Blog Archive: April 2023

Easter Picnic at Birtvisi Canyon

On Sunday, April 9, Easter 2023 was celebrated, and this year we decided to spend it in Tbilisi and Birtvisi canyon.

Our day started early in the morning as we prepared for the festivities by experimenting with a new dough and making a Jewish-style pie with eggs (inspired by a similar dish we had tried in Israel), coloring eggs, and baking cinnamon rolls.

To make the day even more special, we invited our friends - a Greek-Latvian family - to join us for an Easter picnic at Birtvisi canyon. It was the perfect way to spend the day, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the joy of spending time with loved ones.

My better part did some good job preparing the dough. Egg filling covered with…

Expat in Georgia |

Strada Mosashvili near Vake Park

Strada is a chain of restaurants in Tbilisi, serving contemporary American and Asian cuisine, created by an international team of chefs. 

We love coming here for a glass of wine, meatballs, seabass, or tom yum soup. 

Located on Mosashvili street 11 in lively Vake neighbourhood close to the Vake park, Strada seems is a popular choice among lcoals and expats.

There is one more Strada I know about located on Marjanishvili area. 

There are many good restaurants and cafeteris located on this street and Strada is among them

One of our favorite latelty is Georgian white desert Tvishi wine 

Tvishi is an appellation for wines produced in a 15 km2 (3,700 acres) zone around…

Georgia |
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Batumi. Easter. 2023

The Great Easter Movie is Out - Another Awesome Weekend in Batumi!

Batumi, the coastal city of Georgia, has always been a favorite destination for tourists all over the world. It is a perfect blend of nature, culture, and modernization that leaves everyone in awe. This year, we visited Batumi once again and had an amazing time exploring the city's hidden gems.

We decided to stay in the Old Town and booked a boutique hotel O. Galogre that gave us a taste of the old-world charm with modern amenities. The narrow streets, the colorful buildings, and the architecture all contributed to making us feel like we were transported back in time. The hotel was cozy and comfortable, and we enjoyed the…

Expat in Georgia |

Sevanavank Monastery Complex on the shores of Lake Sevan

Sevanavank is a monastic complex located on a peninsula at the northwestern shore of Lake Sevan in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia, not far from the town of Sevan. Initially, the monastery was built at the southern shore of a small island. After the artificial draining of Lake Sevan, which started in the era of Joseph Stalin, the water level fell about 20 metres, and the island transformed into a peninsula.

At the southern shore of this newly created peninsula, a guesthouse of the Armenian Writers' Union was built. The eastern shore is occupied by the Armenian president's summer residence, while the monastery's still active seminary moved to newly constructed buildings at the northern…

Armenia |

Khedi Restaurant Tbilisi

In today's article, I am excited to announce the resumption of my restaurant reviews series, with a special focus on Tbilisi restaurants. I recently discovered a trendy restaurant called Khedi on Ketevan Samebuli avenue, and I cannot wait to share my experience with you.

On a rainy day in early April, my partner and I were searching for a decent dining place near the Tbilisi sea but were unable to find anything in the area. My partner suggested we consult her WhatsApp chat groups, where some expats highly recommended Khedi Restaurant, citing its incredible view of Tbilisi.

Upon arriving at the location and parking our car on a nearby street, we were a bit confused to find a hotel called…

Georgia |

Postcards from Yerevan (Winter)

Back in February 2023, we made a short, but very remarkable business trip to Armenia and of course it's capital Yerevan.

In today's Piece of Life series - a day from Winter in the city of Yerevan. Many years ago I featured Postcards from Yerevan (Spring)
 

Republic Square in Yerevan definitely is the city's one of main landmarks and popular tourist spots. I first discovered it back at the start of January 2014, and have returned to Yerevan city since then a couple of more times.

Centrally located on Republic Square. We booked this hotel for about 3 day stay at mid-February 2023 paying about EUR 420.

If you are into Soviet Architecture, this place deffintely is worth the…

Armenia |
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Jiu-Jitsu, Easter, Birtvisi

This past weekend was an unforgettable one, full of excitement and adventure. We were privileged to spend it with Coach Giorgi and experience the amazing world of Jiu-Jitsu. Along with this incredible martial art, we also got to partake in some Easter festivities such as egg coloring, food experiments, and an unforgettable picnic at Birtvisi Canyon.

Jiu-Jitsu is a unique form of martial arts that originated in Japan and has since spread all over the world. It is a discipline that teaches students how to defend themselves in real-life situations using grappling and ground fighting techniques. Coach Giorgi is a skilled and experienced practitioner of Jiu-Jitsu, and he is really nice to our 4…

Expat in Georgia |

Monument to 50 Years of Soviet Armenia in Yerevan

The monument to the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution is located in the Arabkir administrative district of Yerevan, at the beginning of Azatutyan Avenue, above the Cascade complex.

The monument was built in 1967 and is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Soviet Union in Armenia.

If you are into Soviet Architecture, this place deffintely is worth the visit. The views from the viewing platfom are just awesome.

 The 50-meter obelisk, which is 65 meters, symbolizes the 50th anniversary. It ends with three slightly pointed arches. Such an end of the monument was used in the Urartian period and used to symbolize the royal crown.

 A stylized pine…

Armenia |

Tbilisi - Yerevan Transfer by GoTrip.Ge Review

If you are planning to travel from Tbilisi to Yerevan, you might want to consider using the services of gotrip.ge company. This is a popular company in Georgia that offers transportation services to different destinations in the country, including the transfer between Tbilisi and Yerevan. 

The founder of the company, Sergey, actually contacted me a few years ago asking to make a review of this company, but never actually came back. Anyhow, as I had used gotrip.ge service for a couple of times myself I decided to give my unbiased review.

In the past I have used several ground transportation options to Yerevan, private cars and minivans, see my article here: Tbilisi - Yerevan…

Armenia |

Beyond Yerevan: Why Vanadzor Should Be on Your Armenia Itinerary

Vanadzor, also known as Kirovakan during the Soviet era, is the third-largest city in Armenia. Located in the northern part of the country, Vanadzor serves as the administrative center of the Lori Province.

The city is situated on the banks of the Pambak River and is surrounded by the picturesque mountains of the Lesser Caucasus. I made a quick stop and made a few drone photos here in Mid February 2023, after returning from Yerevan to Tbilisi.

Vanadzor has a rich history and culture, with several notable landmarks and attractions. The city is home to many museums, art galleries, and cultural centers, including the Vanadzor Fine Arts Museum, the House-Museum of Stepanavan Brothers, and the…

Armenia |
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12 years in Georgia

Georgia, a land of diverse cultures, mouth-watering cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes, has been my home for the past twelve years. Time flies when you're having fun, and I can say without a doubt that every year has been nothing short of amazing. From the bustling city streets to the tranquil countryside, Georgia has never ceased to amaze me.

The first weekend at the start of April 2023 was no exception. I decided to document my adventures in cinematic mode, using my new iPhone 14 plus and DJI Mavic.

In this short documentary -lunch with the team of Caucasus Translations, a local translation agency, where I had the pleasure of meeting some of the brightest minds in the industry.…

Expat in Georgia |

Armenia Marriott Hotel Yerevan

Centrally located on Republic Square, Marriott Armenia Hotel Yerevan offers soundproofed rooms with classic-style décor and fine international cuisine. A bar and an outdoor summer terrace are also available.

We booked this hotel for about 3 day stay at mid-February 2023 paying about EUR 420.

Our booking included access to the executive lounge, which included free meals and drinks. Despite being rated as just a 4-star hotel, this is by far the most recommended stay in Yerevan. And I have stayed in a quite a few great hotels in Yerevan.


We got a king size bed and a seperate bed for our 4 year old kid. Our room was located just next to the exectuive lounge, free meals and drinks whole day…

Armenia |