Travel

Independent travel notes from roads, cities and everyday logistics across the places I visit, with an eye for practical detail and local context.

Travel archive

8 Apr 2019

Kobi Gudauri Cable Car Station

Kobi Gudari cable car has been opened for public since January 2019.  I first discovered in it early April 2019, while having a road trip Tbilisi - Gudauri - Kazbegi (Stepatsminda).Not far from the cable car…

7 Apr 2019

Mount Arejvani

Mount Arjevani is located in the central part of Georgia, some 70 km west of the Tbilisi. The top of Mount Arjevani is 2,757 meters above sea level or 779 meters above the surrounding terrain. The width at the…

1 Apr 2019

Tbilisi for kids (17 Places to Visit)

Shopping, eating ice cream, spending time outdoors or at cool amusement parks. Tbilisi has a lot to offer for both grownups and their offsprings. Keep reading to find more about 17 kid-friendly places in Tbilisi…

31 Mar 2019

Asureti / Elisabethtal

Asureti is an interesting village situated on the road Koda - Tetriskaro, some 45 km from Tbilisi in Georgia. Discovered by accident, while doing (trying to do) a trip to Ninotsminda (in the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti)  in January 2019.I had heard…

30 Mar 2019

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…

23 Mar 2019

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…

17 Mar 2019

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…

16 Mar 2019

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…

12 Mar 2019

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,…

10 Mar 2019

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…

9 Mar 2019

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…

2 Mar 2019

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…

24 Feb 2019

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…

23 Feb 2019

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…

12 Feb 2019

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…

9 Feb 2019

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…

3 Feb 2019

Day trip to Bolnisi and nearby vicinity

Day trips to Bolnisi and region of Kvemo Kartli are quite possible and easy done from Tbilisi.  In the mid-December, we bought an SUV VW Touareg car and it was just the right time to put…

2 Feb 2019

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"…