Red Fedora Diary • All Things Travel Blog

11/03/2024

Today's is a Girl with a Teddy Bear by El Bocho, a muralist from Berlin whose signature is to paint such female characters with multicolored hair. He did this piece on a 13-meter-high wall within the Tbilisi MURAL Fest 2019.

More Tbilisi murals: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/street-art-in-tbilisi/

08/03/2024

A few add-ons to my Georgian restaurants guide for today's .

Chaduna • ჩადუნა's Chizhi Bizkhi (a local version of Shakshouka) is one of Georgia's few breakfast meals

Restaurant Ethnographer • ეთნოგრაფი for a traditional dance show and delicious food

რაჭული სახლი "ღები" for cheap eats in Tbilisi

Funicular • ფუნიკულიორი for fancy dining with a panoramic view of Tbilisi offering modernized Georgian cuisine.

Puri Guliani for various Khachapuri, some of the best in town.

Looking for where to eat in Tbilisi? Check out local's guide to some of the best restaurants in Tbilisi for contemporary & traditional Georgian food

07/03/2024

Spring is the best time to visit the Rainbow Mountains close to Tbilisi. Read the detailed guide and how to get there.

This detailed post of Mravaltskaro Rainbow Mountains in Georgia provides all the detailed information on how to visit it as a day trip from Tbilisi.

06/03/2024

‼️ Save the date ‼

Georgia's pagan spring fertility festival, Berikaoba, is on March 17 this year in Didi Chailuri, a bit over an hour drive from Tbilisi. Read the detailed guide of what it is and how to get to the village.

Berikaoba is Georgia's pagan spring fertility festival that only a few villages celebrate today. This post explains everything you need to know to attend.

05/03/2024

My favorite house in Tbilisi for today's is David Sarajishvili's mansion in Sololaki.

After studying cognac production in France, he brought the brandy-making technique to the Caucasus and opened the first factory in the region. We still produce brandy under his surname.

He loved Georgian literature and was friends with many local poets and writers; therefore, when he died, he devoted this building to the writers of Georgia. Today, it incorporates a museum showcasing his life, another room dedicated to those writers repressed during the Soviet era, and a hotel.

There are various digital info boards telling the story of the building and Sarajishvili himself. The room, allegedly Sarajishvili's bedroom, has a very ornate Oriental-style ceiling. It shows his memorabilia, his wife's beautiful dress, a picture of when she wore it, and a porcelain china with his initials, to name a few.

Once there, make sure you go into the courtyard and pay attention to the terrace floor mosaic decoration, which was custom-made for him by Villeroy & Bosch company. And don't miss the bathroom on the ground floor, it has one of the most beautiful sinks I've ever seen!

More about Tbilisi museums here: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/museums-in-tbilisi/

04/03/2024

To celebrate International Women's Day this week, today's honors Nona Gaprindashvili, a famous Georgian female chess player or the real Queens Gambit if you've seen the top-rated Netflix mini-series.

Nona was the first female ever awarded the FIDE title Grandmaster back in 1978 and has also won the women's world chess championship five times.

More murals in Tbilisi: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/street-art-in-tbilisi/

01/03/2024

Happy 1st day of Spring 🌺🌸🌼

Soon, Tbilisi will be covered in spring flowers. 😊

29/02/2024

⚠️ A petition to re-run historic Borjomi-Bakuriani Kukushka ⚠️

The train stopped running in 2020 due to COVID-19 and was never restarted. It is one of the most scenic train rides you can take in winter in Georgia, and the petition is short on 2503 votes. If you want to see it run again, please sign it.

https://bit.ly/trainBakuriani

Thanks!

P.S. The website is in Georgian, but you'll find a screenshot of where to sign it in the comments.

28/02/2024

As spring is just a day away, why not embrace the new season with springtime activities you can enjoy in Tbilisi?

Coming to Tbilisi in Spring? This detailed guide covers all the fun activities you can do in spring in Tbilisi, what to pack, events in Tbilisi to attend, etc.

27/02/2024

A so-called "Revenue House", directly translated from Georgia is equivalent to the commercial apartment building for today's .

Constructed in 1905, the house belonged to Prince Emir Kazim Mirza from Persia's Qajar Dynasty born in the city of Shusha (current Azerbaijan, back then Russian Empire). He served as a Russian Imperial Army Major General and participated in several important wars.

After the end of his military career, he supported the opening of many elementary schools in Tbilisi and other regions. In 1919, he was appointed commandant of G***a and served in the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. A year later, in 1920, he was killed by the Bolsheviks as the initiator of the anti-Bolshevik uprising.

Location: Vera neighborhood, Erekle Tatishvili 12.

26/02/2024

Today's is about one more of my favorite artists - Dante Mdante - and his Polar bear in the Chughureti neighborhood.

Dante usually tackles animal protection and environmental issues in his murals. This was done within the Niko • ნიკო 2019.

More Tbilisi murals: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/street-art-in-tbilisi/

23/02/2024

The famous Oasis Club cafe for this week's , is a go-to stop for lunch or dinner if you are visiting the Davit Gareji monastery complex, Rainbow Mountains, or any other destination nearby.

Opened more than ten years ago by a Polish family, Oasis Club offers a cafe and overnight accommodation.

Their seasonal menu features appetizers, main courses, and desserts. No matter the time of your visit, you'll have a pretty tasty meal prepared from locally sourced ingredients.

They bring you freshly baked tone bread with Svanetian salt and Kakhetian sunflower oil as an appetizer before you wait for your meal.

I absolutely love their long-cooked goat with mashed potatoes and fried Sulguni cheese with potato chips.

And if you want to support locals, they also sell a few local products, such as honey, Georgian tea, and Kakhetian sunflower oil.

21/02/2024

If you are planning a trip to Madrid this year, I have a detailed packing guide for you 🧳🎒

Don't know what to wear in Madrid? Check out this quick packing list for Madrid with helpful and essential travel tips and seasonal overview.

19/02/2024

Today's is one of the most powerful and meaningful street arts in Tbilisi

Done in 2022, right after the Russian-Ukraine war, the team at Tbilisi MURAL Fest found an excellent wall for this Ukrainian artist, Sasha Korban, to showcase his work - in front of the Russian Embassy in Tbilisi!

The mural depicts a Ukrainian woman adorned in a traditional embroidered shirt, gracefully clutching a magnificent bouquet of wildflowers intertwined with wheat.

Her face oozes pride and radiance as she gazes confidently forward, subtly smiling in the face of challenges and fears.

"It symbolizes our strength, inner energy, freedom, and will. Despite the terrible and cruel war, we, as a nation, will endure, become even stronger, and we will live!" he explains.

More Tbilisi murals: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/street-art-in-tbilisi/

14/02/2024

I lived in Prague for 4 years, and while I don't have much content for the city, one thing I perfected during these years was to craft the ideal self-guided walking tour to see the most iconic landmarks in a day.

This self-guided Prague walking tour with map enables you to see important landmarks. Ideal as a one day in Prague itinerary to enjoy other Prague activities

12/02/2024

I absolutely love this week's of Tbilisi by Italian muralist Matteo Capobianco

This is his personal portrait of Tbilisi, where he presented various symbolic places of the city intervened with each other in his characteristic style that resembles medieval book illustrations.

More murals in Tbilisi: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/street-art-in-tbilisi/

09/02/2024

This is all about a MICHELIN Guide restaurant Zen On in Poznan, Poland.

Styled on a Japanese izakaya (an informal bar type in Japan that's a casual place for after-work drinking; think of a pub or a Spanish tapas bar), Zen On is quite affordable, but it also gets very busy, and we had to wait around 20 minutes without a reservation to get a table early in the evening.

The main meal here is ramen, but the menu also offers dim sum, bao buns, and freshly made udon noodle meals, to name a few. The flavors are impeccable and transport you to Japan or South and East Asian countries. The portions are big, too, so we overordered and took some leftovers home.

Read my Poznan guide here: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/things-to-do-in-poznan-poland/

08/02/2024

It's Tłusty Czwartek or Fat Thursday today in Poland. It's a local holiday tradition before Easter, on the last Thursday before Lent. And it's similar to Pancake Day.

Traditionally, Fat Thursday is a day to enjoy cakes and sweets before the forty days of fasting observed among Catholics until Easter Day. Therefore, it moves according to Easter dates.

The most popular Polish food for Fat Thursday is Polish doughnuts, or pazcki, and faworki, or angel wings.

07/02/2024

This underrated city in Poland has it all - centuries-old mining history with old shafts and factories turned into galleries and museums, seperate neighborhoods for mine workers, Soviet and Art-Nouveau architecture, and quirky little statues, to name a few. Welcome to Katowice!

My detailed city guide: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/things-to-do-in-katowice/

06/02/2024

A bit of Chughureti dump for

05/02/2024

Today's honors the work of a friend of mine, Saxon Bosworth and Nature Conservation Georgia, and their work in preserving Velvet Scoter (velvet duck) in Samtskhe-Javakheti's Tabatskuri Lake.

The ducks typically nestled in Eastern Turkey, but a few years ago, they were noticed at Tabatskhuri Lake.

Saxon, a film director, spent a few months in Tabatskuri documenting researchers working on preserving Velvet Scoter and released a film you can watch on YouTube. The documentary not only talks about Velvet Scoter but also gives an in-depth look into the area and locals' lives.

Movie on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT_snH6j63I

Samtskhe-Javakheti Regional Guide: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/visit-samtskhe-javakheti-georgia/

03/02/2024

For today's , I dug into my archives to bring you the now-gone and so-called "Tbilisi Batman" bas-relief of Industrial-Pedagogical Technical Technicum (college).

Constructed in 1978 by architect Nikoloz Lasareishvili, the Technicum had a central block, an auditorium (bas-relief was adorning this building), industrial workshops, and a student dormitory. Since the collapse of the USSR, most of the buildings are still occupied by IDPs.

As you can see from the photo, I was also late in documenting the complete picture of "Batman," but I am glad at least I have half of it! The bas-relief was the work of the famous Zurab Tsereteli.

02/02/2024

POV: When you unintentionally match the tableware and the dessert at ბლამანჟე • Blamanje 😅

Read my breafkast guide: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/breakfast-in-tbilisi/

01/02/2024

What's your favorite bar in Tbilisi?

Pictured: Chacha Spritz from Chacha Time - Tbilisi • ჭაჭის დრო - თბილისი

Here are a few of my favorites: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/bars-in-tbilisi-georgia/

31/01/2024

What to pack for Krakow, Poland. My monthly overview for both men and women.

Traveling to Krakow and don't know what pack? This detailed guide on what to wear in Krakow provides information on what to pack for Krakow for each month.

30/01/2024

The most iconic wooden staircase of Chughureti for today's 😊

29/01/2024

Flying Painter by Dilk and Feros mural for this week's .

Petre Otskheli was a prominent Georgian costume designer of the early 20th century. He was a pioneer of avant-garde and constructivist art movements in Georgia and is particularly renowned for his innovative approach to art and his visionary ideas.

One of his most famous creations is the Flying Painter sketch which has become extremely popular and an iconic representation of his artistic vision.

More Tbilisi murals: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/street-art-in-tbilisi/

27/01/2024

My favorite Alien abduction shot for this 🤪👽

This used to be a water reservoir during the Soviet times

26/01/2024

Khash Khash is the new addition to my best Khinkali in Tbilisi post. To know why read the article: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/best-khinkali-in-tbilisi/

25/01/2024

This past long weekend, I spent in Telavi, the capital of the Kakheti region, to revisit my favorite places and discover new ones. Here's the summary of what I did, but you can find my Telavi city guide at the end of the post:

1. Ate a delicious lunch at Communal Hotels' Doli restaurant. Tried potatoes fried on coal (my childhood favorite after having a bonfire in the village), buffalo patties, black bean hummus, Kakhetian tomato salad, and Dolma in vine leaves.

2. Found a clock dial decoration on one of the heritage homes dating to the 1900s.

3. Enjoyed clear sky over the snow-topped Caucasus mountains from every possible viewpoint.

4. Bought handmade chocolate from Dakishvili Family Vineyards shop in the center.

5. Drank delicious draft Kikhvi at wine bar and restaurant.

6. Revisitied (probably a dozen times) Prince Aleksandre Chavchavadze House Museum in Tsinandali, saw the oldest winery in Georgia for the first time (storing a bottle of Saperavi from 1841), and had a light lunch at Tsinandali Estate, A Radisson Collection Hotel

7. Tried biodynamic wine for the first time at Ruispiri Biodynamic Winery (რუისპირის ბიოდინამიური მეურნეობა).

8. Spent every evening playing board games at Tavsatekhi / თავსატეხი

Read more detailed Telavi City Guide: https://www.redfedoradiary.com/what-to-do-in-telavi/