Strolling Around Tbilisi

Old town Tbilisi is surrounded by mountains. Remnants of the old town wall are still visible and the Kura River running though town adds to the atmosphere.  Contemporary art is scattered around old buildings.  The mix is very charming.

The lamplighters of the past wore clothes like this.  The clothing demonstrates that Georgia has always had people from a wide variety of cultures living here.

Traditional street sweeper.

The postman, on the right, chatting with a neighbor.

Contemporary tower symbolizing that we always need to lean on someone in hard times.  It may be family, friend or a stranger.  

Peace Bridge

A 19th century caravanserai - traders on the Silk Road would stop in here to rent a room upstairs, or trade their goods on the first floor. Just by looking at this photo I can smell the cat odor.  Our guide told us this is a sign that people still live here.

Walking along the Kura River.

View from the cable car.  The tubular buildings are museums.

Tower on the old city wall.

Sioni Cathedral

Still in Georgia, But Location Known

We've done a lot of driving the last two days. We've driven about 6 hours per day through the amazing Caucasus Mountains.  I finally know where I am.

We took the Georgian Military Highway to Gudauri, which is a ski resort built by Austrians.  No views for us as we were fogged in.

Room with a view.  I tried to picture this covered in snow.  The ski lift is right in front of our room.

After our one night in the highest village on the Military Highway,  we headed back down the mountain and stopped at the cave town of Uplistsikhe, which means Lord's Castle.  People may have populated these caves before 1000 BC.

This hole is man made, and is where the residents would have stored their wine!  We are in Georgia, after all.

While some of the caves were used to celebrate pagan rituals, the area was eventually Christianized.  This is actually a functioning church.

Next, we stopped at the town of Gori, the birthplace of Stalin.  Although we visited the Stalin Museum, I did not take photos.  I did learn, however, that Stalin's granddaughter lives in Portland Oregon.  Did you know that?

Somewhere in Georgia

We sat at a "Georgian Table" in two different private homes in the mountains of Georgia today.

Here's the luncheon table, before the food started arriving.  Each bottle contains a different kind of wine, cha cha, or brandy.

One of my favorite dishes was cheese pelmeni.

In addition to cooking a huge variety of amazing dishes, our hostess spins, dyes and knits.

Our host and hostess at dinner are at the far end of the table.  The other men are professional musicians who broke into song throughout the meal. The pitcher near the host is filled with the local wine made in a a terra cotta jar.  Those plates on the table represent just a few of the many different dishes served throughout the evening.

Today proved that too much of a good thing is wonderful.  As is Georgia.