2 Months in Tbilisi 🇬🇪
As we are preparing to head into summer, sunshine, beaches and cocktails, the last two months, we have been exploring and soaking up every new experience. This newness led us to another unsolved debate about the reason why we sleep sooo good here.
Since we arrived we have been sleeping like African lions and there could be various reasons.
- Everything is new — our visceral and verbal senses work overtime
- It’s not as noisy — no motorbikes, cars drag racing or people screaming
- The unconscious feeling of safety
Who knows it could also be a combination of all of them. At this point, I would assume things won't’ be that “new” anymore, who knows we will keep you updated on our sleeping habits.
To mark our second month we went high — not that kind of high. ;) We travelled to the second-highest mountain in Georgia — 5,054 m.
🏔 Mount Kazbegi
We woke up before 6 am and head out to our local pickup spot. The big bicycle. I’m not yet sure the relevance of the bicycle but it seems to be the standard starting point for all trips. It was a rainy morning and we were pretty asleep even on the bus ride. We met familiar faces, half asleep but although our faces couldn’t tell we were a hundred percent excited. We were heading out to Kazbegi — the furthest we would be out since we arrived.
Our first official stop was in Gudauri — the ski village of Georiga. Once in Guadari we had a bathroom break and to our surprise, we had to pay 1 lari to use the bathrooms. Even though I know back in SA you also sometimes pay for bathrooms, so not sure why I was so surprised. In any case, while in the shop we learnt about their local easter treat — Paska. In South Africa it’s hot-cross buns here it’s Paska. Although it’s bigger than hot cross buns. I’m writing this on orthodox good Friday and they sell these Paska Cakes out of vehicle boots (trunk for my American friends).
Arch of friendship
After our Gaudari stop, we were starting to head towards the mountains, snow became more visible and much colder than the sunny Tbilisi we got back to. We stopped at the arch of friendship, where snow-covered a minibus. You could see from the mountains that the snow here is busy melting and it’s still breathtaking.
Ain’t no mountain high enough
At Stepantsminda we transferred from our minibus to another minibus to Gergeti Trinity Church. Which I didn’t understand at the time — we also had to pay them to drive us up to Gergeti Trinity Church. We split into two groups and I and Daniel got split up and as I got on the bus I had to confirm can anyone here speak English 😂. I don’t know just in case. As we started driving I see why we had to transfer. It was hairpin turn after another not even to mention that at certain areas either a rockfall collapsed on half the road or a rock slide on the other side.
Finally, at the top, we were about 2000 m above sea level and we could feel it — it was gloves come out vibes. We had another pit situation but by now we were all geared.
Ain’t no road long enough
Our furthest stop and the closest stop to the Russian border was at the Dariali monastery complex about 164 km from Tbilisi. Yes, that’s how tiny this country is and how close we are to other countries.
We were taken for a tour there — although Daniel wandered and missed the guide he was busy chatting to another guy giving him an apple? 🍎 Not sure if this is a scene out of the tale snow white and the seven dwarfs. Well, we found our snow-white or dwarf at the end of the tour healthy and not poisoned.
During the tour, my friend Iri translated and from what I can remember there was a famous artist that painted the artwork inside the church and they built parts of the church with this green granite liked rock. Which came from when the Kazbegi mountain was volcanic.
After a tour through the church, library and drinking holy water. We also tasted another type of holy water — wine. 🍷 This wine much to my surprise reminded me of South African wines.
Gveleti Waterfalls
Then we thought it a good idea to go on a short hike. We did two routes, one lead to a big waterfall and another one to the smaller one. Both absolutely beautiful, and peaceful there is something about moving water, the sound, the fresh smell that takes you to another place — calm and quiet.
Life underwater
Talking about water our last stop was at — you guessed it another Monastery. Not to say Monastries isn’t beautiful but I think we might not want to see another monastery anytime soon. This one is interesting though I promise. The church looks out onto an artificial reservoir and underneath that water there once was a village — yes you heard right! They moved out the residents to build the reservoir.
Tunnel vision
That marked our final stop before that we had a picnic in the park at a village but the more extraordinary thing was how busy this road is. While it only has two lanes and one going through tunnels 😮 Firstly this road head all the way to Russia and carries ALOT of trucks. I’m not being dramatic it’s km’s of km’s with trucks on the side of the road. They are only allowed to drive at certain times — as you can imagine otherwise you will drive very long to your destination. We had to reverse out a tunnel and got semi stuck the second time around in the same tunnel. You have no idea if someone comes from ahead so you just drive and wish to see light at the end of the tunnel but not that of a vehicle of course.
🥦 4 South Africans, 1 Georgian and a Vegan “Braai”
I would not ever think to make a fire in nature. From fires recently blazing in Cape Town, it seems obviously not a good idea. Here you would see these DIY “braai” spots all around in nature. Where a group simply make fire totes normal — no blazing fires where residents need to evacuate the area.
It was like camping I guess? Yes, I don’t do camping what gave that away? There we were peacefully braaing between the trees. Our friend George from Georgia as he likes to introduce himself treated us to a vegan braai — and this was a first for him. ;) Thanks, George — I know you tried to imagine the aubergine being a lamb chop.
After our relaxing braai in nature at Mtsaminda. We headed back down and took a stroll through their street stalls.
I’ll end this post with a quote. It’s a good reminder to be present and grateful for all that you have achieved and where you are at in life.
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future.”
Earl Nightingale
To living life on a high
Anina & Daniel
