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Guest house / Viesu Māja 'Kuncīši' near Murjāņi
Featuring free WiFi and a barbecue, Viesumāja Kuncīši Murjāņos offers accommodation in Murjāņi, 41 km from the center of Rīga. Free private parking is available on site. We booked guesthouse Kuncīši for a one night stay in July 2019, we paid EUR 100 in cash and for the money got a separate guesthouse (for up to 12 people) - a sauna, small indoor pool and a grill to prepare a barbeque. The evening spent here reminded me of our travels in…
Baku Boulevard
Baku Boulevard also is known as National Park is a promenade established in 1909 which runs parallel to Baku's seafront. Its history goes back more than 100 years, to a time when Baku oil barons built their mansions along the Caspian shore and when the seafront was artificially built up inch by inch. I first visited Baku on August 2019, and Baku boulevard was our first stop after arriving at Baku Railway…
Manglisi Cathedral
Manglisi Cathedral or Manglisi Sioni Cathedral is a 6th-7th-century Georgian Orthodox cathedral near the town of Manglisi, Tetritsqaro Municipality, Georgia. For me, it was interesting to observe the traditional cross from the Russian orthodox church decorating the top of this cathedral. Also, the coat of arms with two-headed eagle from Tzarist Russia is featured on the facade of Manglisi cathedral.…
Hotel 'Keizarmezs' Review in Riga
The Keizarmezs is located on the shore of Lake Kisezers in the Mezaparks district, a 20-minute drive from Riga’s centre. A private car park is available free of charge. We booked a couple of nights here in July 2019, during our visit to Riga hotel Keizarmezs offered lowest value deal price, for a 3-night stay we paid here about $70 (while most of the other Riga hotels asked around $300) Now, the hotel is bit outdated, but the price…
Baku Central Railway Station
Baku central railway station has gone through some serious modernization recently. We booked a train to Baku from Tbilisi in early August 2019, and that's how I first visited this railway station. Tbilisi - Baku by Train Ticket Information According to RailwayPro - It took 2 years to renovate and modernize the whole capital’s rail station. The station has a shopping area on the second floor, the main building has been renovated and all the…
Georgia / Azerbaijan Border Crossing by train (Gardabani / Boyuk Kasik)
When traveling by train from Tbilisi to Baku, there are two border checkpoints (one in Georgia, and one in Azerbaijan) - the total border crossing procedure can take around 2 hours (an hour for each side) and you can stay inside the train during the checkups. In this article, I'll share some notes from our latest trip to Baku from Tbilisi by train in the start of August 2019 Tbilisi - Baku by Train Ticket Information It takes about…
Algeti National Park Visitor Center Manglisi
The main entrance of the national park is located near the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of Manglisi. Algeti National Park Administration has a small infrastructural unit – a picnic area with auxiliary buildings and a forest adventure park. Algeti has been on our radar ever since we discovered Algeti water reservoir while hiking in Birvisi Canyon. To get here we used Tbilisi - Kojori - Tsalka - Ninotsminda road Day…
Grill&Fish Jomas terase, Jūrmala
Grill&Fish Jomas terase is another stylish restaurant located on central Jomas street in busy Latvian seaside town Jūrmala. We visited this place in early May 2019, during a short 10 day trip to Latvia. Grill bar Lighthouse serves traditional seasonal Latvian cuisine and not only Soup at Grill and Fish restaurant in Jūrmala The Grill & Fish restaurant seems is quite popular among locals and visitors. Food choice is…
Goodwill Gori Higway
Goodwill near Gori - Tbilisi Highway is a convenient rest area/supermarket/ eatery while driving to Tbilisi (from Kutaisi or Batumi, for example) Goodwill was one of the first supermarket chains in Georgia. I wouldn't call this store a supermarket in the classic sense, as mostly here are sold long-lasting food items, though there is a stand for fresh products, like milk, eggs and so on). We keep stopping here, to buy some milk,…
Antalya Aquarium
As one of the biggest aquarium complexes of the world, Antalya Aquarium offers inspiration, entertainment and education all at once. After touring the 40 thematic aquariums, you will come across the biggest tunnel aquarium of the World with a length of 131 meters and a width of 3 meters. We paid about an hour and a half long visit to Antalya aquarium in June 2019. We booked a trip here while staying at …
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Zoom Lens Review
At the end of July, I finally got replacement lens for original Canon Rebel T5 (Canon 1200D) DSLR camera - I ordered online from Amazon Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM Zoom Lens. For the original kit lens, the autofocus stopped working properly and for the most time I had to shoot in manual mode, it's perfectly fine for me, but I admit having working autofocus is really neat, it can help a lot (for example in bright sunlight). I…
Gonio Fortress
Gonio fortress, previously called Apsaros, or Apsarunto, is a Roman fortification in Adjara, Georgia, on the Black Sea, 15 km south of Batumi, at the mouth of the Chorokhi river. The village sits 4 km north of the Turkish border. Gonio has been on my radar since I probably first visited Batumi back in the Summer of 2011, but for the first time, I visited this ancient Roman site at the end of…
HP ENVY x360 - 15-cn0003ur Convertable Touchscreen Laptop Review
HP ENVY x360 - convertible touchscreen Laptop is the latest addition to our home office. Bought at the local Tbilisi shop in early June 2019. Paid about $1,150 but I believe you could get one much cheaper on Amazon Equipped with Backlit keyboard, FULL HD 1920X1080 screen resolution, this laptop will make many envy it. lol Top 20 Laptops with Full HD 1920X1080 Resolution From its distinctive materials and iconic design, this PC exudes…
Kirman Belazur Resort &Spa Review in Antalya, Turkey
Situated at the seafront, Kirman Hotels Belazur Resort & Spa has a private beach but you don't need a beach when you have one of the longest warm water outdoor pools. There is a water park and a bowling alley on site and guests can enjoy the restaurant and bar. Free WiFi is featured throughout the hotel and free private parking is available on site. We booked a tour package from Tbilisi to Turkey's region of Antalya and chose this 5-…
Latvian - Georgian Cafe 4You in Gori
Now besides hostel in Tbilisi, Latvians have a cafe in Gori Latvian - Georgian Cafe 4You is located on Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue 34, Gori. Opened for the public in 2018, this place serves pastry, cakes and a huge menu of a different kind of meals (both Latvian and Georgian style), you can get here both some salty Gori style cutlets and even Kiev's cutlet, not to speak about salad olive and more. Overall feeling…
Gori Fortress & Memorial of Georgian Warrior Heroes
Gori Fortress is a medieval citadel in Georgia, standing above the city of Gori on a rocky hill. The fortress is very well visible from the city, unfortunately, I have never climbed up to the fortress, but I believe very cool aerial photos might be taken from here. At the bottom of the fortress, there is located the Memorial of Georgian Warrior Heroes consisting of 8 (?) sculptures of Georgian Warriors.…
Georgia Palace Hotel & SPA Kobuleti
Georgia Palace Hotel & SPA is the first Georgian Brand five-star Resort hotel located on the Black Sea shore of Georgia's famed summer resort in Kobuleti, Georgia. We booked this 5-star hotel for a one night at the end of April 2019, during a short weekend trip to Batumi and the nearby vicinity. We paid just USD 80 for our stay here, which I believe is a discount price and available just in the low-season. Situated in the resort of…
Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin is located in Gori on Lomouri street 7, just opposite to the Gori Fortress. Some might be surprised noticing that this church looks like a typical Catholic church rather than a typical Georgian Orthodox church. According to Georgia.Travel the temple was built as a Catholic church between 1806 and 1810. In 1920, it was heavily damaged by an earthquake. View towards cathedral…
Black Sea Arena Georgia
Black Sea Arena is an indoor arena located on the coast of the Black Sea in Shekvetili, Guria, Georgia, some 45 km north of Batumi, the country's second largest city. The venue, designed by the architects from the German company Drei Architekten, is the largest open concert hall in the Caucasus. The auditorium has a capacity of 10,000 seats in circular grandstands. The American singer-songwriter…
Batumi McDonald's
The coolest McDonald's building probably is located in Georgian seaside town Batumi. Officially opened for public already back in 2013, this place has been featured in countless architecture award magazines across the World. Named as the World’s Best Commercial Building 2014 (source: Batumi McDonald’s: World’s Best Commercial Building 2014) The restaurant, designed by Harvard-graduate and Georgian architect Giorgi…
Joseph Stalin Museum in Gori
The Joseph Stalin Museum is a museum in Gori, Georgia dedicated to the life of Joseph Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, who was born in Gori. The Museum retains its Soviet-era characteristics. The museum has three sections, all located in the town's central square. It was officially dedicated to Stalin in 1957. With the downfall of the Soviet Union and independence movement of Georgia, the museum…
Villa St Maria Boutique hotel Jūrmala
Offering a sauna, boutique hotel Villa St Maria is set in the heart of Jurmala on the main pedestrian promenade Jomas street, some 400 m from Dzintari Concert Hall. In summers guests can enjoy a lounge terrace on the rooftop of the hotel and an on-site restaurant with Japanese, Korean and European cuisine and drinks. We booked this hotel for a short one night stay before departing back to Tbilisi in May 2019. We paid EUR 68 for a stay here…
Resort Ujarma
Resort Ujarma is located on the banks of Iori river some 32 km from Tbilisi (about 40 minute drive with a car) The main feature of the Resort Ujarma is healing water with iodine and bromine. The entire territory of the resort covered in forest. The climate is characteristic of the low mountains of eastern Georgia, relatively wet. We discovered this interesting - back to the USSR style, place on a lovely Saturday morning in early…
Grill Bar Lighthouse Jūrmala
Grill bar Lighthouse is centrally located on Jomas street in Jūrmala. We visited this place in early May 2019, during a short 10 day trip to Latvia. Before diving in details - I should note - grill bar Lighthouse is a kid-friendly place, our then 9-month old daughter enjoyed here a lot Grill bar Lighthouse serves traditional seasonal Latvian cuisine and not only, but you will also find seafood like shrimps and tuna. Grill bar…