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Failed attempt to complete Tskneti - Turtle lake hiking route
About a year ago I discovered very cool hiking route in Tbilisi, heading from Turtle lake to Tskneti town. The total distance for this route was about 7 km and it offered very spectacular landscape views. I have completed this route several times - last time together with my dad in May, 2015. At the start of February I decided to offer this route as a possible photo / hike route for Georgia Expat Photographer club members,…
Cafe Laboratory Review in Tbilisi
Cafe Laboratory is located at the top floor at the high end shopping and business center Merani on Rustaveli avenue, Tbilisi. I was doing some photography in Vere neighborhood, when I received a call and invitation from my beloved one, she insisted we should meet at this place, enjoy some cup of tea/coffee, also she knew I'm with camera so most probably something good for my Tbilisi restaurant review series might happen So I…
Restaurant Greppia in Verona
It was a very cold, grey and rainy day in Verona, when on the way finding Juliet's Balcony I realized it would be great to find some local restaurant, order some meal and what's important to warm up. I noticed a few signboards with direction arrows located around streets of Verona, when I decided to take the bait and actually followed those arrows. (A smart marketing from Greppia restaurant) Greppia restaurant in Verona We were not the only…
Lurji (Blue) Monastery
The Lurji Monastery also known as "Blue Monastery", is a 12th-century Georgian Orthodox church built in the name of Saint Andrew in the Vere neighborhood of Tbilisi, Georgia. The popular historical name lurji ("blue") is derived from its roof, adorned with glazed blue tile. I first discovered this church by accident after went photographing another church (Russian Orthodox Church of St. John the…
Russian Orthodox Church of St. John the Theologian in Tbilisi
Church of St. John the Theologian (Russian: Церковь Иоанна Богослова) is located in Vere neighborhood, Tbilisi. Tis was already second Russian Orthodox church I have visited in Tbilisi. Read more about Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Tbilisi, and I know for sure there is another Russian church (at least in Tbilisi). I didn't enter inside this church, just tried to make some panorama photos here. Located at the end of…
Cafe Cinema in Tbilisi
Cafe Cinema is sharing one building with Carrefour store on the Kolhoznaya square (I know there is a new name for this square, but I never can remember the name). I have been going shopping for groceries time by time to this Carrefour store (although I prefer either Tbilisi Mall or recently opened East Point - both located in suburbs of Tbilisi), and just recently I discovered that there is not only Carrefour located in this building,…
Giorgi Leonidze Park (Former Alexander Garden)
Ok, I just learnt this place is renamed after Georgian poet Giorgi Leonidze, although I most often call this park - Alexander Garden. Parks of April 9 and Giorgi Leonidze (former Alexander Park) were cultivated in 1859 by the project of the architect O. Simenson. In 1865 the garden got its final form. It covered about 36.000 m2 areas. The garden was named in honour of the Emperor Alexander I. In the 30-eth of the XX…
Carpe Diem Café in San Bonifacio
I have never kept in secret my love for the local restaurants and cafes where tourists barely step their foot in. We did find a few great local Italian restaurants during a week long trip in Italy and when we arrived to San Bonifacio (checked in at our hotel, see Best Western Soave Hotel, San Bonifacio ) we decided to explore our options and find some great restaurant nearby. It was alright late night on January 1st - and after…
Best Western Soave Hotel, San Bonifacio
We booked this Best Western franchise hotel in San Bonifacio, Italy through secret deals on Hotwire, on January 1st, 2016, we chose this hotel because of it's close location to Verona and affordable price (about $60). I love using Hotwire, in most cases there are great value deals, but it was not like this time. We got a small, bad equipped room from Hotel Soave. No, I'm not complaining, our stay was pretty OK. But it was far from the…
Barbarestan - Wine Shop and Restaurant in Tbilisi
Vintage lovers and hipsters - rejoice, I just discovered another "fashionable" not to miss place in Tbilisi - Barbarestan - wine shop and restaurant on Aghanashebeli avenue. Well this place actually didn't pop up on my radar by accident - I have heard of this place before, mostly positive reviews, but the real reasons I wanted to visit this place, on a lovely Saturday morning we couldn't decide where should we go today - so after this epic…
Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Tbilisi
Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church is located in the neighborhood of Marjanishivli in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. Commonly referred to just as "Russian Church". Along with the church of St. Vladimir in the neighborhood of Vera it is one of two churches in Tbilisi, where the service is performed entirely in Church Slavonic language. Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Church in Tbilisi Originally built in 1864 by the donations of…
Shopping in Tallinn: Ülemiste Mall
Ulemiste shopping mall is the biggest in Estonia, it features more than 210 stores and has a parking lot capable of handling 1300 cars. I don't remember actually why we chose exactly Ulemiste as our shopping destination in Tallinn, most probably somebody recommended it because of Ulemiste being the largest one. We get here by using public bus leaving somewhere from the city center (Don't remember anymore bus number, but ticket…
China Inn Restaurant in Tallinn
Are you looking for a Chinese restaurant in Estonian capital city of Tallinn? China Inn restaurant located in Tallinn's Old Town might be the right answer. First discovered this venue back in Summer of 2015, during a two day trip to Tallinn. Chinese food is among my favorite food of the World - here at China Inn in Tallinn you can get the same you would get in any other regular Chinese restaurant across the Globe. That's one of the reason…
Estonian War of Independence Victory Column
The War of Independence Victory Column is located in Freedom Square, Tallinn,Estonia. It was opened on 23 June 2009 as a memorial for those who fell during the Estonian War of Independence, through which the people of Estonia will be able to commemorate all those who had fought for freedom and independence. The pillar is 23.5 m high and consists of 143 glass plates. The memorial incorporates the Cross of…
Saint Ekvtime Takaishvili Church in Tbilisi
There is a small church located on Baku street 1, Tbilisi (on the right side from David Aghanashebeli avenue, first cross-street before Tamar Mephe avenue). I have wondered about this church for the couple of the last 3 years, while been living in this neighborhood. It was day 131/365 from my photo project, when I decided I'll go and photograph exactly this church and probably will learn more about it. So I went... Saint Ekvtime…
Georgian Tavern Tbilisi in Tallinn
Georgian cuisine lovers rejoice - I have just found another restaurant of Georgian food, this time in Estonian Capital city Tallinn. Discovered by accident during wanderings around Tallinn's Old Town, tried once back in Summer 2015. Shortly I left St Michael's Swedish Church I noticed my darling was sitting on the stairs and finger pointed above her head - I smiled - something so familiar, something close. Georgia Tavern…
St Michael's Swedish Church in Tallinn
St Michael's Church or St Michael's Swedish Church is a Lutheran church used by the Swedish congregation in the old town district of Tallinn, Estonia. We were off in the streets of Old Tallinn wandering what should we see, and I noticed this church and decided to go inside to adjust my church interior photography skills, at this point I didn't yet realized it is a Swedish church nor I had a clue what…
Castle Carrarese of Este
It was January 1st, 2016 when we visited Castle Carrarese of Este, during our drive from Venice to Modena. It was our second stop after we enjoyed a cup of cappuccino at lovely Candiana town. Read more: Bar Rialto in Candiana) The castle overlooking the town of Este consists of large master towers and massive walls, about a kilometre long, which embraces the extreme southern edge of the Euganean Hills. This mighty monument bears…
St. Nicholas' Church, Tallinn
St. Nicholas' Church is a medieval former church in Tallinn, Estonia. It was dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron of the fishermen and sailors. Originally built in the 13th century, it was partially destroyed in Soviet Bombing of Tallinn in World War II. It has since been restored and today houses a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia, focusing mainly on ecclesiastical art from the Middle Ages onward. The former…
Green area in Harju street, Tallinn
On the second day's morning, during our short two day trip to Tallinn, we left our hotel and went out to explore city. Soon we were in area which featured parks, gardens and architectural pearls - as I leant latter this place has a special name - Green area in Harju street. It's a pretty lively street in Tallinn, featuring some shops, bookstores and cafeterias. Medieval tower in Tallinn Now I can only wonder what is the…
Georgian National Opera Theater
The Georgian National Opera and Ballet Theater of Tbilisi is an opera house situated on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi,Georgia. Founded in 1851, Tbilisi Opera is the main opera house of Georgia and one of the oldest such establishments in eastern Europe. Recently gone through 6 years long renovation works, Georgian National Opera and Ballet theater has been opened for public on January 30, 2016…
Prospero's Books & Coffeehouse in Tbilisi
Those of you looking for a literature in English or perhaps to enjoy a cup of latte, while in Tbilisi there is a great place where to have both - meet Prospero's Books located on Rustaveli avenue. At Prospero`s Books & Caliban`s Coffeehouse you will be delighted to find : English and other language general books, English Language Teaching Books and Used books that are exchanged for an in-store credit At…
Restaurant 'Three crowns' in Tallinn
The restaurant “Three crowns” is located in the heart of Old Town, in the center of street Vene 8. Cheerfully opens the door’s for all people who love well-prepared cuisine, there is combined Estonian and European cuisine with interesting wine list of Old Town and New world. Although hotel we stayed during our short stay in Tallinn also featured a restaurant it ain't no fun eat at you hotel if you can go and eat at neighboring hotels…
Mad Murphy's Irish Pub in Tallinn
Mad Murphy's Irish Pub is located in Tallinn very close to city's town square on Mundi street 2. If you are up to for a Nightlife in Tallinn, make sure you visit this pub, I visited this pub back in Summer of 2015, during our short two days trip to celebrate my thirty birthday, shortly we were checked in at our hotel (Read my review here: St. Olav Hotel in Tallinn) we decided to explore our lively neighborhood, and it was a very lively. It…