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

27 Jan 2019

Saint Peter and Paul Monastery Complex of Bolnisi

Saint Peter and Paul Monastery Complex of Bolnisi was built in 2012 and is located on Mount Elia close to the Bolnisi town in Georgia.First discovered and kind of visited in mid-December 2018, during…

26 Jan 2019

Mangaļsala Pier

The Mangalsala Dam or the Eastern Mole has been built between 1850 and 1861 and rumor has the Russian Empire's Tsar actively followed the developments (back in those days there were two tsars ruling…

20 Jan 2019

Mosque in Kvemo Bolnisi

There is not much information available online about Kvemo Bolnisi mosque in Georgia, except that the construction of the Mosque in Kvemo Bolnisi village started in 2005 and ended in 2007. The Mosque started functioning the same…

18 Jan 2019

Borjomi Likani Hotel, SPA and Health Centre

Luxury 5 star Hotel Borjomi Likani is located 177 km away from Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia) in the middle of the coniferous park in Borjomi city, famous of its naturally carbonated mineral water…

13 Jan 2019

Tsughrughasheni Church

Tsughrughasheni is a Georgian Orthodox church in the Bolnisi District, Georgia. It is situated approximately 2 kilometers from Bolnisi Sioni basilica, on the right bank of the Bolnisistsqali River.The church was built in 1212–1222 supposedly by King George IV Lasha of the Bagrationi Dynasty.Tsughrughasheni church…

11 Jan 2019

Hotel Baltvilla in Baltezers

Baltvilla is a 4-star hotel located some 15 km from the city center of Riga, on the shore of a lake with a private beach area and on the Via Baltica highway (E67).Baltvilla is located 4…

6 Jan 2019

Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral

Bolnisi Sioni Cathedral is a Georgian Orthodox basilica in the Bolnisi village of Bolnisi District, Georgia. The cathedral was built in 478–493. It is the oldest extant church building in Georgia. Bishop David was the overseeing church leader for the construction of…

30 Dec 2018

The Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia

The Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia is located in Pardaugava (Kandavas 2), just a 10-minute ride from the central part of Riga. The garden was founded in 1922.Over 15ha visitors can explore hothouses and…

26 Dec 2018

Weekend Trip To Kiev, Ukraine

Weekend trip to Kyiv, Ukraine is a short recap of my 32 birthday celebrations back in 2017. In short, we booked a central hotel in the city center, used local taxi's a lot, traveled…

25 Dec 2018

Puzata Hata, Khreschatyk Street, Kyiv, Ukraine

Puzata Hata is a popular (and probably the largest) chain in Kiev - it serves traditional Ukrainian cuisine for a budget price.Puzata Hata was one of our favorite Kiev restaurant chains we visited during our latest trip…

16 Dec 2018

Tutarchela Megrelian Restaurant in Tbilisi

Restaurant Tutarchela is located on Archil Mishveladze street 76, Tbilisi, just next to the Vake Park. I was a bit surprised to learn that here is served Megrelian cuisine, and should admit that Megrelian cuisine is as great as…

12 Dec 2018

Hotel Kvareli Eden Review

Kvareli Eden Hotel is located in a remote place some 1 or 2 km from the Kvarteli town center, Georgia.Kvareli Eden features an indoor swimming pool and a wine therapy spa center. Free Wi-Fi and free private…

9 Dec 2018

Roshen Candy Store in Kiev (Khotynska Street)

Roshen Confectionery Corporation is a Ukrainian confectionery manufacturing group.The leading manufacturer of confectionery products in the country, it operates facilities in the Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Vinnytsia and Kremenchuk, as well as in Budapest, Hungary and Klaipėda, Lithuania. The name of the company was derived from the last…

11 Nov 2018

Trinity Monastery of St. Jonas in Kyiv

The Trinity Monastery of St. Jonas is a Ukrainian Orthodox monastery in the Kievan neighborhood of Zverinets, a short distance from the medieval Vydubychi Monastery.We discovered this monastery back in 2017 when visited Hryshko National Botanical GardenTrinity Monastery of St. JonasIt was Jonas,…

8 Nov 2018

Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kiev

Turns out there are at least two botanical gardens in Kiev. In today's article, I will write and provide photographs from Hryshko National Botanical Garden taken back in Summer 2017.Apparently, we got here by a…

7 Nov 2018

Shio-Mgvime monastery

The Shio-Mgvime monastery is a medieval monastic complex in Georgia, near the town of Mtskheta. It is located in a narrow limestone canyon on the northern bank of the Kura River, some 30 km from Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital.It took me more…

6 Nov 2018

Hotel Gino Wellness Mtskheta Review

There are at least two Gino Wellness hotels in Georgia (probably more), one is located in the Rabati Fortress in the town of Akhaltsikhe and the other one is located really close to Tbilisi, in Mtskheta.…

30 Oct 2018

Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport will be the main international airport serving Istanbul. It is based in the Arnavutköy district on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey. The opening ceremony took place on 29 October 2018, scheduled so as to coincide with the 95th anniversary of…

18 Oct 2018

Funicular Restaurant Complex

High above Tbilisi you will find the most stylish centre for food and drink in the city: the Funicular Restaurant Complex.Without doubt, the Funicular Complex is one of the most important places in Tbilisi,…

13 Oct 2018

Mtatsminda Park in Tbilisi

Mtatsminda Park is an amusement facility located atop on Mount Mtatsminda on a 770-meter height overlooking the Georgian capital Tbilisi. It is the highest point in Tbilisi. Located on more than 100 hectares. Park has…