Piece of Life
Christmas Eve at Palolem Beach: Fire Shows, Old Monk
While we just celebrated Orthodox Christmas in Georgia, I can’t help but delve into the memories of our Western Christmas last year (2024), spent on the serene shores of Palolem Beach in Goa, India. That evening was magical in every way, filled with vibrant energy, beautiful scenery, and a new discovery that made the night unforgettable.Palolem Beach is a place that transforms as the day turns into night. By day, it’s a tranquil haven lined with…
A Family Guide to Borjomi: Hiking Trails and Sulfur Bath Tips
As summer came to a close, we continued our family's tradition of visiting Borjomi. This year marked yet another memorable trip at the end of August 2024, reaffirming our love for this beautiful Georgian town. Visiting Borjomi at least twice a year has become a cherished routine, a piece of life that we look forward to, blending relaxation, adventure, and the joy of family time.This time, we found a unique little apartment, perched on top of a…
Discover the Charms of Kuldīga: Venta Rapid, Flying Fish, and Old Brick Bridge
Tucked away in the picturesque town of Kuldīga, Latvia, lies a hidden gem that combines natural beauty with historical charm: the Venta Rapid and Old Brick Bridge. Set amidst the tranquil surroundings of the Venta River, this enchanting destination offers visitors a glimpse into Latvia's rich cultural heritage and stunning natural landscapes.At the heart of the experience is the Venta Rapid, one of Europe's widest waterfalls and a spectacle to…
Jūrkalne Seashore Bluffs: Nature's Masterpiece on Latvia's Western Coast
Perched dramatically on the western coast of Latvia, the Jūrkalne Seashore Bluffs stand as a breathtaking natural wonder, captivating visitors with their rugged beauty and commanding views of the Baltic Sea. Carved over millennia by the relentless forces of wind and water, these majestic cliffs offer a glimpse into the geological history of the region while providing a tranquil escape for nature enthusiasts and adventurers alike.I keep returning…
Postcards from Ushguli
Ushguli is a community of five villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Svaneti, Georgia. Ushguli is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. Compared to somewhat more developed towns like Mestia, Ushguli is not in an accessible location, which has preserved many of the villages' medieval characteristics, including unique defensive tower houses called Svan towers. Because of their preservation and traditional…
Tbilisi's Revitalized Beauty: Aghmashenebeli Avenue and Dry Bridge
It was one of the few weekends, at the start of September 2023, when we decided to stay in Tbilisi, instead of traveling around Georgia, and spend quality time in the city. We agreed to walk by foot to Aghmashenebeli Avenue, and from there visit Dry Bridge and Orbeliani Square, and depending on the mood return home or keep exploring the city. I remember this area before the great restoration works started, and I love returning here time after…
Summer Solstice 2023
In case you wondered how we celebrated Summer's Solstice 2023 - we celebrated it at our rural country house some 25 km from Liepåja in Latvia. Having a lot of fun. I invited my mom to join us for the little party. Just four of us. We bought this little Dacha last year for just EUR 5,000 and now we have a place where to come and celebrate at least Līgo once in a year. I had to spend a good evening trimming grass tonight Having a property puts…
Easter Picnic at Birtvisi Canyon
On Sunday, April 9, Easter 2023 was celebrated, and this year we decided to spend it in Tbilisi and Birtvisi canyon. Our day started early in the morning as we prepared for the festivities by experimenting with a new dough and making a Jewish-style pie with eggs (inspired by a similar dish we had tried in Israel), coloring eggs, and baking cinnamon rolls. To make the day even more special, we invited our friends - a Greek-Latvian family - to…
Postcards from Yerevan (Winter)
Back in February 2023, we made a short, but very remarkable business trip to Armenia and of course it's capital Yerevan. In today's Piece of Life series - a day from Winter in the city of Yerevan. Many years ago I featured Postcards from Yerevan (Spring) Republic Square in Yerevan definitely is the city's one of main landmarks and popular tourist spots. I first discovered it back at the start of January 2014, and have returned to Yerevan city…
Beyond Yerevan: Why Vanadzor Should Be on Your Armenia Itinerary
Vanadzor, also known as Kirovakan during the Soviet era, is the third-largest city in Armenia. Located in the northern part of the country, Vanadzor serves as the administrative center of the Lori Province. The city is situated on the banks of the Pambak River and is surrounded by the picturesque mountains of the Lesser Caucasus. I made a quick stop and made a few drone photos here in Mid February 2023, after returning from Yerevan to Tbilisi.…
Tbilisi by Night
Tbilisi by night is very beautiful. Time after time I love to take out my DLSR camera and tripod to experiment with nighttime photography - long exposures, high ISO. Nighttime photography can be very creative. In today's Piece of Live series - Tbilisi by night from the balcony of our apartment. We are lucky enough living in a place which offers us some of the best views towards the old town of Tbilisi During the day we went there swimming. It…
Evening on the Vilgāle Lake
It was already past 8 PM, I was just finished tiling the bathroom at our Vilgāle apartment when my fiancee and kiddo arrived to pick me up. My best part gave me the drone and said - it's a beautiful evening to fly a drone. I looked around and agreed. The Vilgāle lake was covered in mist, the Sun was setting. Beautiful. Look at the beautiful rooftop on the bottom left. Across the lake there is Vilgale village located where we own a Soviet…
One Day in Micini
Micini has a very special place in my heart - I spent a brief time, about two years here, back in the 90-ties, living with my grandmother. Back in the days - there was some life here - a farm with more than 100 cows, few families, and even a public bus twice a week connecting to Valka. My relatives from gradmother's side have been living here for a few centuries (at least) - and the scenery was much different here before WW2, when here lived my…
Pearl of Tbilisi - Gardenia Shevardnadze Flower Garden
Gardenia Shevardnadze is a lovely flower garden in Tbilisi, where you can buy seedlings for your yard, balcony, terrace, home, or office. The place is popular among photographers, tourists, gardeners, and enjoyers of life. After visiting this place so many times, while living in Georgia, I wouldn't hesitate to call this place a Pearl of Tbilisi and include it among the top 10 must-visit places in the Georgian capital. It was an early…
Batumi - city with inspiring Architecture
I love visiting Batumi once or twice per year, preferably in Spring / Summer season. Back in 2012, we even lived in Batumi for some 6 months. We were renting a small soviet time apartment in the city center (next to Radisson Batumi) for about $400/mo and enjoyed walking around the city wandering with many new and exciting buildings. What I always love about Batumi - is the never-ending and booming real estate with many great architectural…
Postcards from Pasanauri
Pasanauri is a small town in Georgia, situated in the Dusheti district, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region. We have been traveling this small town through zillions of times, mostly when heading to Gudauri or Kazbegi, but never had we made a stop here and explored more. It was in the mid-February 2022, we headed to Gudauri, but as the road was blocked and not willing to wait more we turned our car around and headed back to Tbilisi, but decided to make a…
Tskaltubo - Former Soviet Spa Resort
Tskaltubo is a spa resort town in west-central Georgia. The resort was especially popular in the Soviet era, attracting around 125,000 visitors a year. Bathhouse 9 features a frieze of Stalin, and visitors can see the private pool where he bathed on his visits. Just like Chiatura cable car town, Tskaltubo is very interesting to visit and see the brutalist and futuristic Soviet architecture. In today's Piece of Life series - Tskalubo - former…
Autumn in Laidi
Laidi is a village in Laidi parish, Kuldīga municipality, Latvia. The village is located some 28 km from the county center of Kuldiga and 167 km from Riga. One of the most interesting objects to see: Laidi manor - Built in the early 19th century by the local German nobility, it has housed the Laidi primary school since 1921. In today's Piece of Life series - Autumn in Laidi Beautiful scenary with colourful trees
A quick daytrip to Uplistsikhe Cave Town in Georgia
At the start of April 2021, after a 6-month absence, we finally returned back to Georgia. One of the things we wanted to do - as many quick day trips as possible. One of the first - day trip to Uplistsikhe Cave Town Uplistsikhe is an ancient rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia, located some 10 kilometers east of the town of Gori, Shida Kartli. Uplistsikhe cave town in Georgia As I was equipped with DJI Mavic air 2 drone, I decided not to…
Ice Fishing on Lielupe River
It has been already the second winter we are spending in Jūrmala, and there is one cool thing we have noticed while driving to Riga via Lielupe bridge (next to Rimi) - Ice Fishing on the Lielupe River Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice fishers may fish in the open or in heated enclosures, some with bunks and amenities. In today's Piece of…
Dubulti Beach Winter 2021
At the end of January 2021, we temporarily relocated back to Dubulti (Jūrmala). We are looking to stay here for the next two months and hopefully get back to Tbilisi by April 2021 In today's Piece of Life series - Dubulti beach in Winter Make sure to check out our previous article back from 2018 - Winter near The Baltic Sea (Dubulti beach, Jūrmala) Dubulti beach in Winter After a long time, I took again my old Canon DSLR and made a few…
Golden hour at Northern Forts / Liepāja
Northern forts of Liepāja are really cool military history tourism site - Built by Imperial Russia at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of 20th century to provide the protection of Liepāja’s naval base in case of enemy attack. It was at the start of November 2020, I was equiped with DJI Mavic Air 2 drone and wanted to make some cool drone footage. Decided to test with bracketing to post process in Adobe Lightroom later and make…
Cīrava manor from a birds flight during golden hour
Cīrava Palace is located in the village of Cīrava, Aizpute municipality, Latvia. The palace / manor t was built in 1752 as a hunting palace for the German Baltic baron family von Manteuffel-Szoeges. Cīrava manor in Latvia We love to come and visit Cīrava if we have a chance, so did happen last time at the start of November 2020, I was equipped with a DJI Mavic AIr 2 drone and wanted to make some awesome golden hour HDR photography…
Rabati Fortress complex from a drone flight
Rabati Castle is a medieval fortress built in the 9th century under the name "Lomisa Castle" in the city of Akhaltsikhe in southern Georgia, recently globally reconstructed. One of the main attractions of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region along with Vardzia caves We have been visiting Rabati occasionally here and then, so did happen at the end of September 2020, we were on a day trip to the Borjomi, when decided to come here, luckily I was equipped…