Blog Archive: August 2019
Georgia / Azerbaijan Border Crossing by train (Gardabani / Boyuk Kasik)
When traveling by train from Tbilisi to Baku, there are two border checkpoints (one in Georgia, and one in Azerbaijan) - the total border crossing procedure can take around 2 hours (an hour for each side) and you can stay inside the train during the checkups.In this article, I'll share some notes from our latest trip to Baku from Tbilisi by train in the start of August 2019Tbilisi - Baku by Train Ticket InformationIt takes about an hour for the train to reach Georgia / Azerbaijan border at Gardabani. Police officers (border guards) will enter the train, collect passports and check if you have Azerbaijani e-visa.Cold drinks on the Gardabani border checkpointDuring the border…
Algeti National Park Visitor Center Manglisi
The main entrance of the national park is located near the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of Manglisi.Algeti National Park Administration has a small infrastructural unit – a picnic area with auxiliary buildings and a forest adventure park. Algeti has been on our radar ever since we discovered Algeti water reservoir while hiking in Birvisi Canyon.To get here we used Tbilisi - Kojori - Tsalka - Ninotsminda roadDay trip To Tsalka and nearby VillagesForest adventure park at Algeti Visitors centerFrom first sight, the forest adventure park looks quite easy. During our visit here in the mid-August 2019, the adventure park didn't seem to be working.Children playroom inside…
How to Get around in Baku by using Taxi Mobile Application Bolt
There is a very convenient way of getting around in Baku by taxi using mobile application Bolt (formerly known as Taxify). The best, if you have already installed Bolt for some other city, it will work internationally.
How to Get around in Tbilisi by Taxify (Taxi Mobile Application)
Regular street taxi will ask at least 5 manat for shorter distance drive in the city (during my short 3 days visit to Baku, I caught regular street taxis a couple of times, first one - from the Baku Railway station wanted 10 AZN to get us to the boulevard, I managed to bargain down to 8 AZN).
Next time I was already smarter and bargained down from 10 AZN to 5 AZN to get from the Fountain…
Planing a trip to Azerbaijan: How to get a Prepaid SIM Card with Internet
I traveled to Azerbaijan for about 3 days in August 2019, our final destination was the capital city of Baku. One of the reasons I was looking for prepaid sim card in Azerbaijan is quite simple - to call a taxi from mobile application.
Unfortunately, or for luck, this time I didn't actually take a sim-card with internet while in Azerbaijan (it was very quite possible to use public and hotel Wi-Fi during our stay in Baku), but I gathered some information, which might help.
There are three major mobile phone operators currently in Azerbaijan: Azercell, Bakcell and Nar . All three networks are widely modern and reliable with shops located in major towns and cities…
Grill&Fish Jomas terase, Jūrmala
Grill&Fish Jomas terase is another stylish restaurant located on central Jomas street in busy Latvian seaside town Jūrmala.We visited this place in early May 2019, during a short 10 day trip to Latvia. Grill bar Lighthouse serves traditional seasonal Latvian cuisine and not onlySoup at Grill and Fish restaurant in JūrmalaThe Grill & Fish restaurant seems is quite popular among locals and visitors. Food choice is OK, prices are pretty high, but taking into consideration that you are dining in the heart of Jūrmala on Jomas street - they are quite okGrill $ Fish Jomas terase in Jūrmala
Heydar Aliyev International Airport Baku
Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport is one of the six international airports serving Azerbaijan. The airport is located 20 kilometers northeast of Baku, connected to the city by a modern highway. The airport serves as the home base for national carrier Azerbaijan Airlines and Buta Airways.
I've been flying from this airport back to Tbilisi with Buta Airways in early August 2019, see: About Buta Airways Baku - Tbilisi fight
Two passenger terminals and two cargo terminals operate at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
There is Vanderlande baggage-handling system in Terminal 1, as well as L-3 equipment for thorough baggage inspection and scanners…
About Buta Airways Baku - Tbilisi fight
Buta Airways is an Azerbaijani low-cost virtual carrier, headquartered in Baku, with its primary operational base at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Azerbaijan Airlines.
We fled with Buta Airways at the start of August 2019 from Baku - Tbilisi. The flight was served from Heydar Aliyev International Airport Terminal 2. And that's what I really enjoyed - Terminal 2 is quite small, no need to travel long distances to find gates and so on. Really compact and neat.
We bought three adults tickets and paid about $300 for that. Our baby girl (13-month-old) for the first time in her short flying carrier got a separate seat
Air…
Goodwill Gori Higway
Goodwill near Gori - Tbilisi Highway is a convenient rest area/supermarket/ eatery while driving to Tbilisi (from Kutaisi or Batumi, for example)Goodwill was one of the first supermarket chains in Georgia. I wouldn't call this store a supermarket in the classic sense, as mostly here are sold long-lasting food items, though there is a stand for fresh products, like milk, eggs and so on).We keep stopping here, to buy some milk, coffee or Pringles chips and to take some coffee, when returning back from trips to TbilisiGoodwill near Gori - Tbilisi highwayThere is also located Socar gas stationOn the opposite side of the highway (driving from Tbilisi), there is a Wendy's store
Antalya Aquarium
As one of the biggest aquarium complexes of the world, Antalya Aquarium offers inspiration, entertainment and education all at once.After touring the 40 thematic aquariums, you will come across the biggest tunnel aquarium of the World with a length of 131 meters and a width of 3 meters.We paid about an hour and a half long visit to Antalya aquarium in June 2019. We booked a trip here while staying at Kirman Belazur Resort &Spa from Pegas Touristik, and paid about $100. The fee included a ride to and back from our hotel for two adults and a baby and entrance tickets at the aquarium. Antalya aquariumAntalya aquarium features - worlds…
July 2019 Dividend Income Report - $247.06
Welcome to the twenty-seventh (#27) dividend income report, covering earnings I've made from dividend-paying stocks and peer to peer lending in July 2019.Hawk-eyed blog readers will notice that I have dropped cryptocurrency lending from the top. And that's true, I have stopped lending crypto online on Poloniex.com, instead, I'm trading crypto options on Deribit. Our baby daughter last July turned 1, and for that special event we traveled back to Latvia (spent 2 weeks there) - had a nice family gathering and very awesome 1-year birthday celebrations at Baltvilla hotelBirthday decorations for our baby girls birthday at Hotel Baltivilla restaurant…