Blog Archive: August 2023
La Fregate French Restaurant in Paris
La Frégate is set on the Left Bank of the Seine in central Paris between the Louvre, the Tuileries Gardens and the Musee d'Orsay. This stylish brasserie is said to be built on the site of the house occupied by Field Marshal D'Artagnan, the character that inspired Alexandre Dumas to write The Three Musketeers.
La Frégate has a lovely décor with ornate frescoed ceilings, pale lemon Louis XVI chairs, tables laid with crisp white linen while soft lighting sets the scene.
I had a chance to take a dinner after visiting the famous palace of Louvre back in July 2023
Typical offerings on the carte are duck foie gras served with toast or frog legs with garlic mayonnaise followed by mains of veal…
Charles de Gaulle Airport
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, also known as Roissy Airport or simply Paris CDG, is the principal airport serving the French capital, Paris (and its metropolitan area), and the largest international airport in France. Opened in 1974, it is in Roissy-en-France, 23 km (14 mi) northeast of Paris, and is named after World War II statesman Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970), whose initials (CDG) are used as its IATA airport code.
Charles de Gaulle Airport serves as the principal hub for Air France and a destination for other legacy carriers (from Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam), as well as a focus city for easyJet. It is operated by Groupe ADP under the brand Paris Aéroport.
We traveld to…
Walden Gudaleti
The day kicked off with a spontaneous morning call to a friend, setting the stage for an exciting adventure. Our destination? The intriguing Gudaleti, where a German friend was crafting something truly extraordinary. The prospect of exploration and the promise of a great time propelled us forward, making this Sunday a perfect blend of relaxation and discovery.Scenic Stops in MtskehtaOur journey meandered through the charming town of Mtskehta, known for its rich history and breathtaking landscapes. Each stop along the way added to the anticipation of the adventures awaiting us in Gudaleti.After a few scenic detours, we finally arrived at our destination in the afternoon, where the main…
Boutique Hotel Sainte-Beuve in Paris
Boutique Hotel Sainte-Beuve is located in the heart of Paris on a small and quiet street of Rue Sainte-Beuve 9 in the 6th arrondissement of Paris.
The hotel is conventionally located within walking distance of neighborhoods Montparnasse and Saint Germain Des Prés, 200m from the Luxembourg Gardens.
We booked about a 2-night stay here at the start of July 2023. Paying about EUR 700.
For getting here we used the Bolt ride-sharing app from Paris Charle de Gaulle airport
We arrived late in the evening and were greeted by a nice hotel manager lady. She spoke fluent English and helped us out in every detail.
At the lobby fresh Le Figaro and The New York times were available during our…
Louvre
The Louvre or the Louvre Museum, is a national art museum in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement (district or ward) and home to some of the most canonical works of Western art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.
The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. Remnants of the Medieval Louvre fortress are visible in the basement of the museum. Due to urban expansion, the fortress eventually lost its defensive function, and in 1546 Francis I converted it into the primary residence of the French Kings.
I first visited Louvre back in…
Shumi winery and vineyards near Tsinandali in Kakheti, Georgia
Founded in 2001, Shumi Winery is a leading producer of high-quality Georgian wines. Its large estate is located in the Kakheti wine region’s famous Tsinandali village.
A nice stop when traveling to the region of Kakheti. There is a wineshop, restaurant, and of course vineyards at the territory complex.
Shumi Winery takes its name from an old Georgian word that means authentic, undiluted wine. The winery’s griffin logo refers to “Phaskunji”, a creature from Georgian mythology. Legend has it that the griffin brought the very first bunch of grapes to the people, and from these grapes, people started growing vines on the earth.
I havent tried the restaurant here, but at least you should be…
Latvian Villa Kursa near Sighnaghi in Georgia
Villa Kursa offers friendly accommodation near Sighnaghi, in the village of Anaga, some 6 km from Sighnaghi center and 9 km from Bodbe Monastery. The property features a large terrace, a garden as well as a shared lounge area. Guests can enjoy a mountain view from Villa Kursa. Family rooms at the property come with free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning.
We booked a two-night stay here at the end of July 2023, paying GEL 200 via booking.com
I've heard about this place at least since 2012, as I knew the place is run by a Latvian couple Ineta and Valdis Kursiesi.
We had never met before. So finally this day come and we had a chance to finally met and stay here.
This 3-bedroom…
Villa Kursa & Kakheti
Our recent adventure took us to the breathtaking landscapes of Georgia, where we spent a memorable weekend at Villa Kursa near Sighnaghi. This hidden gem nestled in the heart of Kakheti, a prominent wine region, offered us a delightful blend of nature, wine, and local hospitality. Let's take a journey through our amazing weekend and explore the wonders of this picturesque destination.
Nestled in the lush countryside near the charming town of Anaga, near Sighnaghi, Villa Kursa welcomed us with open arms. The tranquil ambiance and warm hospitality provided by our gracious hosts, Ineta Kursiete and Valdis J. Kursietis, immediately made us feel at home. The property's rustic charm blended…
Swimming Pool and Spa at Tbilisi Biltmore Hotel
The Biltmore Hotel is a 5-star hotel located in the heart of Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue.
For the past few years, we have been heading here for its indoor swimming pool. There is also a small gym and a simple spa center with a Steam room and Finnish sauna.
Small and cozy swimming pool with whirpool and few waterfalls. Not very deep, maybe 1 meter 20 or even less. Kid friendly
There is an outfoor restaurnat next to the pool, offering great cuisine, french firies, tacos, greek salad etc.
There is a small gym located next to the swimming pool. simple, with a few tradmils and some dumbells. OK for a workout.
Offering an indoor pool, spa, and a fitness center, The Biltmore…
From Riga to Disaster: Repairing Our Wind Damaged Frame House in Latvia
Just after we finished most of the framing for our frame house in Latvia, we left for a weekend in Riga.
After spending good 4 or 5 days in the nation's capital we found a huge surprise when returned - high wind, the storm has damaged our building and the looks were not good.
Our frame house has suffered significant damage due to the strong winds
I called to my assistant and together we fixed most of the damage in just a few couple of hours. We started by removing roof constructions
Once the roof was disconected, leveled up and fixed the walls
As the weather was not very good and it kept raining, I decided not to install rafters yet, as we also had a two week trip to France…