After watching a National Geographic video on Tbilisi while on a flight to Berlin, we became intrigued by this mountain valley country, recently attacked by Russia (2008) and trying to overcome the ignominy of being home to Stalin.
Being a former communist stronghold, perhaps because of the special attention it received from Stalin, there are reminders of its communist past including rather dubious apartment blocks.
Reminders of the past abound in Georgia. Davit Gareja is a monastery first built in the 8th century. The monks lived and still live in small cells carved out of the rocks of the surrounding hills.
The entire monastery is built on a small ridge, over which it hangs like a saddle. On one side are the cells and storage rooms…
On the other side are the remains of the original inhabitants.
The monastery itself it far removed from any neighbouring neighbours. To get there, you must cross mile after mile of deserted steppe, occupied only by sheep and their shepherds.
The Georgians make a fine bottle of wine, and have been doing so for millennia. It may be that they gave the Romans lessons in how to make the must of their grapes.
A collection of old amphorae makes for a nice photo.
Much like the Koreans and their buried kimchi pots, the Georgian used to bury their wine jugs in the earth. It is not clear if this helped the fermentation process by maintaining a steady temperature, or if it helped to prevent the breaking of the jars by oversampling vintners.
The wine making traditions are passed down from mother to daughter…
As you travel from one section of Georgia to another, you pass evidence of the many different rulers and invaders that have left their mark on this land. This castle overlooks the ancient capital of Mshtketa.
This cathedral sits in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, along the pass near Kazbegi, heading into Russia.
However, we found that the real magic of Georgia lays in its capital city, Tbilisi…
… where modern flowing buildings blend with the rolling hills.
Apart from its odd and awkward name, it does have some lovely features such as lantern lighters…
… and dapper saxaphone players.
Along with the funky new architecture, the city boasts some new, but very traditional architecture.
However, while the city is in the middle of urban renewal, some areas have not yet been added to the renewal schedule.
Some of the new areas perch rather precariously on the edge of the Mktvari River…
… while the old areas hide under the protection of the now ruined citadel. If you look closely, you can see the B&B where I stayed for my sojourn in the city. The restaruant in the building facing the square where the cars are parked serves a lovely plate of food and cold beverage.
These two were my traveling companions for a mere 24 hours. All spring breaks are not created equal nor are they granted at the same time.
I must say that we ate very well while there. I do not usually put much food in these posts, but I think Tblisi warrants some photos.
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