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Kindzmarauli Church and Monastery
Kindzmarauli church and monastery complex is located in the region of Kakheti, some 3 km off from the main road (Road 43 Telavi - Kvareli) We discovered this small monastery complex while driving from the Lopota lake resort to the town of Kvareli at the start of June 2020. There is a linden tree right at the monastery, my better part gathered some linden flowers to make a tea latter in the winter. The surrounding area of the Kindzmarauli…
Kapiloni Restaurant in Telavi
Kapiloni restaurant in Telavi is located on Barnovi street 10, just opposite to the King Erekle museum. I had a chance to visit this place at the start of July, during our trip to the Lopota lake Kapiloni restaurant serves typical Georgian cuisine for quite affordable prices Ojakhuri at Kapiloni restaurant Ojakhuri is the generic name for meat (usually pork) and fried potatoes. Chicken barbeque
Hotel Berna Milan
Hotel Berna is a 4-star hotel, located 200 m from Milan Central Train Station and Metro. Free tea, coffee and snacks are available all day. All rooms are soundproofed and include air conditioning, free WiFi and a satellite LCD TV. We booked here a stay back in November 2019 for a couple of days and paid about $200 for our stay here (don't remember anymore, was it one night or two nights). The hotel indeed is centrally located, we decided…
White Cherry Jam
White cherry jam is quite popular here in Georgia. Georgians like to add nuts to the jam, but for this food recipe we will make a jam from cherries only (adding a bit lemon skin and peppermint though) The first step was to obtain cherries, for this task we asked our housekeeper to buy a few kilos at Rustavi market (she is from Rustavi), that's how we got about 4 kilograms of white cherries. White cherries I'm not sure why they are called…
Buenos Aires (Milan Shopping Street)
Corso Buenos Aires is a major street in north-eastern Milan, Italy. With over 350 shops and outlets, it features the highest concentration of clothing stores in Europe. The architecture of the area is mostly late 19th- and 20th-century style; the street and its surroundings are pointed with several neo-classical and art nouveau buildings. I had a chance to visit Corso Buenos Aires back at the end of 2019, during our about a week-long trip to…
Tbilisi Sea Club
Tbilisi sea club is a popular and paid recreational area located next to the Tbilisi sea. For an entrance fee of GEL 20/per person (kids are free) you could get a free parking lot, free sunbed, free entry to the outdoor pool, and great access to the Tbilisi sea. Yacht rental is possible (starting GEL 70/per hour), restaurant, restrooms, and the outdoor shower are available. Public parking lot at Tbilisi Sea club Its said the club is…
Restaurant Imeruli Ezo
Restaurant Imeruli Ezo is a nice roadside restaurant located in Natakhtari (this area is famous for its restaurants) We made a lovely dinner here at the start of June 2020, returning from our adventures at the Poppy fields near Mchadijvari Inside yard at Imeruli Ezo In direct translation from Georgian to English - Imeruli Ezo - means - Imeretian yard. And yes they are serving here Imeretian style food. The food at Imeruli Ezo We ordered…
Happy Kids Saldus
Happy Kids Saldus is a cool kid's amusement park in the town of Saldus, Latvia. I first read about in on a local Latvian Daily Business newspaper, and soon as I had the chance took our baby girl to play here. Amusement park "Happy Kids" at the Saldus bypass road has created a place to celebrate children's parties and other holidays. Happy Kids indoor amusement park in Saldus We visited this park on March 2020, back then the entrance fee…
Poppy fields near Mchadijvari
Summers in Georgia are very beautiful, traveling around the country is a pleasure. One such travel happened at the start of June 2020, when we decided to find the real poppy field. Let me explain, a couple of weeks ago we already started to search for a poppy field here in Georgia to make lovely family photos, we did found one little field near Marneuli, and we even took very good portrait photography, but this time we decided to find a real,…
Saint Dimitri Tesalonikeli Fathers Moanstery near Mtksheta
This is a little monastery near Mtskheta, best reached via Mtskheta-Shiomghvime monastery road. That's how we actually discovered this place at the end of May 2020 - during a random drive to the Shio-Mgvime monastery, we looked for some nice picnic areas to dine outdoors, we did a few stops here and there until noticed this place. We didn't picnic here, but in the nearby forest after a brief trip to the monastery. Probably not as impressive…
Oskars Kalpaks Museum and Memorial Place "Airītes"
Oskars Kalpaks Museum and Memorial Place "Airītes" is a branch of the Latvian War Museum established in memory of the hero of the Latvian War of Independence Colonel Oskars Kalpaks in "Airītes", Zirņi Parish, Saldus Region. On March 6, 1919 during the liberation battles of Latvia, colonel Oskars Kalpaks, commander of the First Latvian Special Battalion; Nikolajs Grundmanis, the First Commander of the Battalion's Special Company; Peteris Krievs…
Church of the Archangels of Mchadijvari
Mchadijvari Archangels Church is an architectural and historical monument in Georgia, in the center of the village of Mchadijvari. We discovered this church when searching for the poppy fields in Georgia, at the start of June 2020 (hint poppy fields are next to the church, some 5000 meters on the right. Church of the Archangels of Mchadijvari The above picture is made from the Dusheti - Mchadijvari-Odzisi highway site. This time we…
Khatsiri Forest Park
Khatsiri Forest park is a nice recreational area next to the town of Tianeti in Georgia. We discovered this place by accident after spending a day at Kuzh Park in Tianeti (sometimes we love to drive to the Tianeti town to walk in the Kuzh park with our baby girl). Way back home to Tbilisi we decided to make a stop here at Khatsiri Forest Park - let me say in one word - WOW. I was impressed. Picnic area at Khatsiri Forest park We are…
Tsilkani cathedral
The Tsilkani cathedral of the Mother of God is a Georgian Orthodox church in the village of Tsilkani, Mtskheta Municipality, in Georgia's eastern region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti. Originally built in the 4th century, the church was repeatedly remodeled in the Middle Ages. The extant edifice is a domed cross-in-square design, contained in a walled enclosure with corner towers. It is inscribed on the list of the Immovable Cultural Monuments of…
Rundāle Palace and Garden
Rundāle Palace is one of the two major baroque palaces built for the Dukes of Courland in what is now Latvia, the other being Jelgava Palace. The palace was built in two periods, from 1736 until 1740 and from 1764 until 1768. It is situated at Pilsrundāle, 12 km west of Bauska. The palace and its garden are among the top 10 destinations to visit in Latvia. We have been heading to Rundāle once in a while, when in Latvia, preferably in Summer…
Guest House Old Wall in Lagodekhi
Offering a barbecue and children's playground, Guest House Old Wall is situated in Lagodekhi. Property is set within the historic walls of the old castle Lakuasti. Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Free WiFi is available throughout the property and free private parking is available on site. This was our first stay in Lagodekhi, during a recent trip to the region (September 2019), we arrived here after a nice and comfy stay at Akhasheni Wine…
Akhasheni Wine Resort
Akhasheni Wine Resort is located near the town of Gurjaani, Georgia. This 4-star resort offers a 24-hour front desk. Guests can chill out in the outdoor swimming pool. We booked this hotel at the start of September and paid about $95 for a one night stay. Top Gurjaani Hotels & Guest Houses Room at Akhaseni wine resort Simple and cozy. One of the main features of this hotel is it outdoor pool with warm water, taking a swim in the…
Hotel 'San Francisco' Milan
Hotel San Francisco is a 5-minute walk from the Politecnico di Milano University. Rooms offer free Wi-Fi and a TV. Loreto Metro Station is just 300 m away. We booked this hotel for a one night stay during our trip to Italy, Switzerland back in November 2019. The price we paid was not very high (some $60 or $80 per night) The hotel is pretty much centrally located, as we arrived here wit a rental car we parked in on the nearby street and were…
Taverna in Bauska
Taverna is a restaurant, centrally located in the Bauska town, Latvia, serving traditional Latvian cuisine. I have been coming to this place once in a while (if in the area), so did happen last time, back in July 2019, while we were en route to the famous Rundale castle, we made a stop in Bauska, and Taverna time it was. Restaurant Taverna in Bauska In a busy season (Summer) order taking could take some time and meal preparation can take…
Best Point Hotel Old City Istanbul (Sultanahmet)
Located in the Old City of Istanbul, this hotel is within walking distance to Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Best Point Hotel Old City offers air-conditioned rooms. Free WiFi is available throughout the hotel. We booked here a one night stay at the end of February 2020, during a layover flight from Tbilisi via Istanbul to Riga. We booked a family room which included a really comfy bed (s) and even a private hammam (Turkish sauna…
National Library of Latvia
The National Library of Latvia, also known as Castle of Light is located on Mūkusalas iela 3, Riga - on the left side of river Daugava, opposite to Old Riga The current building was designed in 1989 by noted Latvian-American architect Gunnar Birkerts (1925-2017), who emigrated to the United States and made his career there. It was constructed in the early 21st century and opened in 2014. Today the Library plays an important role in the…
Drunk Cherry Gudauri Restaurant
Drunk Cherry is a stylish restaurant located in Gudauri next to the GoodAura ski-left (New Gudauri ski resort) Discovered during a weekend trip to Gudauri. And I should say I was really impressed. The food, service, and even the prices are as if you were in some of the best Tbilisi restaurants. Warm and cosy even on the coldest days. We promise fast and friendly service and a unique atmosphere. We order here some hot-wine, soup harcho,…
Condohotel 'GVC 217' New Gudauri
GVC 217 is a condo/aparthotel located in the New Gudauri ski resort, some 120 km from the nation's capital Tbilisi. We booked here a weekend (2-night stay) in January 2019 and paid $138 for that. Despite we booked via Booking.com they accepted only cash. As I later learned owners of this condo have a travel company in Georgia, mostly specializing on incoming tours across Georgia for Russian speaking tourists - G-V-C or Georgian Voyage Company…
New Gudauri Ski Resort in Georgia
New Gudauri is a rapidly developing ski resort in Georgia developed by REDCO Real estate development company, the resort is located some 120km from the nation's capital Tbilisi in Gudauri. Surrounded by some of Europe’s most dramatic peaks, Gudauri represents one of the most picturesque winter destinations for both experienced skiers and amateurs. The resort offers fantastic skiing and snowboarding, as well as paragliding and heli-skiing …