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Cinevilla Studio backlot
Cinevilla is a backlot in the Tukums Municipality in Slampe parish, Latvia, and was created for the outdoor shootings of the feature film Defenders of Riga. It is the only backlot in Latvia, and consists of replicas of historical buildings and constructions of Riga, the capital of Latvia. The backlot has a small canal to resemble the Daugava river quays of the Riga old…
Jūrmala airport
Jūrmala Airport (ICAO: EVJA) is an airport located 5 km (3 mi) in the Engure parish, Latvia, southeast of Tukums. The airport is located in the territory of the former army airfield. All of the airport's technical infrastructure, runway and buildings are what was left of the former Soviet military Tukums air base, which was a spartan military airfield with a single long ramp and revetted…
Ninotsminda Cathedral
Ninotsminda Cathedral is located in the Ninotsminda village near Sagarejo, in the Kakheti region, Georgia. Ninotsminda Cathedral is highly significant to the development of Georgian architecture as constructed in AD 575 it predates Jvari Monastery in Mtskheta, and served as a model for the development of the later tetraconch (four-apse) form. I visited this cathedral first in January 2019 and was…
Cafe / Bistro Dukāts
Cafe/bar/ bakery Dukāts is located in Dubulti, Jūrmala close to the Dubulti church. During 2018 we lived for a while next to the Dukāts and visited this place quite often to have a bistro style dinner or buying some delicious cake from the bakery. Compared to the other restaurants in Jūrmala, Dukāts has one of the lowest prices. Having dinner for two people for EUR 10 here is realistic. A meal at…
Restaurant Natakhtaris Veli
Restaurant Natakhtris Veli is located in the Natakhtari village, accessible when driving from Tbilisi via Mtskheta to Gudauri. This place serves typical Georgian cuisine. Cozy atmosphere, fast service, friendly staff. Actually a pretty touristic place, but despite that, no rip off here. Restaurant Natakhtaris Veli Located next to the Mtksheta- Gudauri highway. You can park your car in front of the restaurant. Meal at…
Chailuri Fortress
Chailuri fortress is located between Manavi and Kakabeti villages in the region of Kakheti (or about one hour drive from Tbilisi towards Sighnaghi) on a hill right next to the Kakheti highway. Fortress is a small pentagonal citadel with towers. The history of this fortress is shrouded in mystery. The fortress is well visible from the highway side, but visitors rarely take stop here, so did I made my first stop here on…
Restaurant Laivas
Dine in amazing ambiance on the banks of Lielupe river, in Jūrmala, Latvia. We visited Restaurant Laivas for a brunch menu (if I remember correct EUR 18 per person) back in June 2018. Now I have another great addition to Jūrmala restaurants list Interior at Laivas Restaurant in Jūrmala The brunch menu at Laivas Sweets at Laivas restaurant
Moxy Hotel Lobby Bar in Tbilisi
Moxy hotels lobby bar in Tbilisi serves delicious coffee latte and offers a really stylish interior. The one you could find in the fine NYC hotels or at least high-end hotels in Georgia. Discovered by accident in January 2019 while walking with our almost 6-month old daughter. For me, it was something new to learn that Moxy is a brand by Marriott. If I were to travel to Tbilisi I might consider booking a hotel room here as…
Charlie Pizza, Mazeikiai
Charlie Pizza is a Lithuanian fast food chain located all across the country, serving pizza, salads, pasta and other freshly prepared dishes. It was in May 2018, when we visited the one located in the Mazaikai town. Starter plate at Charlie Pizza in Mazeikiai, Lithuania Lithuanian Cepelinai served at Charlie Pizza Cepelinai or didžkukuliai (singular: cepelinas) is a popular dish in Lithuania. They are…
Fluffy Lemon Raspberry Cupcakes
On January 13th, 2019 little baby Fischer girl turned 6-month old, to celebrate it, we enjoyed a lovely Old New Year's Fireworks in Tbilisi and momma baked tasty fluffy lemon/raspberry cupcakes. Lemon / raspberry cupcakes Ingredients & Instructions (Source: LEMON RASPBERRY CUPCAKES) LEMON CUPCAKES 6 tbsp (84g), unsalted butter, room temperature 3/4 cups (155g) sugar 6 tbsp (86g) sour cream 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1…
Tbilisi sea
The Tbilisi sea or Tbilisi reservoir is an artificial lake in the vicinity of Tbilisi that serves as a reservoir. The lake has a length of 8.75 km and a width of 2.85 km. It was opened in 1953 and has become a popular recreation spot. There have been plans to develop the Tbilisi sea into a recreational park with various sports facilities. One of the most active developers in the Tbilisi sea area are…
Pokaiņi Forest
The Pokaini Forest, located 80 km south-west of Riga, Latvia near the small town of Dobele is a place where myths, superstition and mysterious events co-exist. The Pokaini Forest is a picturesque location and an ancient holy site famous for the wondrous legends told about it. Take a walk along the path and find out more about this energetic place. I first visited Pokaini forest back in 2008 or 2009. A lot has changed (developed) since then.…
Degusto (Aghmashenebeli avenue 148-150)
Degusto is a popular diving chain in Tbilisi. The food here is sold by weight for very budget-friendly prices. They have excellent sweets and really tasty cappuccinos served at Degusto. The one located on Aghmashenebeli avenue 148-150, Tbilisi is just next to the Champions Academy, and sometimes I visit it after the gym. The food court at Degusto There are some cold and hot dishes available, from the cold dishes there…
Rustavi Auto Market (Buying a Car in Georgia)
Rustavi auto market is one of the most popular and useful places for buying a used car in Georgia (imported mostly from the US, but probably also from Asia and Europe). It was at the end of 2018, we decided to buy a car here in Georgia. After research on the most popular Georgian auto website myauto.ge we decided to stick with a Volkswagen Touareg car (yes, damn expensive in exploitation, but safe) To get to the Rustavi…
Panorama Riga Observation Deck (Latvian Academy of Sciences)
The 107-meter tall building is considered the first high-rise in Latvia. It has been a prominent fixture of the Riga cityscape since the 1950s. There are a total of 766 rooms on the 23 floors, occupied by scientists, researchers, historians, and various companies. It was in May 2018, when I first visited the observation deck located in Latvian Academy of Sciences building) and I was really impressed. So impressed that I would call this…
Dzveli Duqani
Dzveli Duqani is a typical Georgian cuisine restaurant located next to Didi Dighomi II Micro District on Davit Aghmanashabeli avenue's 12th km (you can get here when driving from Tbilisi mall back to the city) Discovered by accident in January 2019, after returning from Mtskheta. Next, to the restaurant, there is a small parking space under the bridge. Prices at Dzveli Duqani is considerably lower…
Hualing Tbilisi Sea Plaza
Tbilisi Sea Plaza trading center is located in the eastern suburbs of Tbilisi City, near the Tbilisi Sea. I first heard about this "project" back in 2013 or something, and actually tried to visit it already in 2015, without luck. Turns out this place has been opened for the public just since the end of 2016. Despite been opened for public for a while already this place is not close as popular as Tbilisi Mall or East Point shopping malls located…
Cafe "Kāpenieki" in Aizpute
Cafe Kāpenieki has been one of my best finds in the Aizpute town in Western Latvia. Tasty, traditional Latvian cuisine for a very decent price. The fun fact, at this place in May 2018 I opened my first online brokerage account and soon started to acquire European and the US stocks. Also, they sell tasty Kvass, which is manufactured by a company listed on Nasdaq Baltics (Gubernija). lol Traditional Latvian Cold soup The…
Chinese Restaurant Ensemble (Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi)
Chinese Restaurant Ensemble is located in a 5-star hotel "Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi" near the Tbilisi Sea in the so-called - Tbilisi Sea New City. I got a recommendation to visit this restaurant from some other Tbilisi expats. So some Saturday afternoon in a company of the same expats we visited this place and I had a chance to try really authentic Chinese cuisine. Hotels & Preference…
Bird Watching Tower on Sloka Lake
Bird watching tower on Sloka lake actually is a floating platform which is a very popular tourist attraction among the locals and bird watchers. Discovered in the early May 2018, during our "living in Jūrmala" series. Bird watching tower on Sloka Lake The bird watching tower actually is just one point from Sloka lake walking trail: The trail winds through diverse forest settings along the coastline of the lake populated by…
Saint Peter and Paul Monastery Complex of Bolnisi
Saint Peter and Paul Monastery Complex of Bolnisi was built in 2012 and is located on Mount Elia close to the Bolnisi town in Georgia. First discovered and kind of visited in mid-December 2018, during a day trip to Bolnisi region. Originally I thought that at this place is located Bolnisi Sioni, and once we let our Tbilisi apt I just entered Bolnisi church in Google navigation. Huge was my surprise arriving at the real Bolnisi…
Mangaļsala Pier
The Mangalsala Dam or the Eastern Mole has been built between 1850 and 1861 and rumor has the Russian Empire's Tsar actively followed the developments (back in those days there were two tsars ruling the Empire, Nicholas I and Alexander II). Mangalsala is the first part of the Riga city which is crossed by all ships entering the Daugava river. The length of the mole is 2240 meters. The sea part of the eastern mole was formed by pile…
HP ProBook 450 G5 (2RS04EA) Laptop Review
At the end of 2018 I got a new laptop - HP ProBook 450 G5 - in today's gadget review article series I will write down my humble observations. In short - gosh it feels so good owning a ProBook from HP. I bought this laptop at local ALTA OK store in Tbilisi, Georgia, just shortly before Christmas shopping craze in December 2018. Paid about USD 750 for this model. The sales price for Intel Core i5 8GB HP ProBook 450 G5 on Amazon is about…
Mosque in Kvemo Bolnisi
There is not much information available online about Kvemo Bolnisi mosque in Georgia, except that the construction of the Mosque in Kvemo Bolnisi village started in 2005 and ended in 2007. The Mosque started functioning the same year. It was in the mid-December 2018, we were on a day trip to the Bolnisi (and surrounding area), after making stops at Bolnisi Sioni and Tsughrughasheni Church we discovered a…