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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Guest house Otrā Elpa in Valka
Otrā Elpa is located in the center of Valka. Guests are welcome to use free Wi-Fi in all areas of this property. I have stayed in this hotel a few times, and last time did it so back in the mid-July 2021, when had a quick trip to Valka and nearby area Decorated in light colours, all rooms here will provide you with cable TV and a table. Private bathrooms also come with a shower. For a stay here with some hearty brekfast I paid about EUR 50…
Gveleti Small Waterfalls
Gveleti waterfalls are located in the region of Kazbegi region near the small village Gveleti. Outdoor lovers and hikers will enjoy this little waterfall a lot . I first discovered this place at the end of July 2021, during a weekend trip to Kazbegi. As we were driving with a 4x4 SUV car, we drove most of the unpaved road to the waterfall and left our car parked some 30-minute walk from the waterfall. The path to the…
Terek Valley Viewpoint
Terek Valley viewpoint is located along the Georgian military road, close to the border with Russia. Maybe not as impressive as Georgia - Russia Friendship monument located near the Gudauri, still, if you happen to be in this area of the world, give it a try, views are still quite spectacular. There is a little altar of sacrifice built at the viewpoint At the start I mistakenly thought this is a Darial gorge, just later thanks to the drone's…
Andrejsala
Andrejsala is an area located in the Pētersala-Andrejsala neighborhood of Riga, Latvia within a former territory of an industrial port next to the city center. Andrejsala is a chich, urban place to visit. It is currently developed into a significant art, culture, and entertainment center featuring exhibition halls, clubs, workshops, studios, a cafe, and a hotel. As the Riga passenger port is in a close proximity, Andrejsala is popular…
About Tbilisi - Batumi Flight by Vanilla Sky
At the end of May 2021, we traveled Tbilisi - Batumi (and back) for the first time with an airplane. And let me say - this is the best option to travel between these two Georgian cities. In the past, I've tried a train, marshrutka, and private vehicle. Flight is only 50 minutes and you don't feel tired not at all. i first hear about Vanilla Sky (back then it was called Service air) back in the Summer of 2014, when planned a trip to Mestia…
Ērģeme Castle Ruins
Ērģeme castle is located in the parish of Ērģeme, Valka county, some 170 km north from the capital of Riga. Ērģeme castle served as a powerful fortress for the protection of the Livonian Holy Order eastern border and as a castle-front for the Cēsis castle of the Livonian Holy Order master. The castle was mentioned in 1422 but it was built already around year 1320 under the ordinance of the Order master Gerhard von Jocke. Masters used castle as…
Truso Valley
Truso Valley is known for its mineral water springs, white/yellow travertines, mineral lake with bubbles, towers of middle ages, -most notably Zakagori castle, villages on a very high altitude such as Resi (2350m), tasty cheese and Ossetian Khabidzginas (khachapuri with cheese and potatoes) and nice people. I first visited this area during a weekend trip to Kazbegi (Stepatsminda) at the end oh July 2021. To get there, we took a left…
Khertvisi Fortress
Khertvisi fortress is one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia and was functional throughout the Georgian feudal period. It is situated in Khertvisi village of Aspindza Municipality, Southern Georgia, in Meskheti region. The fortress was first mentioned in the 10th-11th centuries. The church was built in 985, and the present walls were built in 1354. According to a local legend, Khertvisi was once destroyed by…
Salty Garden Tavern in Mlashe
Salty Garden Tavern is an awesome place located in Mlashe village, some 60 km from the nation's capital Tbilisi near the Bazaleti lake We discovered this place at the end of May 2021 and were surprised to learn that the owner of the tavern - David speaks some Latvian. Mlashe village Our mission is to support the development of our village Mlashe, protection of its ecosystem. Salty Garden provides working places to local people,…
Restaurant Chiko near Aspindza
Restaurant Chiko near Apsindza is one of our best discoveries lately here in Georgia, the restaurant no only offers amazing and spectacular views but it also serves tasty cuisine for a very very affordable prices. First discovered in June 2021, when returning from Vardzia cave town, we made a stop here because of spectacular views and I really wanted to have a good cappuccino. I got both + more. The view that attracted After…
Hotel Abastumani Residence
Located in Abastumani village, this hotel features a shared lounge, garden, BBQ facilities, and free WiFi. Featuring family rooms, this property also provides guests with a terrace. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, room service, and currency exchange for guests. We booked a family room for one night stay in mid-June 2021, and paid for that GEL 350 (with breakfast included). The place seems nice, kid friendly. We enjoyed our…
Green Cape near Batumi
Green cape is one of the most beautiful places in Georgia, located just some 9 km outside of Batumi. Batumi Botanical Garden is located within Green Cape's picturesque setting. You can reach Green cape from Batumi by a taxi or bus. Pebbled beach at Green cape There are several cafes located in and within a close proximity to Green cape. The main entrance to the Batumi Botanical garden also is located here. Green Cape and…
Hotel Dalis Mta
Hotel Dalis Mta is located some 35 kilometers from the Dedoplitskaro town, right next to the Dalis Mta water reservoir in the Chachuna managed area. We had a chance to stay here overnight at the start of June 2020, as the trip was organized by a German friend, he was the one who found and booked this place. The hotel charged GEL 50 per person, plus an additional GEL 30 dinner and an additional GEL 30 breakfast. If you are into grilling I guess…
Hilton Batumi Hotel Review
Located in the centre of Batumi, just 200 m from the Black Sea coast, Hilton Batumi is a pet-friendly 5-star hotel offering a modern interior design and high-quality facilities. Dolphinarium is 300 m from the hotel and Europe Square is 900 m away. We booked this 5-star Hilton Batumi hotel for a 3-night stay at the end of May 2021 and paid about GEL 2400 / USD 772. Price included a junior suite executive room with excellent views from the 19th…
Zedazeni monastery
Zedazeni Monastery is a Georgian Orthodox monastery, located on the Zedazeni mountain the hills of Saguramo, northeast to Mtskheta, and to the east side of the Aragvi River. There is a pretty steep but good-quality road heading to the monastery complex from the Saguramo village. This could actually be the very awesome route for hiking - Saguramo - Zedazeni monastery. Zedazeni monastery We first…