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Last chance workout on the trails around Turtle Lake before Tbilisi Marathon
After our successful start at the Tbilisi Adventure run back in April I gathered everyone from the Caucasus Translations office for the Tbilisi Marathon Run in October (2023). This time we applied for a 10K distance. To test my limits I started to train for the 10K run at the gym on a treadmill. Surprisingly my results were quite good, and maybe that's why Olga (Latvian explat), after seeing some of my Facebook posts invited me to join her for…
Sweet Home garage apartment in Borjomi
Sweet Home apartment is located on Rustaveli street 51, Borjomi. What really makes this place stand out - this is a kind of garage apartment or more precisely apartment built a top of a garage. We booked this place for a one-night stay at the end of August 2023 and paid GEL 80, in cash. At the start, I was a bit skeptical about this place, but once I saw the inside interior I was truly fascinated. Kind owner even offered as a free parking…
Champ de Mars
The Champ de Mars is a large public greenspace in Paris, France, located in the seventh arrondissement, between the Eiffel Tower to the northwest and the École Militaire to the southeast. The park is named after the Campus Martius ("Mars Field") in Rome, which was dedicated to the god Mars. The name alludes to the fact that the lawns here were formerly used as drilling and marching grounds by the French military. We visited Champ de Mars,…
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. Constructed from 1887, it is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. I first visited this iconic place back in 1990 or 1991, together with my mom and brother. back then I was about 5 year old, but I still remmebr that trip from Latvia to France with bus. Quite good memories. One of my first foreign trips. Now,…
ABC Land - Children's party service in Tbilisi
ABC Land children's party service is located in Saburtalo, Tbilisi on University Street N8. I first heard about this place some time ago from another expat family here in Georgia, but first visited together at the start of September 2023, when we (our kid) got invited to a birthday party from our class at British International School in Tbilisi. ABC land is located in a separate 5 or 6-story building, unlike kids' entertainment centers which…
Luxembourg Gardens
The Jardin du Luxembour, known in English as the Luxembourg Garden, colloquially referred to as the Jardin du Sénat (Senate Garden), is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, France. Creation of the garden began in 1612 when Marie de' Medici, the widow of King Henry IV, constructed the Luxembourg Palace as her new residence. The garden today is owned by the French Senate, which meets in the Palace. It covers 23 hectares (56.8 acres) and is…
La Fregate French Restaurant in Paris
La Frégate is set on the Left Bank of the Seine in central Paris between the Louvre, the Tuileries Gardens and the Musee d'Orsay. This stylish brasserie is said to be built on the site of the house occupied by Field Marshal D'Artagnan, the character that inspired Alexandre Dumas to write The Three Musketeers. La Frégate has a lovely décor with ornate frescoed ceilings, pale lemon Louis XVI chairs, tables laid with crisp white linen while soft…
Boutique Hotel Sainte-Beuve in Paris
Boutique Hotel Sainte-Beuve is located in the heart of Paris on a small and quiet street of Rue Sainte-Beuve 9 in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. The hotel is conventionally located within walking distance of neighborhoods Montparnasse and Saint Germain Des Prés, 200m from the Luxembourg Gardens. We booked about a 2-night stay here at the start of July 2023. Paying about EUR 700. For getting here we used the Bolt ride-sharing app from Paris…
Louvre
The Louvre or the Louvre Museum, is a national art museum in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement (district or ward) and home to some of the most canonical works of Western art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. Remnants of the Medieval…
Shumi winery and vineyards near Tsinandali in Kakheti, Georgia
Founded in 2001, Shumi Winery is a leading producer of high-quality Georgian wines. Its large estate is located in the Kakheti wine region’s famous Tsinandali village. A nice stop when traveling to the region of Kakheti. There is a wineshop, restaurant, and of course vineyards at the territory complex. Shumi Winery takes its name from an old Georgian word that means authentic, undiluted wine. The winery’s griffin logo refers to “Phaskunji”, a…
Latvian Villa Kursa near Sighnaghi in Georgia
Villa Kursa offers friendly accommodation near Sighnaghi, in the village of Anaga, some 6 km from Sighnaghi center and 9 km from Bodbe Monastery. The property features a large terrace, a garden as well as a shared lounge area. Guests can enjoy a mountain view from Villa Kursa. Family rooms at the property come with free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. We booked a two-night stay here at the end of July 2023, paying GEL 200 via booking.com I've…
Swimming Pool and Spa at Tbilisi Biltmore Hotel
The Biltmore Hotel is a 5-star hotel located in the heart of Tbilisi on Rustaveli Avenue. For the past few years, we have been heading here for its indoor swimming pool. There is also a small gym and a simple spa center with a Steam room and Finnish sauna. Small and cozy swimming pool with whirpool and few waterfalls. Not very deep, maybe 1 meter 20 or even less. Kid friendly There is an outfoor restaurnat next to the pool, offering great…
From Riga to Disaster: Repairing Our Wind Damaged Frame House in Latvia
Just after we finished most of the framing for our frame house in Latvia, we left for a weekend in Riga. After spending good 4 or 5 days in the nation's capital we found a huge surprise when returned - high wind, the storm has damaged our building and the looks were not good. Our frame house has suffered significant damage due to the strong winds I called to my assistant and together we fixed most of the damage in just a few couple of hours.…
Jomardi X Park And Rafting
"X Park" run by “Jomardi” Rafting Club is located nearby Tvalivi village on the left side of Pshavis Aragvi River at 900 meters above sea level. I have been familiar with the Jomardi Rafting Club since 2011 when I took my first rafting ride here in Georgia. At the start of June 2023, my better part had a birthday, and we agreed to celebrate it together with the office employees by having a rafting ride. Great for party, great for team building…
DIY Frame House in Latvia: Walls and Rafters Completed
At the end of June 2023, we traveled to Latvia for about two weeks, during which I continued work with our frame house and installed both walls and rafters. In this article, I'm sharing notes and photos from the construction. It was a huge surprise when arriving on site I saw a lot of overgrown grass. It was just a few months ago, we come to Latvia to install this foundation on the grounds crews. The Cost-Saving Way to Build a Frame House in…
Jerusalem in December: A Must-Visit Destination for the New Year Holiday
Jerusalem is a city steeped in history, culture, and religion, making it a fascinating destination to visit any time of the year. However, there is something particularly special about visiting Jerusalem in the weeks leading up to New Year's. In this article, we'll explore some of the highlights of experiencing Jerusalem before New Year's eve. We arrivied to Jerusalem from Ben Gurion airport terminal and our discoveries could start. After…
Vialand Amusement Park in Istanbul
Vialand Theme Park is a huge amusement park and shopping mall located in Istanbul, Turkey. We visited this theme park at the end of May 2023, during our weekend trip to Istanbul. We paid a 240 USD entry fee for a family of three (also kids pay full fare). After visiting the park I was left with the feeling that the price might be way too overpriced for the attractions we actually used. As we were traveling with our 4-year-old daughter, we…
Hotel Baykal in Istanbul
Hotel Baykal is located on the shores of Golden Horn in Unkapani, Istanbul. This hotel is located about 3 km from the historical Sultanahmet area. Free WiFi is accessible in all areas. We booked Hotel Baykal for a 3-night stay at the end of May 2023 during our short trip to Istanbul. At the time of booking, we were just choosing the cheapest options available, and I have to say this was a bargain deal. In total, we paid about USD 160 for our…
Ring in the New Year in Eilat: A Guide to the Top Attractions
Eilat is a city in southern Israel that is well known for its sunny beaches and vibrant nightlife. The city is especially popular during the New Year's holiday season when visitors flock to the area to enjoy the warm weather and festive atmosphere. In this article, I'll explore some of the highlights of visiting Eilat around New Year's. We come to Eilat, especially for New Year's Eve, and booked Herods Boutique hotel, paying about USD 750 for a…
Our frame house has suffered significant damage due to the strong winds
Over the past few weeks, I have been fully engrossed in the laborious task of constructing our frame house from the ground up. Unfortunately, amidst the hustle and bustle of the construction process, I have been remiss in updating our progress on this blog. However, I regret to inform you that our endeavors have taken a devastating blow. This past weekend marked a significant milestone as we completed the roof installation and eagerly commenced…
Elia Monastery near Dedoplis Tskaro
Elia monastery is located in Kakheti, in the southern part of Dedoplistskaro, on a double-peak limestone mountain. The Temple of Saint Ilia Tezbiteli is located on Mount Elia since the sixth century. Many people gather here every August 2, on the day of the great prophet, Saint Ilia Tezbiteli. They overnight on a double-peaked mountain and pray at the bottom of the Elia rock. I first learned about this beautiful place from our German friend…
The Top Beaches to Visit in Tel Aviv: Unwind and Relax by the Mediterranean Sea
Tel Aviv is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Israel, known for its vibrant culture, nightlife, and beaches. With over 14 kilometers of coastline, Tel Aviv boasts some of the most beautiful and accessible beaches in the country. During our latest trip to Israel I had a chance to spend a day in Tel Aviv's beaches and was left with that white envy feeling, how lucky Israelis are, having such nice beaches just in front of their city…
Savanna Guest House in Dedoplis Tskaro
Savanna Guest House is located on Mosulishvili Street 51 in the town of Dedoplis Tskaro. We booked this guest house for a one-night stay at the start of June 2023, paying about gel 150 for a separate house with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a shower, a living room, and a lovely outdoor space. We keep returning to Dedoplis Tskaro because of the Eagle Canyon and this time we decided to extend our stay in the area by booking a guest house. and Savanna…
Discovering Jaffa: A Memorable Day Trip from Tel Aviv
Jaffa is an ancient port city near Tel Aviv in Israel. Jaffa is known for its association with the biblical stories of Jonah, Solomon, and Saint Peter as well as the mythological story of Andromeda and Perseus, and later for its oranges. Today, Jaffa is one of Israel's mixed cities, with approximately 37% of the city being Arab. We had a chance to visit Jaffa and meet with our Latvian friend there at the start of 2023 during our latest trip…