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Lake Zvirgzdu
Lake Zvirgzdu is located in Kurzeme historical region on the border of Kuldīga and Alsunga municipalities. There are several campsites available at Lake Zvirgzdu, with one of the most popular being - Ezermaļi. I discovered this place by a chance, back in September 2021, while randomly driving around the area There are 6 farmsteads on the shore of the lake, the V1264 highway runs along the western end. In 1976, the Latvian feature film "Lake…
Big Shiraki Abandoned Soviet Airfield in Georgia
If you are into military heritage or have some interest in Soviet history - Big Shiraki airfield in the Georgian dessert (steppe) might be an interesting object to visit in Georgia. I had not a single idea there even exsit such place here in Georgia, but at the astart of June, during a Vashlovani trip, a German friend took us to this place. Not an expert on Soviet or any other military I was told that during the Soviet Era Sukhoi figher jets…
Restaurant Lakeside Tskaltubo
Restaurant Lakeside is located in the town of Tskaltubo, Georgia on the lake Tsivi. First discovered and visited at the start of September 2021 In the evening life music was performed. Really chill atmosphere. Food was good.
Surami Fortress
Surami Fortress is located in the town of Surami, not far from Khashuri. The fortress itself is located on a rocky mountain. If you have been traveling arund Georgia, especially by the Tbilisi - Kutaisi - Batumi road, you probably have noticed this fortress, as I do. Actually I've been passing by this place quite often, but bever actually visited. Now, I decided to change that, and when returining from Kutaisi made a quick stop here, to fly a…
Tsivi Lake in Tskaltubo
Tsivi lake is located in the town of Tskaltubo, region of Imereti, Georgia. A direct translation into English - The Cold lake. We discovered this place (more precisely we discovered the cafeteria located near the Tsivi lake) at the start of September 2021, during a weekend trip to Kutaisi and region.
Takhti-Tepha Mud Volcanoes in Georgia
Takhti-Tepha mud volcanoes, sometimes also referred to as Vashlovani mud volcanoes is a landform created by the eruption of mud, slurries, water, and gases in the proximity of Takhti-Tepha mountain range. I had heard about this beautiful place many times before, but first visited at the start of June 2021, during the Vashlovani Trip This mud volcano is located on the plane, south of Dali water reservoir, at 620 m above sea level in…
Paravani lake
Paravani lake is a volcanic lake in Georgia, located in Javakheti Plateau between Abul-Samsari and Javakheti Ranges in the Samthske Javakheti region, some 2h 30 minutes drive (around 130 km) from Tbilisi. In the shores of Paravani lake, there is located famous Phoka monastery Paravani Lake is located 2,073 m (6,801 ft) above sea level and has a surface area of 37.5 km2 (14.5 sq mi) and a drainage basin of 234 km2 (90 sq mi). Its maximum and…
Hotel Newport Kutaisi Review
Built in 1914, former courthouse building has transformed itself into a modern 4-star hotel, located in the heart of Kutaisi. Featuring a bar and a terrace, Newport Hotel Kutaisi is located in Kutaisi, 400 m from Colchis Fountain and 1.5 km from Bagrati Cathedral. We booked this 4-star hotel for one night stay at the start of September 2021 and paid GEL 267 (USD 85 / EUR 72). Our stay was quite good, except the rooms seemed bit tiny. Among…
Dalis Mta Water Reservoir
Dalis Mta water reservoir is a man made reservoir built on Iori river, at the distance of 30 km to the south of Dedoplistskaro, in the vicinity of Chachuna Managed Reserve. We first discovered it during a Vashlovani trip in the Summer of 2021, we actually stayed overnight next to this water reservoir at the Hotel Dalis Mta Very spectacular place. I would say - one of the most interesting I have recently seen. The mountain at the coast of the…
Valka Bus Station
Valka bus station is centrally located in Valka and offers quite convenient intercity connections to Riga, Valmiera, Rūjiena, and Smiltene. The bus station in Valka was opened to the public in 1965. There is cafe Walk across the square.
Saghamo Lake
Saghamo Lake is a lake of Samtskhe-Javakheti, southeastern Georgia, just south of Gamdzani. It covers an area of 458 hectares. It is located north of Madatapa Lake and Biketi Lake. The village of Saghamo lies on its eastern bank. We made a brief stop here, during our Javakheti trip in early June 2021 Saghamo lake is located on the east part of Javakheti volcanic mountains, in the Paravani river basin, at an altitude of 1996 meters. The…
Okatse Canyon and hanging cliff trail with a platform
Okatse Canyon is another breathtaking landmark in beautiful Georgia. The main tourist attraction at Okatse canyon probably is the 780 m long hanging cliff trail with the 20m long platform at the trail end, hanging above the canyon and providing panoramic views. The canyon is located some 50km west of Kutaisi, Georgia. I first visited Okatse canyon at the start of September 2021, during a weekend trip to Kutaisi and the area, see: Kutaisi Trip…
Kinchkha Waterfall in Georgia
Kinchkha Waterfall is located in Georgia near the village of Kinchkha, some 300km away or 4h 30m drive from Tbilisi / or about 55km 1h20m drive from Kutaisi. The waterfall is located in the river gorge of Okatse (Satsikvilo) at 843 meters above sea level. We first visited Kinchkha waterfall at the start of September 2021, despite I had heard about this magnificent place many many times before. The waterfall is clearly visible from the…
Wooden church near Paravani Lake / Phoka monastery
Poka St.Nino Nunnery - is located at the shore of Paravani lake, Ninotsminda Municipality, South Georgia. The Little Wooden church is located bit outside the Poka village, on the left side on Tbilisi - Kojori - Tsalka - Ninotsminda road. That' s how we actually found this place. We were heading from Ninotsminda and wanted to make a stop at the famous Phoka nunnery, but at first found this lovely woodend church near the Paravani lake. Just later…
Martvili Canyon
Martvili Canyon is a picturesque landmark of water and rocks, located some 50km west of Kutaisi, Georgia. It is located 5 km from the town of Martvili, and 2 km from the village of Gachedili (which gave the canyon its other name, Gachedili Canyon). We first visited Martvii Canyon at the start of September 2021 during a weekend trip around this part of Georgia. The entrance fee per adult as about GEL 18 (for foreigners). At Martvili canyon a…
Naukšēni Manor
Naukšēni Manor is a two-story manor house located in the Naukšēni Municipality, Naukšēni Parish, in the historical region of Vidzeme, northern Latvia. We discovered this manor by a chance by traveling Valka - Rūjiena road in the mid July 2021 Built in 1820, it was renovated in 1843 by Friedrich Gottlieb Gläser in Empire style according to the drafts made by its landlord Heinrich Wilhelm von Groth. Additional modifications were made at the end…
Phoka Nunnery in Georgia
Phoka – a village in Georgia, In the municipality of Ninotsminda, Samtskhe-Javakheti region, on the shores of Lake Paravani, with an altitude of 2080 meters above sea level. Distance to Ninotsminda – 28 Km, to Tbilisi – 128 Km. There are a public school and St. Nino operational monasteries and nunneries in the village. There are a parish school and a medical inspection room as well as a studio of cloisonne enamel for manufacturing icons and…
Coworking Space in Tbilisi - Terminal on Abashidze street 34
Time after time I love working outside my lovely home office, starting from a Turtle lake ending a yard in a countryside. A couple of years ago i discovered the beauty of working at Fabrika coworking space in Tbilisi, but today I had a chance to visit Terminal coworking space on Abashidze street 34 in Tbilisi. Fun, I still remember how I met John, an American entrepreneur here in Tbilisi back in 2012, and he was talking it would be cool there…
Putraimi - guest house and recreational area near Kuldīga
Putraimi recreational area is located in Snēpele parish, Kuldīga municipality, some 170 km from nation's capital. I discovered this place by a chance in the Summer of 2021, and though I didn't stay overnight here I would love to return here and have some outdoor barbecue in the future. Here at Putraimi, they have several ponds with fish. Outdoor lovers and fishing enthusiasts will enjoy this place. Contact details: (+371) 29181329 - Aija…
Ampelo Resort Kardenakhi
Ampelo Resort is located in the Kardanaki village some 2 hour drive from the Tbilisi. Reosrt feature a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge, and a garden. There is an outdoor / infiniti pool, but at the time we visited this place it seemed the water is not heated (unlike in some other Kakhetian resorts, like Lopota lake, for example) We booked a family room for a one night stay at this hotel at the end of August 2021 and paid GEL 480 ( USD 150)…
The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia
The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia is an open-air museum located just outside Riga, the capital of Latvia, on the lightly wooded shores of Jugla Lake. The museum currently occupies 87 hectares and displays 118 buildings, as well as more than 3,000 items. Most of Latvia's historical ethnic groups are represented in the museum. The museum's collection holds approximately 150,000 artifacts. Despite being a native of Riga, I first visited…
Abano Mineral Lake Natural Monument
Abano Mineral Lake Natural Monument is a small lake in Kazbegi Municipality in Truso valley on the left bank of Terek River, to the east of the village Abano at 2,127 m above sea level. First discovered back in Summer of 2021, during the Kazbegi trip The lake was created by a carbon dioxide filled underground stream flowing to the surface through carbonate rocks from the late Jurassic period. The lake "boils" loudly with carbon dioxide bubbles…
Nīcava restaurant
Restaurant Nīcava is located in Nīca town, Latvia. some 230 km from the nation's capital Riga, sandwiched between Liepāja and Jūrmalciems. We paid here a short stop in mid-July 2021, while traveling to the Pape beach Turns out there is both a motel/guest house and a restaurant. Restaurant here serves typical Latvian cuisine. Quite a nice place. We enjoyed here something from the grill menu and a few drinks.
Hotel Butterfly House in Pāvilosta
Set some 3 km from the city center of Pāvilosta Butterfly House offers accommodation with free WiFi, BBQ facilities, a garden, and free private parking. We booked this place for a 2-night stay in mid-July and paid EUR 266. We chose this hotel as we were looking for some nice place to stay and throw a birthday party for our 3-year-old daughter. It seems we booked the most spacious room, some 100m2 and were able to accomodate up to 8 guests,…