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Varakļāni Palace
Varakļāni Palace is located in Varakļāni, in the historical region of Latgale, Latvia. We visited this place shortly at the start of August 2022, during a weekend trip to Latgale. I was not sure what for to look in the area and just googled the top sightseeing objects in Varakļani and this place popped top on the list. Just later I learned history of this place. After the end of the Livonian War in 1583, the von der Borch family acquired the…
Koknese Castle
Koknese Castle is a complex in Koknese, Latvia, dating from the 13th century. The castle was situated on a high bluff overlooking the Daugava river valley. In 1965 a hydroelectric dam was built downriver, creating a reservoir that partially submerged the castle and flooded the surrounding valley. We visited Koknese castle during a weekend trip to the region of Latgale at the start of August 2022 Before the arrival of the Teutonic Knights,…
More Laminate flooring, Tiles for the Bathroom + some electricity works
After the tile removal in the kitchen and hallway area, it was already agreed - I will re-install laminate there. Additionally, after hydro isolation works in the bathroom I decided I will tile again. I was very scared before the new tile job and measured everything 10 times before applying tile glue. Also, I decided to go for 6mm spacers (instead of 3mm) I bought 8m2 of laminate, but was bit short after my first day, bought additioanal 4m2 at…
Quail Farm Rīta Putni / Olalā Koknese
Rīta Putni is located in one of the most picturesque places in Latvia - Koknese county Bilstini just a few minutes away from Perse and Daugava river, where an impressive view of Koknese castle ruins can be seen. I first heard about this place, or more about its products - quail eggs, a few years ago back in Georgia, an acquaintance was involved in this business. At the start of August 2022, during our weekend trip to the Latgale region, passing…
Church hill Daugavpils
Baznīckalns or Church hill in Daugavpils is said to be one of the main tourist attractions in the city. This was one of the rare times I visited Daugavpils and I must admit I didn't had any clue what should we see here and just Google for the top attractions and Church hill or Baznickalns was atop of the list. Every traveler who wants to be acquainted with Daugavpils should definitely visit Church Hill which has gathered the churches of four…
Demolishing tiles, Hydroisolation for bathroom
A few weeks ago I did the tile job in the kitchen and hallway for our Vilgāle apartment. In the end, I was not happy with the result, not happy with the tile job (which could be done better), and not satisfied with the visual looks. At one point I decided to list this apartment for sale as it is, with asking price EUR 25,000. As I didn't get any request during more than 7 days, I decided I still want to sell this flat but I will make it look…
Guesthouse Pirts Baudas
Guesthouse Pirts Baudas is located in Ilzenes parish, Aluksnes county. The property is 24.1 km from Alūksne, and guests benefit from complimentary WiFi and private parking available on site. We booked this place during our day trip to Valka and the area. I thought this place will be much closer to Valka, but it turned out about a 2-hour drive with a distance of some 130km. Though the drive was spectacular with stops at places like Gaujiena,…
Velēna church
The Velēna Lutheran Church is at the crossing of the Smiltene-Gulbene-Lizums roads. I would call this as one of the most beautiful churches in Latvia. It's said the first built church here was a wooden church with a turf roof. This is where the place got its name from – Velēna (Torf). Visitors can still enjoy one of the most beautiful organs in Latvia, built in 1898 in W. Sauer Company, they are considered as one of the best preserved organs in…
Cafe Papes Vēji
Cafe Papes Vēji is a summer cafe located next to the Pape channel in Western Latvia near the Pape Lighthouse. This place serves traditional Latvian cuisine, and cold beer and some can buy smoked fish (apparently in the season) I have been fond of this area for a few years already and first discovered this cafe about a year ago, now in Summer 2022 we made a stop here, had a hearty dinner, and bought some smoked fish. Awesome Seems there is also…
Summer Cafe Kazbārs in Kazdanga
Summer café-bar “Kazbārs” is located next to the watermill in the heart of the scenic park of Kazdanga. This place serves freshly ground coffee, Italian dessert affogato, refreshing soft ice cream (including vegan options), cold live beer, and vegan soups. Place is run by energetic couple from Riga, if you will be happy enough you could catch up with host Ernests and enjoy the conversation about the running restaurant, flying planes, local…
Fun day in Liepāja, Ječi and Verbelnieki
The day started with visiting the cinema Cinamon in Liepaja, a cool movie about Minions in Latvian. After the movie went to the Fontaine place to order some pizza and then headed to Jeci to visit our new property and trim the grass, I already bought an electric lawnmower a few weeks ago in Riga. Now was a good time to excel. After a few hours of lawn moving we went for dinner and sunset photography to Verbelnieki - a really awesome camping…
Cafe Pāvilostas Enkurs
Cafe Pāvilostas Enkurs is located on Dzinstaru street 69 in Latvian Summer Capital Pavilosta. they serve fish and chips, pizza, and traditional Latvian cold soup here. One of the best fish and chips I've tried in Latvia Seems like a popular place in Pāvilosta, many tourists Give it a try once in Pavilosta
Friends Hub village Guest house review in Vazisubani
Friends Hub village guesthouse is located in Vazisubani, near Gurjaani in the region of Kakheti, Georgia, some 2-hour drive from Tbilisi. Oskars, the host, invited me to visit his new place at the start of May 2022. After a few stops at McDonald's, Sighanghi, and Bodbe monastery we finally reached Vazisubani, where we were greeted with traditional Georgian supra and a lot of chacha. Here I made a short video from our trip: Sighnaghi &…
How To Tile Kitchen / hallway floor
The time had finally come and I was ready to tile the kitchen and hallway floors at our Vilgale apartment. A year ago I would say - no way I'm going to do it myself, but here you go, I did it all on my own, with some research on Youtube and a lot of encouragement from friends who have done it. As it is in our Tbilisi apartment - I decided to go with large 60cmx60cm tiles, which I bought at the local DEPO store (in Liepaja) In total I…
New Investment Project - Summer House with Garden in Latvia
Welcome to another interesting project in the home remodeling series. - summer house with a garden in SouthWest Latvia. It turns out this is already the third, ongoing home remodeling project featured on the blog. Exciting. This is the project my fiancee actually bought, without first seeing it - the price seemed very good, not to take this property. I was a bit skeptical at the start, as we still have another ongoing renovation project with…
International Scout Centre Rustavi
The industrial town of Rustavi, approximately 25 km southeast of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, offers a modern international scouting center. The youth center offers space for a variety of indoor and outdoor activities. The facility is available for children and young people from Rustavi and offers comfortable and reasonably priced accommodation, seminar, and conference facilities for regional and international youth groups, schools,…
Dashbashi Canyon & Waterfall with 240 meter long Glass Bridge
If there is a reason to visit Dashbasi canyons near the Tsalka in Georgia - the canyons themselves, cascading waterfall and the glass bridge hanging over the gorge should raise some interest. Dashbashi Canyon Natural Monument is part of Khrami (known as Ktsia at it source) gorge near Dashbashi village, 3 km from the town of Tsalka I first heard about this place a couple of years ago from an ex-pat friend, back then the place was pretty much…
Batumi Central Park / 6th May park
Batumi Central park is really cool and relaxing attraction with a huge lake in the middle located in front of the Hilton Hotel. It's said that the park/garden is more than 130 years old and was constructed together with Batumi boulevard back in 1881. Despite I've visited Batumi zillions of times, I even have lived there some 10 years ago, this was the first time me visiting this park. Indeed very nice, with a little nice mini-zoo inside 6 May…
Best Western Premier Batumi Hotel
Best Western Premier Batumi hotel is one of our best finds in Batumi, the price corresponds to the service. Budget-friendly 4-star hotel with a swimming pool. I booked this hotel directly by calling to the reception instead booking online and got a very nice offer - 800 GEL for 4 nights with breakfast included and additional head for our 3-year old kiddo. I think we saved at least 500-600 GEL. Quite nice. If you prefer online booking, here is…
Goldigen Room Artisan Pizza In Kuldiga
Welcome to another Kuldīga Restaurant review - today I will write about a lovely pizza place located just in heart of Kuldīga town - Goldingen Room Artisan Pizza. The family restaurant Goldingen room, located in the heart of the old town of Kuldiga – Town Hall Square, is a story about the taste and mood of Italy. The restaurant offers to discover flavors of Mediterranean cuisine, complete with topping-up local produce and matching wines from…
Installing laminate flooring, painting walls
During the weekend I did a lot at our Vilgāle apartment, fixed some electric plugs, painted walls, and installed the floor, but first things first - it was agreed to save huge on the floor by choosing laminate instead of parquet. We paid less than EUR 9/m2 for laminate and saved on installation as I did it myself. Parquet would cost about EUR 40-50/m2. I chose DEPO store in Riga to buy the floor and tools In total paid EUR 378 for about 32m2…
Polishing, Painting and some cable works
I spent another day at our Vilgāle apt, today's plan was to polish the ceiling and wall (I yesterday plastered) and add the base layer of paint for the living room and hallway. In the morning we went to Majai un darzam store in Kuldīga, where I bought a bucket of paint, some plugs, and switches, special screws for drywall, so I can properly install the lamp from IKEA, and the day started. Yesterday I decided to apply more plaster on kitchen…
Wall Plastering, Ceiling Paint, Some Electricity works
It has been a while since the latest update from the Vilgale apartment, in fact, it has been 3 months since I last visited it. Now, having a Spring break from QSI school in Tbilisi, we decided to visit Latvia for some 2 weeks and do some things - like continuing with the renovation works at the Vilgāle apt. I bought some materials back in Riga at the Depo store and was the very happy and enthusiastic starting day today at Vilgāle. This is where…
Svan Tower in Tbilisi (Turtle Lake)
Svan Tower near Turtle lake is a well seen, but less visited tourist attraction in Tbilisi. Best reached while hiking near Turtle lake. Hiking Trails in Tbilisi - Turtle Lake (Kus Tba) - Tskneti Hiking trails near Turtle lake, Tbilisi in Winter We visited the Svan Tower again in Tbilisi at the end of February 2022 and had a lovely picnic in the footsteps of the tower. See this short video I made: Hiking trip near Turtle Lake The hiking route…