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Chacha Tower in Batumi
Chacha tower is really interesting tourist attraction site in Georgia's Black Sea resort town of Batumi. Originally built in 2012, it was meant to feature Georgian national spirit chacha fountain instead of water. It has been noted that noted that chacha will flow once a week for 15 minutes. Frankly speaking I have never seen chacha flowing here yet. Chacha Tower in Batumi The tower is surrounded by…
Alphabetic tower in Batumi
Alphabetic tower is one of the many skyscrapers of Batumi. The tower symbolizes the uniqueness of Georgian alphabet and people. Located in the Miracle park, Alphabetic tower of Batumi can be considered as one of the main tourist attraction sites in the city. Alphabetic Tower is a total of 130 meter tall. The structure combines the design of DNA, in its familiar double helix pattern. Two helix bands rise…
Batumi Miracle Park
Miracle park located on the shores of Georgian Black sea resort town Batumi, features Alphabet tower, Statue of Lowers, Lighthouse, Ferris wheel and Chacha tower. It is directly connected to Batumi boulevard and Batumi city bay. Visitors of Batumi city will enjoy unique and really interesting architecture, featuring some of the tallest buildings in country. View towards Batumi skyscrapers When I first visited Batumi back in 2011,…
Batumi Bay and Port
Once in Batumi, take a lazy walk at Batumi bay area, watch ships on anchor and enjoy a cup of tasty Turkish coffee at some of the bay cafeterias. From Batumi bay you could take an aerial tram and get some really spectacular views towards Batumi. Boulevard at Batumi bay Ship on anchor at Batumi You can climb down from the boulevard and enjoy pebbled shore. Cargo ships at Batumi port And really spectacular views towards…
Tashir Pizza at EastPoint Mall (Tbilisi)
From local Armenian ex-pat community in Tbilisi we heard that famous Armenian 'Tashir Pizza' has entered market of Georgia. Back at this stage I never had even heard about Tashir Pizza before. It was on routine shopping day at East Point shopping mall in suburbs of Tbilisi, when we noticed a Tashir Pizza, since we had heard good words about it we decided to give it a try. And let me share my joy, how surprised I was - this…
Georgia / Armenia Border Crossing at Sadakhlo / Bagratashen
One of the shortest routes for crossing Georgian / Armenian border, if traveling from Tbilisi to Yerevan, is Sadakhlo / Bagratashen border point. I have traveled this route several times, mostly for my travels to Yerevan I have used private taxi cars or minivans leaving from Avlabari or Ortachala (in Tbilisi) and back from Kilikia bus station in Yerevan. Learn more about cheap travel between Georgia and Armenia by mini…
Kilikia Bus Station in Yerevan, Armenia
I have used Kilikia bus station to travel from Yerevan to Tbilisi using minivan (marshrutka), but seems you can get from Kilikia to Istanbul (Turkey), Tehran (Iran) or Moscow (Russia), take in note those will be very long trips (starting 40 hours) and I would rather prefer to fly instead of traveling such long distances by bus. I reserved a seat a day before by calling to firm in Yerevan - Tbilisi minivan (Read more:Tbilisi -…
Narikala Fortress
Ask anybody in Georgia - what are the must have tourist sites to visit while in Tbilisi. Narikala fortress will be a top of the list. And there is a good reason - an ancient fortress, featuring rich history, overlooking Tbilisi, with some really spectacular views towards Tbilisi Old Town. Spectacular view to the Narikala Fortress Above photo is shot from another monastery, located just opposite to Narikala…
Karas fast food on Mashtots Avenue, Yerevan
We paid a visit to Karas fast food restaurant on Mashtots avenue in Yerevan, just shortly we checked in at nearby Park hotel on Koghbaci street. We got to this place by simply asking on street to a passer by where are some cool places around to get some cool food experience. The lady told - Karas, it's just around corner. So we ended up in Karas. Menu at Karas restaurant in Yerevan This was the most interesting menu I have seen, featuring…
Cranberries in Powdered Sugar
Cranberries in powdered sugar are one of my favorite sweets from my childhood (sorry, Georgian churchela). I remember in my childhood there were little nice cardboard boxes available for sale at local stores around my native Riga. It was always like a little celebration when my mom or grandma bought me some of those cardboard boxes with cranberries in powdered sugar and let me eat them For a very long time I didn't find them around, but…
St. Nicholas Church, Tbilisi
The chances you have seen or even visited St. Nicholas church, if traveled to Tbilisi, are huge - located on the lower court of city's most famous landmark's - Narikala fortress. This Church has been "recently" restored. Newly built in 1996–1997, it replaces the original 13th-century church that was destroyed in a fire. The new church is of "prescribed cross" type, having doors on three sides. The internal part of…
Eldar's Bike Workshop at Kidobani Market (Tbilisi)
Eldar's bike workshop is a place where back at the end of 2013 we bought two mountain bikes as a Christmases gift for ourselves. Take a look of my riding experience in Tbilisi: First ride, Cycling to Tbilisi sea or alternatively check out cycling topic. At Eldar's place you can fix leaky tires, fix brakes order new details and of course to buy a new or used bicycle. It was at the start of March, warm weather approached Tbilisi and I decided to…
Samtavro Monastery
Samtavro Monastery together with Svetitskhoveli cathedral and Jvari monastery are one of the main sights of historical town of Mtskheta, located some 20 km from nation's capital Tbilisi. Official nam of this place is Samtavro Transfiguration Orthodox Church and Nunnery of St. Nino in Mtskheta, Georgia. It is believed that church were built in the 4th century by King Mirian III of Iberia.…
Guest House / Restaurant 'Āķa Gals' in Pāvilosta
If there is a reason I would love to return to Latvian coastal town of Pāvilosta - cuisine served at restaurant Āķa Gals will be probably at top of my priorities. Cozy tavern located in the dunes of Pāvilosta, only 100 meters from the sea, is a great place for celebrations, relaxation and recreation with family and friends. Guesthouse / Tavern Āķagals in Pāvilosta Visitors both of simple and refined tastes will enjoy…
Pāvilosta piers and Lighthouse
If planing your trip to Latvian coastal town of Pāvilosta don't forget to plan a trip to Pāvilosta piers, grab your camera and make some stunning sunset photography here. I first visited the piers of Pāvilosta and the town at the end of Summer 2015, and let me express my desire to acquire a small summer cottage here, thus I you plan to make some investments here - hurry up, a lot of foreigner have already bought real-estate at this…
Gujari Restaurant Museum in Mtskheta
Gujari restaurant - museum is another absolutely brilliant restaurant I have lately discovered. Located in the historical and picturesque town of Mtskheta, some 20 km from nation's capital Tbilisi. Discovered again - by accident - after just wandering around town of Mtksheta, After visiting Svetitskhoveli cathedral I decided it would be great to walk around Mtskheta and find some non-touristic places. And wuola - instead of tourist…
Georgian Yard (Kartuli Ezo) in Mtskheta
Restaurant "Georgian Yard" is located in the central part of Mtskheta - the ancient capital of Georgia, near the Cathedral Svetitskoveli in the territory of the central square of parking. This restaurant is famous among tourists and guests serving delicious traditional Georgian dishes, medium prices, interesting and pleasant environment. Georgian Yard in Mtskheta Restaurant "Georgian Yard" unites few companies - "Fast Food,"…
Saka Baptist Church
An interesting church I discovered driving Aizpute - Pāvilosta road, back at the Summer 2015 - Meet Saka Baptist church in the middle of nowhere. Thus the church was closed, I was amazed of how well the territory around Saka Baptist church was landscaped. Saka Baptist church There is an inscription plate above the main entrance doors at church saying this church was built in 1888, although there is written in strange (old?) Latvian -…
Awakening garden in Aizpute
Almost in the city center of Aizpute, on Atmodas street is located Awakening garden (Atmodas dārzs, in Latvian). It's created by group of people from cross-art organization 'Serde' ('Core') The second life is given to empty water bottles in which tomatoes, cabbage, strawberries, mint and many other popular plants are grown. Awakening garden in Aizpute I really love such sustainable development ideas, Less is…
Svetiskhoveli cathedral in Mtskheta
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is an another must have tourist attraction site not to miss when traveling to Georgia. Located in historical and picturesque town of Mtskheta some 20 km from nation's capital Tbilisi. It is the second largest church building in the country, after the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi (Sameba), and is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site along with other historical monuments of Mtskheta…
Plaza Hotel in Batumi
Are you looking for a budget friendly hotel in Batumi? I can highly recommend one - Plaza hotel, located next to the Batumi bay. Plaza Hotel is located close to Batumi Port and in very short distance from city center. We booked Plaza hotel using local Georgian coupon site - hotsale.ge and got a lovely room with balcony and access to the Olympic swimming pool for just 50 GEL per night (with breakfast included). We stayed here…
Meet the New Roof (Pictures Before and After)
Yesterday we told Goodbye's to our old roof by setting up a large bonfire. Today we are saying hi to the new roof. Although officially major roof works were done a few days before - today is the day when final images of new roofing appear. We still have some unfinished roof related works to do, but the final roof construction is here. To make a better understanding what's going out - see before and after. What we got (before) Moss…
How to Make Traditional Italian Pizza
An Italian pizza was the reason for our latest travels to Italy, it was at the start of November 2015, I was kneading dough for pizza, when my beloved told me - hey, we should visit Italy and try real Italian Pizza. So we did - we spent about a week in Italy, traveling a lot and trying real Italian cuisine. Speaking of Italian pizza in Italy, here is the craziest pizza topped with a lot of prosciutto I ever have tried - …
Vake Park in Tbilisi
Nestled in the Vake district of Tbilisi, Georgia, lies a historic recreational area known as Vake Park. Since its opening to the public in 1946, the park has undergone numerous transformations, becoming a popular destination for both ex-pats and locals. Visitors can enjoy various free and paid kids playgrounds, carousels, ice cream shops, upper-end restaurants, and cafes located near the park. Vake Park is home to significant landmarks,…