Blog Archive: November 2023
London Stansted Airport
| Airports | 73 seen
London Stansted Airport is an international airport serving London, England. It is located near Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, 42 mi (68 km) northeast of Central London.
London Stansted serves over 160 destinations across Europe, Asia and Africa. Stansted is a base for a number of European low-cost carriers. This includes being the largest base for low-cost airline Ryanair, with over 100 destinations served by the airline. As of 2022, it is the fourth-busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester.
I first visited this airport back in August 2023, returning to Riga from London by Ryanair. Cozy little airport. To get here we used the BOLT app, while actually staying for a night in a nearby hotel at Radisson Blu.
Converted to civil use from RAF Stansted Mountfitchet in the late 1940s, Stansted was used by charter airlines. It came under British Airports Authority control in 1966. The privatised BAA sold Stansted in February 2013 to Manchester Airports Group as a result of a March 2009 ruling by the Competition Commission against BAA's monopoly position.
London Stansted Airport is located near the village of Stansted Mountfitchet. It has one main passenger terminal. Three passenger satellites have departure gates; one is connected to the main terminal by an air bridge and the other two by the Stansted Airport Transit System people mover.
The terminal building was designed by Foster and Partners with input from structural engineer Peter Rice, and features a "floating" roof, supported by a space frame of inverted-pyramid roof trusses, creating the impression of a stylised swan in flight. The base of each truss structure is a "utility pillar", which provides indirect uplighting illumination and is the location for air-conditioning, water, telecommunications, and electrical outlets. The layout of the airport was originally designed to provide an unobstructed flow for passengers to arrive at the short-stay car park, move through the check-in hall, and go through security and on to the departure gates, all on the same level.
From 1997 to 2007, Stansted had rapid expansion of passenger numbers on the back of the boom in low-cost air travel, peaking at 24 million passengers in the 12 months to October 2007, but passenger numbers declined in the next five years. Passenger totals later increased, and in 2016 recorded an annual increase of 8.0% to 24.3 million, and numbers have since continued to rise.
Khobi Central Park
| Tourism objects | 35 seen
Khobi is a small town in western Georgia with a population of 4,242. The settlement of Khobi acquired the status of a town in 1981 and currently functions as an administrative center of the Khobi District within the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region.
I first visited this small town at the end of September 2023, during a few-day trip to Svaneti, we made a stop at what seems a central square of the city, found a nice cafe, and enjoyed some light breakfast/dinner.
There is an impressive mural located on the city hall building and there is an interesting monument, a central element of the square. A little bit further there is an actual central park of Khobi, which seemed nice, equipped with some labyrinths for kids e.t.c
It seems the palce has been renovated and opened for the public back in 2019:
Up to 1 million GEL have been spent on the construction of the central park.The project was supported by the regional development projects fund and local budget. The next stage envisages rehabilitation of culture house, a square in front and a surrounding area.
It looks there is a stadium located behind the park and further away there is Rioni river. Beatiful views. Beutiful city.
Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport
| Hotel reviews | 40 seen
Featuring 3 international restaurants, the Radisson Blu is just a 2-minute walk from Stansted Airport Terminal. Guests can enjoy stylish, non-smoking, modern rooms featuring free Wi-Fi and a fully equipped gym.
We booked this hotel for a night's stay back in August 2023, while traveling from London to Riga, we chose this hotel because it is directly connected to the airport with a passage, which is awesome. For our night stay we spent about EUR 150, brekfast included.
For getting here, we paid about 70-80 Biriths piunds using Bolt application, the ride was about 2 hours
The Wine Tower Bar offers a variety of beers, wine and cocktails. Guests can also enjoy traditional British cuisine in our Collage restaurant. The third restaurant is Station 169, it serves British and American dishes.
The spacious rooms have 24-hour room service, free WiFi and flat-screen TVs. Some rooms feature Nespresso coffee machines, bathrobes and slippers. Express check-out and express laundry is available.
We got a free extra bed for our 5 year old daughter.
The M11 is 10 minutes’ drive away, and central London can be reached in 1 hour by car.
Simple English breakfast - eggs, beans
In literally few meters there is a direct access to London Stansted airport. Convient. Higly recomend if you ever travel to / from London Stansted airport in United Kingdom.
Book now on Booking.com
Dadiani Palace
| Tourism objects | 35 seen
Dadiani Palace is an interesting site to visit once in Zugdidi, there is actually located the histroy and architecture musem.
The Dadiani Palaces History and Architecture Museum is considered to be one of the most eminent palaces in the Caucasus. It is a Neo-Gothic building.
I had heard so much about this place, but finally visited and took off my bucket list at the end of September 2023, during a few-day Svaneti trip together with my mom. We were traveling with Vazha, our good old friend and driver here in Georgia. Made a stop just for a brief time to make an aerial photography with a drone.
The first exhibition, of archaeological excavations of the ancient city of Nakalakevi was prepared by Megrelian prince David Dadiani and took place in 1840. Three palaces form the modern museum complex, parts of which are also Blachernae Virgin Church and Zugdidi Botanical Garden.
The Dadiani Palaces History and Architecture Museum houses some exhibits of natural cultural heritage of Georgia – Tagiloni treasure materials, Mother of God holy vesture, the icon of queen Bordokhan – mother of queen Tamar of Georgia, manuscripts from 13th – 14th centuries, miniatures, memorial relics of Dadiani dynasty, and objects connected to emperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte – brought to the palace by the husband of David Dadiani's daughter, prince Prince Charles Louise Napoléon Achille Murat (1847-1895), grandson of Napoleon's sister, Caroline Bonaparte.
The palace was fully transformed into a museum on May 1, 1921, at the initiative of Georgian ethnographer and geologist Akaki Chanturia.
In early 1848 the prince of Samegrelo, David Dadiani, used to show his guests the archaeological and numismatic collection from Nokalakevi, an archaeological site in Samegrelo. Some of the exhibits were found by David Dadiani himself, and some were purchased by him from settlers in his domain. The most important archaeological dig by David Dadiani was the research of Nokalakevi – known as Archeopolis in Antiquity.
Birthday in London
| Travel guides | 116 seen
The long-awaited London movie has finally graced our screens, capturing the essence of a remarkable birthday celebration back in August. Join us as we embark on a journey that begins in the heart of Tbilisi, meanders through Riga via Kutaisi, witnesses the construction of a house in Capšu zeme, experiences grass-trimming adventures in Jēči, indulges in a delightful fish grilling session, and culminates in the vibrant cityscape of London, with travels through Luton and Stansted.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of London, the city unfolds as a compact and charming destination. Our exploration reveals hidden gems, and one area that stole the spotlight was none other than the enchanting Whitechapel. Discover the allure of this locale and its unique character that left us captivated.
Our London escapade wasn't just a visual feast; it was a treat for the taste buds as well. From excellent pints of Guinness to the irresistible allure of tasty cider, London's culinary scene left a lasting impression. Join us as we raise a virtual toast to the delightful gastronomic experiences that added flavor to our adventure.
As we reminisce about our journey, we invite you to relive the moments with us. Thumbs up and dive into the immersive experience of our London adventure. The captivating visuals, combined with the spirit of exploration, promise an engaging watch that resonates with the essence of our birthday documentary.
London has woven itself into the tapestry of our travel adventures, leaving indelible memories. Stay tuned for more exciting chronicles on ReinisFischer.com, where we delve into the intersections of travel, culture, and the joyous pursuit of life's extraordinary moments. Until then, happy exploring!
Installing Hardwood floors for our Frame House In Latvia
| Frame House | 101 seen
In October 2023, we enjoyed a week-long school break from the British International School in Tbilisi, Georgia. Seizing the opportunity, we made plans to travel back to Latvia to advance our DIY project involving a Frame House.
In preparation for our trip, I had already placed orders for OSB (Oriented Strand Board) and hardwood flooring from local suppliers. We had coordinated the delivery, with an agreed-upon date of the evening of October 18. As soon as we landed in Riga, we wasted no time and immediately headed to the construction site to unload the eagerly anticipated wooden boards.
Feeling somewhat weary after the flight from Tbilisi to Riga and a two-hour drive to the construction site.
The nearest DIY store is approximately 30 kilometers away from the construction site, and it required multiple trips solely to transport the rockwool needed for the flooring.
Upon our arrival at the site, two significant issues immediately caught our attention. Firstly, we observed that the house had shifted by approximately 15 centimeters. Secondly, on one side of the house, the roofing was flapping freely in the wind. To address these concerns, we immediately set to work. First things first, we secured a few bolts to stabilize the roof, and then we eagerly embarked on the exciting task of leveling the house back to its proper position.
Though it cost us a valuable few hours, we were determined to address these critical issues, and we succeeded in fixing and securing the house. With that essential task behind us, it was finally time to proceed with the flooring installation.
Our next step involved placing rockwool on top of the OSB. Attaching the OSB beneath the floor proved to be a challenging task, but we persevered and successfully accomplished it.
For insulation, we opted for a 15 cm rockwool layer, equivalent to 2x750mm thickness. Additionally, we encountered a slight setback as we needed to readjust and re-screw supporting beams to align with the rockwool's dimensions, which were 600mm.
Hopefully, the vapor barrier will effectively retain the warmth indoors and prevent moisture from entering.
Due to time constraints, I found myself working late into the evenings, meticulously installing this beautiful pine wood flooring.
It's a beautiful sight to see electricity flowing within the house.
We have exciting plans to create a charming attic-style room for our daughter in this space.
Looks quit awesome.
Cant wait to open a laptop here and trade some stock.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete all the planned tasks this time, as we had to return to Tbilisi once the school break ended. In these brief five days in Latvia, we managed to install roughly half of the flooring. I'll consider it a significant achievement nonetheless!
Tsinandali music festival
| Living in Georgia | 55 seen
In September, the Tsinandali music festival unfolded, marking another chapter in the cherished tradition upheld by the team at Caucasus Translations. Year after year, this cultural extravaganza has become an integral part of our calendar, drawing us into a world of beautiful classical music and the delectable flavors of Georgian cuisine.
The Tsinandali music festival is a symphony of cultural richness, offering enchanting classical performances that resonate through the picturesque landscapes. Immerse yourself in the harmonic blend of melodies that captivate hearts, making it an experience that transcends the ordinary.
Beyond the musical notes, the festival is a celebration of taste, with Georgian food and wine taking center stage. Indulge in the sensory journey as we explore the diverse and delectable offerings that accompany the cultural symphony, creating a perfect harmony for the senses.
Our journey at the Tsinandali music festival is encapsulated in a vibrant video that captures the essence of this annual tradition. Join us in reliving the moments and celebrating the cultural tapestry weaved through music, cuisine, and camaraderie. Don't forget to give a thumbs up to share the joy!
As we reflect on yet another year of Tsinandali's musical magic, stay tuned for more cultural explorations on our platform. Caucasus Translations continues to be your guide to immersive experiences, where traditions, music, and gastronomy converge. Explore with us and keep the tradition alive!
How To Fix Access to the path 'C:\Users\...\My Music' is denied when opening a Trados Studio project package
| Servers | 271 seen
The other day Gvantsa from the translation office in Tbilisi asked if could I help to fix her Trados SDL Studio 2021.
As not being an actual user of this program, just providing support for the office technique I took a look and saw there are some problems with permissions, as the software was saying Access to the path 'C:\Users\...\My Music' is denied when opening a Trados Studio project package.
I thought what a strange choice for the folder and most probably there are some permission problems. Though that may be running this software as an administrator might solve the issue, it didn't
My second guess, was maybe the Windows operating system is glitching as it has been a while since I did some system updates. And I decided to go with a fresh install, but before that, I thought - just to google this error code and... the solution was much more simple:
Seems, not only we have been encountred this problem, but the questin was already asked on Trados support desk (Error processing command line arguments: Access to the path 'C:\Users\...\My Music' is denied when opening a Trados Studio project package)
Symptoms/Context
When you open any Trados Studio package, you receive the following error (the folder location might be different than the ones listed here):
Access to the path ' C:\Users\[username]\Documents\My Music' is denied or
Access to the path ' C:\Users\[username]\Documents\My Pictures' is denied or
Access to path ' C:\$Recycle.Bin\S-1-5-18' denied or
Access to the path ' C:\ProgramData\Application Data' is denied
etc.
Reset Trados Studio to default settings
- for Trados Studio 2015 : rename the folder 12.0.0.0 to OLD_12.0.0.0
- for Trados Studio 2017 : rename the folder 14.0.0.0 to OLD_14.0.0.0
- for Trados Studio 2019 : rename the folder 15.0.0.0 to OLD_15.0.0.0
- for Trados Studio 2021 : rename the folder Studio16 to OLD_Studio16
- for Trados Studio 2022: the folder location is C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Trados\Trados Studio where you can rename Studio17 to OLD_Studio17
If you can't find the paths above, open Windows File Explorer, click on View and check Hidden Items checkbox: Showing hidden files, folders and extensions on Windows operating systems
As we were using Trados Studio 2021, I simply renamed Studio16 folder to OLD_Studio16. And on the next launch system automatically created a new folder, with fixed permisons.
Hope it helps!
Mestiatour guesthouse in Mestia
| Hotel reviews | 25 seen
This guest house is located in the picturesque village of Mestia. Free Wi-Fi and free parking are provided at Mestiatour Guest House.
We booked here one night stay but two separate rooms for the price of GEL 200 at the end of September 2023, during our few-day Svaneti trip
The private and dormitory rooms are heated and simply furnished.
We got a nice room in the third floor, with nice views towards Mestia. Simple and cozy.
From the guesthosues yard I made a few drone photographies. Impressive surroundings views with dozzens of Svan towers around.
For additional GEL 60 we got some simple brekfast with egg, bread, salad e.t.c
A variety of cafés and restaurants can be found within a 5-minute walk of the guest house. Guests are also welcome to relax in the hostel’s living room with a computer, a TV and a sofa. Queen Tamar Airport is 2 km from Mestiatour Guest House.
Book now on Booking.com
International Night at British INT school of Tbilisi
| Living in Georgia | 35 seen
In the vibrant tapestry of Tbilisi's cultural landscape, October 2023 marked a significant celebration – the International Night at the British International School of Tbilisi. This enchanting event brought together a kaleidoscope of experiences, where Georgian dance, delectable cuisine, and the warmth of camaraderie transcended borders.
As the rhythmic beats of Georgian dance echoed through the venue, attendees were immersed in the rich cultural heritage that has become synonymous with this enchanting region. The captivating performances were not just a testament to the nation's artistic prowess but also an invitation for everyone present to join in the celebration of diversity.
The culinary journey at International Night was a feast for the senses, showcasing the best of Georgian cuisine. From savory khachapuri to the irresistible aroma of khinkali, each dish told a story of tradition and gastronomic delight. As a devoted lover of Georgian cuisine, I couldn't help but be delighted by the array of vegetarian options that graced the tables, a testament to the inclusivity of the event.
The joyous atmosphere was further enhanced by the presence of friends, both old and new. QSI International School of Tbilisi and even Little Seedlings English Kindergarten were well-represented, creating an environment where connections flourished. Conversations flowed effortlessly, breaking down cultural barriers and fostering a sense of global community.
International Night wasn't just an event; it was a testament to the power of cultural exchange and understanding. It served as a reminder that, despite our diverse backgrounds, we share a common thread that unites us all. As an expatriate who has called Georgia home since 2011, witnessing this celebration was a poignant reminder of the beauty of cultural diversity that defines this remarkable country.
In the snapshots captured during the evening, the joy and laughter shared by attendees reflected the true essence of International Night. As a world traveler and passionate photographer, these moments became a visual narrative of unity, friendship, and the richness of cross-cultural experiences.
Events like International Night are not just occasions on the calendar; they are bridges that connect us to the world around us. As I continue my journey in Georgia – trading stocks, exploring new landscapes through my lens, and savoring the flavors of its cuisine – this celebration remains etched in my memory as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures within the heart of Tbilisi.
In the tapestry of life, International Night added a vibrant thread, weaving together the stories of people from different corners of the globe, creating a mosaic of unity, friendship, and shared experiences. Here's to more moments that celebrate the beauty of diversity and the tapestry it creates in our lives.
Tbilisi Airbnb market overview - October 2023
| Living in Georgia | 88 seen
Back in 2022, I had the idea of creating a Tbilisi Airbnb property management service. I created a few articles on my blog and got some attention from the expats living in Georgia, but haven't yet concluded any deal.
Recently I got contacted by a French investor and we agreed to share a cup of coffee to talk about a potential partnership I decided to take another look at the Tbilisi Airbnb property market.
According to AllTheRooms, the average daily rate in October 2023, for hosts earned in Tbilisi was $46, which is a -4% decrease if compared to the previous month (September 2023). but a15% growth if compared to May 2022, when I did my first overview of the Tbilisi Airbnb market.
The occupancy rate in October was 49% (a +2% increase compared to the previous month)
- There were 4,402 listings in Tbilisi during the month of October (which is significantly less than in May 2022, when the total listing were more than 6,000)
- The average earning per listing is $582 (-2% growth). a significant increse if comapred to May 2022, when it was about $339
Taking all those data together, it seems that the Tbilisi Airbnb property market in the month of October was worth about $2,98M (significant increase if compared to May 2022, when the total market value was about 2.16M).
Whether you are an expat looking for someone that does Airbnb management in Tbilisi? Someone that can take care of your apartment and rent it out when you are out of town. Or local looking to get maximum return from short-term rentals. We are here to help.
I'm open to helping manage your property, listing it on Airbnb, Booking.com, and other travel booking websites. Helping with quality photography, copywriting, setting the right price to get the best results, and last but not least taking care of maintenance and cleaning. We will take 20% of the Gross income.
If you have an apartment you are ready to rent out for the long term (at least 1 year) - we are interested in renting it for a fixed price and subletting for short-term rentals. You will get a fixed monthly payment - no matter, will we make any booking or not. We are interested in newly finished projects in Vake, Saburtalo.
We are also open to buying your real estate in Tbilisi or any other part of Georgia.
Interested? Send me a message and lets discuss!