000 and more users monthly. Amazing,though it has been a long road

Blog traffic October 2013 - October 2018 (Data source: Google Analytics)

In the past five year's blog has attracted more than 3 million users and generated more than 4.2 million page views.

Writing an article per day for 5 consecutive years is not an easy task. That's why I've decided for the next year I will limit my writing just to 5 articles per week - you can still expect an article on weekdays.

For the future, I can see that I will keep writing about my travels (in and out Georgia), investments (crypto, peer to peer lending and stocks), and some technical geek stuff about Drupal website development, for example.

Cafe Gardeni Tbilisi

9 October, 2018 | Restaurant reviews | 7 seen

Cafe Gardeni is located on D. Aghmanashebeli street in Tbilisi, just behind the Bank of Georgia building. I have been coming to this place for years just to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee.

Over the years I have learned here are served great homemade dumplings, tasty ice cream and more.

The owner of this place is a very intellectual Armenian man KamoJan, we have been exchanging views over foreign policy, internal happenings and of course KamoJan knows all the best Armenian jokes.

Cafe Gardeni in Tbilisi

I know that KamoJan loves to experiment with tastes and he has a great mixture of splendid coffee varieties.

Tbilisoba 2018

7 October, 2018 | Living in Georgia | 15 seen

Tbilisoba or Tbilisi City Festival is an annual October festival which celebrates the diversity and history of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. If you are planning your first trip to Georgia - consider your trip here during the city festival and try local cuisine (horis mcvadi) and that awesome Georgian wine.

Tbilisoba 2018wase held on October 6-7 in the streets of ..you are right - Tbilisi. This year's Tbilisoba was special for us, as it was the first Tbilisoba we took with us our little baby girl. We went by foot from our apartment to the Rike Park and ending this walk at the right embankment of Mtkvari. My best finds this year was: mcvadi from farmers.

With the help of the Police, we caught a taxi and safely returned home. Tbilisoba definitely is kids and even infant friendly.

I made a lot of photos of our little cute one but missed regular photos (without our baby), here is one though:

Tbilisoba 2018

Tbilisoba was first held on October 28, 1979, and has since become an established tradition. The festival features open-air concerts of traditional music and dancing and various cultural events, centered on Old Tbilisi, the historical part of the city. Beyond celebrating the city's past and present, people from all over Georgia represent their region at the fair of the harvest and Rtveli. Awarding honorary citizenship of Tbilisi by the city government also occurs in the framework of Tbilisoba.