Category Pages For: LIVING Ideas

Special events and fun things to do

Vardzia - 25 — SEPTEMBER 2019: OVERVIEW: We have just spent 3 nights in Gyumri, Armenia. We now go to our first stop in Georgia: Akhaltsikhe. PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Georgia is the Lari (or the ‘GEL’). I will refer to them as G$s. At the time of writing: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 G$2.96 G$3.28 G$3.69 Over time, these exchange rates will change. Please check the current rates. GETTING THERE: Minibuses are the most common form of transport in this part of the World. The problem with these minibuses is that most don’t have any luggage space. If you have a big backpack or […]

Akhaltsikhe – Georgia – Living Ideas

Goris - Central Square — SEPTEMBER 2019: OVERVIEW: We have just spent 6 nights in the Health Spa town of Jermuk. Being a popular Health Spa town, Jermuk is relatively expensive for Armenia. It is time for us to try out a less touristic, more remote town: Goris. The internet says that Goris is one of the ‘top 10 nicest towns in Armenia’ … so, let’s have a look … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Armenia is the Dram (or the ‘AMD’). I will refer to them as A$s. At the time of writing: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 A$475 A$530 A$585 Over time, these exchange rates will […]

Goris – Armenia – Living Ideas

Jermuk - Deserted Building - 3 — SEPTEMBER 2019: OVERVIEW: We have just spent a week on a road trip in Transylvania, Romania. We ended up in Bucharest. It is time for us to move on to an Armenian Health Spa Resort … PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Armenia is the Dram (or the ‘AMD’). I will refer to them as A$s. At the time of writing: US$1 EU€1 GB£1 A$475 A$520 A$570 Over time, these exchange rates will change. Please check the current rates. GETTING THERE: There are direct flights from Romania to Armenia. TAROM FLIGHT: I booked a one-way ticket from Bucharest to Yerevan on […]

Jermuk – Armenia – Health Spa

Plovdiv - Old Town Signs — JULY 2019: OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Bulgaria is the Lev (I will refer to them as B$s). At the time of writing, US$1 = B$1.74. We have just spent 1 week in Sunny Beach on the Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria. We had a small ‘taste’ of Bulgarian history when we visited Nesebar which is located on the southern tip of Sunny Beach. We are, now, in Plovdiv … the 6th oldest continually inhabited city in the World … THE PLOVDIV CITY CARD: You can visit the official website. I purchased a 3 Day Card. Online, the price […]

Plovdiv – Bulgaria – City Card

Gallipoli - Arrival — JUNE 2019: OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (I will refer to them as T$s). At the time of writing, US$1 = T$5.82. We are making our way slowly up the Mediterranean (Turquoise) Coast from Antalya to Istanbul. Our last stop was Canakkale: Finally, we go east to Istanbul (via Lapseki and Bandirma) … LAPSEKI: GETTING THERE: I believe that the local bus from Canakkale to Lapseki leaves from the Minibus Terminal located at the junction of Ataturk Cd and the riverside. I have seen it driving along the D200. Ooops! At 10:40am I […]

Canakkale to Istanbul – Turkey – (an unnecessary) Journey

Road Trip Map — MAY 2019: Why not read our Retirement Reviews. OVERVIEW: PLEASE NOTE: The currency in Turkey is the New Turkish Lira (I will refer to them as T$s). At the time of writing, US$1 = T$6. My brother (Paul) and I wanted to see some of Turkey’s most famous historical sites. My sister (Diane) and brother-in-law (Jeff) decided to join us half way through the trip to relax in a villa with a swimming pool. My brother (Paul) and I flew from London Stansted (England) to Izmir (Turkey) to do a 4 night Historical Sites Road Trip from Izmir to Kalkan […]

Izmir to Kalkan – Turkey – Historical Road Trip