საქართველო (Sakartvelo)
Georgia is a country between Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. We have been visiting the country during 3,5 weeks this August 2011.
We have started our trip the capital Tbilisi (თბილისი), which is a city between old and modern.
At night the city is full of light and people walking around the city. All the buildings are lighted.
The atmosphere is very peaceful and this is so nice to walk around, look at the buildings, go to some cafes or restaurant.
And you can just walk, take the subway or a cab, there is no danger!
During the day you can visit the new and old Tbilisi.
This golden Statue has now replace the statue of Staline.
The old part of the city is full of these old houses with their balcony. Some of these houses are collapsing, but the atmosphere is so nice. Just walk around to see all different kind of balcony, small shops.
At the top of the mountain you will see the Mother Georgia: you are always welcome in Georgia (see the drink) but if you don't behave correctly the sword is ready to use! At the top of this mountain you can also see the all town of Tbilisi, sourrounded by these yellow mountains in the summer.
The beach of Kobuleti may be a stone beach, but there it is just so nice!!
The sea is very warn, and after you made your way through the stone, you can enjoy during hours!
On the beach there are some vendors for everything, but if you still want something else, you can just go in all the restaurants and bars around.
The best is to try the local speciality : khachapuri acharuli.
This is a bread in which you have the famous georgian cheese, some butter and one egg.
You just scramble the all thing and eat it with the bread.
This is just delicious.
In Georgia you have different kind of khachapuri, but this one is my favorite!
I didn't know but the legend from Jason and the golden flee is actually from Georgia.
The real story seems to be that in some mountains in Georgia there was gold. And they were using the she eps to collect the gold.
That's from this story that the legend from Jason is coming.
Around Georgia you can see references about this legend.
One of the biggest one is in Batumi, where you have a big statue.
Batumi is one of the most developed city in Georgia.
There they are building everything new. All the biggest hotels are there, and since the new airport has open, tourists are coming.
This is a nice city, but too "touristic" for me.
You have many of these old bridges. The young boy are jumping from the top to the water!!!
We are continuing our trip to Kutaisi.
This city is well known for the Gelati Monastery. They are renovating the buildings, that are very impressive. Inside you can see very old painting and also the tomb of David the builder.
As a girl do not forget to cover your hair.
In Georgia you will see a lot of this kind of cars: very old and very full.
But they are working!!!
In the summer they are often very full of watermelon, that you can find everywhere and for almost nothing.
One of the most important thing in Georgia, except the very nice people and beautiful churches, is the food.
This is another delicious and full of calorie dish: Mtsvadi
This is meat and potatoes, just so great!!!
You also have to try the cakes not so sweet just delightful!!
Kutaisi is a very old city, where you can see such kind of houses over the river. But even there they are building things new.
There is a brand new Tourist Information, and this city have very nice restaurant. In one of them there was live music (piano and violin).
Akhaltsikhe has not so much tourist, but one Hotel centrally located!
This city is starting point to visit Sappara monastery. Very nice one located in the mountain. The best way to visit it is to rent a taxi for the day.
And also this is the starting point to visit Vardzia, one of the cave city from Georgia. One of the thing that has impress me the most in Georgia.
We have visited many of them.
Vardzia is one of the biggest and most impressive cave city. Monks are still living there, but the can visit almost everything.
There are so many stairs and habitations and tunnels, I just loved it!
There there is no tourist, this is a bit wild to visit.
An old guy will give you the key in order to see the church at the top.
I highly recommend to take the key, the church is so great.
But be careful, this is not so easy to reach, and don't take the wrong way like us, it can make it a bit complicated!!!
This one was one of my favorite, especially for the old guy!
After that we moved to Gori, to visit one friend of us.
Gori is a small city not so far from Tbilisi. This is the birth place of Staline.
So we have visited his museum, very interesting, and also the city, that I like. Very nice, nice colds and plenty of restaurant.
The government building looks like the Reichtag in Berlin!
Of course nearby there is another cave city.
This one have a different style, so that was not annoying to visit it
There we were invited by the family of our friend: plenty of food and alcohool: Cognac from Armenia, withe wine from Georgia and Vodka/Jaja from Russia or Georgia.
Enough to be completely drunk!
But this is a tradition in Georgia so....
This city has a beautiful renovated church, a very relaxing place to stay.
This is also the home town of my favorite sumo: Tochinoshin, so that was very nice, even if he was not there!!!
The other cave city that we have visited is David Gareja დავითგარეჯის სამონასტრო კომპლექსი.
This one is in the caucasus, near the border to Azerbaijan.
There you have to have good conditions to visit, this is not so accessible. But once there you have a very nice view, as well as extremely old painting. Unfortunately some people try to destroy them, but they are well preserved.
Tbilisi is build on a sulfur natural spring.
We have rented a private bath, as well as a massage.
The water is around 40/45 degree, but we are use to it (same like in Japan).
This is just relaxing, even if the massage is very energetic. This is really something to try!
As a conclusion I can say that Georgia is a fantastic country. Because of its people, so friendly so helpful, we made many friend there.
Because of its churches, so nice, so old, so magic.
Of course because of the food (don't think to make a diet there)
Because of the nature, black see, yellow mountains, green places, everything
And because this country is still authentic, this is wild to visit, but just fantastic.