Blog Archive: May 2023
How to Get around Istanbul for cheap with this ride-sharing Taxi app
I have traveled back and forth to Istanbul for dozen times, sometimes just by a connecting flight, sometimes just to spend a day or two in Istanbul. Most of the time, I have relied on shuttle services ordered from hotels or using public transportation.
The last time when we visited Istanbul, via Sabiha Gokcen airport (May 2023) I noticed the price for one way transfer to the city center was EUR 60 (a few years ago I paid USD 40 for the same ride). This time I decided to check if there is a taxi app for Istanbul, like Bolt or Uber.
I'm not sure if is there an Uber service available in Istanbul, but I found the BiTaksi app and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that with this ride-…
Jerusalem - Tel Aviv Train via Ben Gurion Airport in Israel
The highly anticipated new high-speed train from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv via Ben Gurion Airport is now operating. The final destination of the Jerusalem train is Tel Aviv. The new Jerusalem to Tel Aviv train service is officially called King David Line.
I have traveled by train from Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem on New Year's Eve of 2023. The ticket price per passenger was about ISL 15. The train station is actually located inside the terminal building and is one of the easiest ways to travel between Ben Gurion airport and Jerusalem.
The ride to Yitzhhak Navon station was about 25 minutes. There we were able to catch a street taxi and head to our apartment in Jerusalem.
The trains leave…
Statue of Medea in Batumi
The Statue of Medea is located at Europe square in the Batumi city center. The Statue is dedicated to Medea, Colchian Princess from Greek mythology.
Statue was opened to the public back in 2007. I have visited for many times Europe square and the statue of Medea, especially in the recent years when a McDonalds is opened next to the monument, so I decided add this pictursque place to the blog.
A must have place to visiti once in Batumi:
It is believed that on the territory of Ajara once existed Colchis civilization. Medea, who was the daughter of the king under the spell of the love of Jason the Argonaut, helped to steal a guarantor of prosperity and mascot of her people – the…
Grill Town Restaurant in Batumi
Grill Town restaurant in Batumi is among one of my best finds in recent years. Located close to the Sheraton Hotel on Rustaveli Avenue in Batumi.
We first discovered this restaurant in some of our previous Batumi trips, so this time it was a no-brainer to visit this place.
During our latest visit here in April 2023, it turned out to be the restaurant 1 year anniversary and we got some free Sangrias and very smiling staff members.
Grill town restaurant is locatad in two floors. This place serves European and Georgian cuisine with accent on grilled foods.
Even being vegetarian I found the above-grilled chicken very inviting.
If you are into grilled foods or just for a glass of wine…
Ben Gurion International Airport
Ben Gurion International Airport, is the main international airport of Israel. Situated on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod, it is the busiest airport in the country. It is located 45 kilometers (28 mi) to the northwest of Jerusalem and 20 kilometers (12 mi) to the southeast of Tel Aviv.
I first visited it back in 2009, flying with Turkish Airlines from Riga (via Istanbul), and also have flown a direct flight by EL AL from Tbilisi and a domestic flight to Ramon airport near Eilat.
There is very easy and nice way to access Ben Gurion Airport via train service connecting both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
In 2019, Ben Gurion Airport handled 24.8 million passengers. It is…
Panorama Restaurant Batumi
Panorama Restaurant Batumi is located on the 36th floor of the Orbi skyscraper on 15b Sherif Khimshiashvili Street. We come here by recommendation in Mid-April 2023.
Panorama Batumi is highly recommended because of the views, though the cuisine also is excellent.
Places serve typical Georgian and European cuisine. Prices seem a bit above average but are still quite reasonable, for the service received.
I believe the place is stunning for coming to catch the sunset.
Life seems a bit better from the top
Made some nice slow-mode videos with my iPhone here
Fish was prepared on live fire. The price seemed bit high, for the person eating fish every day, paying 65 GEL for this Fish seemed…
Ramon International Airport near Eilat in Israel
Ramon Airport, named after Ilan and Assaf Ramon, also known as Eilat-Ramon Airport, is an international airport located in the Timna Valley in southern Israel. Ramon Airport is the second busiest in Israel (after Ben Gurion Airport) and has replaced the former Eilat Airport and Ovda Airport for civilian traffic. It also serves as the primary diversion airport in Israel.
The airport is located 18 km (11 mi) north of Eilat, next to Be'er Ora. Unlike the previous airport in Eilat, it has ample ramp space and a longer 3,600 m (11,800 ft) runway, which allows large aircraft to land and park. The airport was opened in 2019.
We have used this airport to travel from Ben Gurion airport in…
Georgia / Turkey Border crossing at Sarpi
Sarpi is a small village on the coast of the Black Sea of Georgia, on the border with Turkey. There is a border crossing point between Georgia and Turkey.
Sarpi is the main land border crossing between the two countries and a major conduit for business travel, especially for Turkish companies doing business in Batumi. Sarpi is located about 12 km south of Batumi and about 20 km northeast of Hopa, Turkey.
I used this border crossing quite often about a decade ago, first crossed it back in August 2011, when hitchhiked in Turkey. Quite awesome memories. Most of the time I've crossed this border on foot, even when going on a bus. Once I was driving Batumi - Istanbul, and even then all…
From Hot Pools to Frame Houses: Our Adventure in Kavtiskhevi
From fishing to flying drones, trying Georgian beer, and staying at a beautiful resort with hot pools, there's no shortage of exciting things to do in this picturesque region of Georgia.
One of the highlights of your trip was undoubtedly the opportunity to visit Ekaterina Jinoridze's village and explore some of the best places nearby. With its stunning scenery, charming architecture, and friendly locals, Kavtiskhevi is truly a hidden gem that more travelers should know about.
After experiencing all the area has to offer, you even joked about buying a plot of land and putting up another Frame house just for fun! And who knows, with its natural beauty and peaceful way of life, Kavtiskhevi…
Tbilisi Hills Golf Resort with Residences
As the name suggests - Tbilisi Hills Golf & Residences is a place that offers golf and real estate. Kind of a millionaires oasis. But you don't have to be a millionaire to enjoy the perks of this place - playing the golf or at least having brunch or a menu at the restaurant. Price per gold seesions are quite afforable and you don't even have to be a club member to play some.
Owned by an Estonian / Russian businessman Oleg Ossinovski, Tbilisi Hills is a place where the Estonian flag stands together with the Georgian and European.
We keep coming here time after time to enjoy dinner , beautiful views towards Tbilisi city or Shanbadaba monastery. or as one of our friends told…
Batumi international Airport
Alexander Kartveli Batumi International Airport is an airport located 2 km (1.2 mi) south of Batumi, a city on the Black Sea coast and the capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia.
The airport is named after Alexander Kartveli, an aeronautical engineer and aviation pioneer.
I have been traveling back and forth via this airport mostly for domestic Tbilisi or Natakhtari flights by Vanilla Sky. ]This airport is not very busy, it seems it is more like a seasonal airport, with its passenger peak reaching in Summer months.
Neverthless, the airport served more than 600,000 passengers in 2022, that woul be about 1,643 daily.
Batumi is one of three…
Herods Boutique Hotel in Eilat Review
Herods Boutique Eilat a Premium collection by Fattal Hotels is a 5-star superior hotel located at the end of Eilat's promenade, on the shores of the Red Sea in Israel. It offers luxurious rooms with a balcony, a swimming pool, and a spa. Free WiFi is available in the lobby.
We booked this hotel for a New Year's celebration of 2023 for about 2 nights and paid quite a hefty price of about USD 735 for a stay here.
Was it worth the price? Well, the weather could be better, but if was quite Okay, it maybe a little overpriced, but due to the fact it is actually located in a desert and we had a bathtub with super fast running water, which was quite awesome.
We come here by taxi from the Ramon…
Tbilisi Adventure Run Fun Race with Caucasus Translations Team
On April 23, 2023, we run our first adventure race in Tbilisi through the spectacular mountains close to Mtstasminda Park.
The run turned out a bit harder than I expected, but the result still was awesome and everyone from the team finished.
I come up with the idea to have custom print T-shirts for every team member at Caucasus Translations
I made this design in Canva, the idea was to raise awareness of the brand name via QR code. We didn't raise much awareness in the end, but still looks awesome!
In total there 11 runners (9 grownups, 2 kids) for the 7km fun run distance.
Later that day we went searching poppy fields to Marneuli, and Bolnis, unfortunately, we didn't find them.…