Hello ❄️ Snow — Georgia 🇬🇪
Today as I am writing this — yes you have guessed it. It’s snowing! 🌨 We woke up with a soft tap sound outside — and as Daniel opened up the curtains he excitedly said its snowing! Most Europeans at this moment are so over snow but for Daniel, this was his VERY first snow experience! I loved seeing him being underprepared for this situation but yet in total awe of the white flakes falling from the sky.
This snowy day was also our “move” day mark — one of many more. We moved from our hotel to our Airbnb in Old Tbilisi. We finished quarantine a day early thanks to our hotel which let us take the Antigen tests the day before we were to move to our Airbnb.
Queen Quarantine
I’m definitely not the ice queen but queen quarantine ;)
Let’s recap the past 4 days since we last spoke and our overall 8-day quarantine experience. I wasn’t upset or even dreading the 8-day quarantine — I had a plan and my plan was to work and rest and that’s exactly what we did. (If you dread these type of things have read at my “21 Lessons for lockdown”)
What we didn’t plan was the adjustment for our reality to sink in — and the 8 day was perfect for that! We also had the chance to go up to the Hotel terrace twice that week. I’ve done some reading, we watched the final season of Modern Family. What a poetic moment to be watching the end of one of my favourite series as we moved to this new country. #nospoilershere
Observing from the inside
It’s funny how you get used to your area from your hotel room. We saw neighbours cleaning their front porch, a 2- day funeral, children playing in the street, stray cats being fed by strangers, and kicked by strangers, a drunk and an almost car accident (which isn’t that surprising considering).
The community-based feeling is definitely something you pick up even from your hotel window.
The lady across the street fed the stray cat and made frequent visits to her next-door neighbour and vice versa. Though I know that’s not the only definition of a community it’s the laughter and playfulness of children outside in the streets — without any adults what caught my attention. The last time I experienced this was when I grew up as a child in a small town. However, this is a city and I’m double that age ;)
Secondly, people here have a broom and bin outside their front door to clean the sidewalk and street area. That made me realise — yeah it’s pretty clean here — and everyone does their part. I can walk down multiple streets and see little to no rubbish — I’ve only seen one street with rubbish. (I know — I’ve only been here for a week). I remember walking down Kloof street in Cape Town and let’s just say if you are environmental friendly you’ll spend every day there picking up trash.
Before you get the wrong impression I’m not trashing my beautiful country or city. I do appreciate and miss the sunshine, Table Mountain, my ocean swims and promenade walks and food written in English — of course, I do! I would be crazy if I don’t.
I like to believe that I can appreciate everything as it is :). Right now I’m sitting in my Georgian Airbnb with heating and snow falling outside my window — and that’s beautiful and magical. The last time I experienced snow was once again when I was half my age ;)
Second first impressions
Bein on the outside
Sorry, not sorry — Daniel but his reaction towards these nasal swab tests is a testimony of the differences in our pain thresholds. Nothing from here on out would convince me otherwise. Let’s just say this was 3 too many.
After our tests which took an hour, we got the green light to go explore Tbilisi and a day early! We were ecstatic for our second first time ;). We had a beautiful Sunday from swapping to local sims and meeting a friendly employee at Magti.com who gave us some tips and advice on where to go.
We had really bad coffee to somewhat bearable coffee to meeting a stranger who showed us around and told us some of the histories of Tbilisi. I reckon a well spend sunny Sunday.
I totally love the walkability of this city we probably did over 8km’s and after a while, the cold did attack our previously injured muscles like we 90!
Our home for the next month
With our move to our Airbnb, we have been greeted by snow. We took a walk downtown to exchange our Euro’s into the local currency, popped by a pharmacy for some vitamins and headed back to catch a Bolt. Yeah, they don’t have uber here. However the Bolt cars or predominantly Toyota Prius and electronic! #savingtheplanet
In contradiction to that — this country loves plastic. After dropping our bags in our Airbnb we went out for our first grocery shopping trip (still snowing). They sell a lot of things separate and for everything, there are plastic bags it’s everywhere. We did our part by buying the material bags.
This brings us to the shopping experience. I find that most people don’t know you are a tourist (until you speak) and start talking to you in Georgian — which you then respond with a sorry and a shrug 🤷♀️
I’ve learnt the “I don’t understand phrase which is — Ver gavige”
We found most things only because Daniel used this app that translate Georgian text by taking pictures. Yeah we those people, but for some reason, Peanut Butter is the holy grail of problems. We could not communicate this very well and after some confused non-verbal body language, we only found one “Peanut Butter” brand which after tasting it not sure what’s in that. Needless to say we on the hunt for peanut butter — the legit stuff.
Overall I would say that people here do get irritated if you can’t speak the native language. So we will be learning Georgian!
Chasing waterfalls to a castle on the hill
Earlier I mentioned we met a stranger when we first explored Tbilisi. Now that stranger is more of a friend. He is a 21-year-old with the most extensive history knowledge about Georgia. He is also a tour guide, engineer in progress and entrepreneur so when you visit Georgia we will hook you up!
Because it was international women’s day before I received flowers from George (it’s a big thing here)
This was a beautiful day walking in the gorge to the waterfall, seeing the sulphur baths and learning what Tbilisi means.
Tbi = Hot/warm & Lisi = water
We then did a short hike up to the castle. The most amazing views of the city and back to liberty square where we headed back home to work.
We were also gifted with “cha-cha — Georgian Vodka” which we then enjoyed that evening.
The nightlife
This is new, I mean new in the sense that you don’t go out after dark that’s silly and obviously unsafe. We did two things I normally won’t do. One went outside after dark for a walk and coffee. Two I had my laptop with me 😨 Needless to say I still have my laptop and we are both safe.
I’ve come to realise that here they venture out late mornings/afternoons and then head back home late in the evenings/night. The city is very vibey at night and there are so many people walking (even females alone). Now I know there are parts in Cape Town you can do that minus the laptop of course but you feel different — it’s hard to explain.
Beautiful old buildings
Yes, this is true, but beware they are not necessarily maintained well. I’ve seenef some major cracks — the ones where you will be “nope we outa hear this building is going to collapse on me”. Yet it seems totally normal to put on a literal “iron plaster” and move on. Now I see they are reclaiming some of the old buildings and fixing them up this is in the minority.
Our Airbnb is a traditional Georgian which is beautiful and it’s great to experience the Georgian home lifestyle. However when there is sand falling on your head through the cracks because the upstairs neighbour walked too hard — the crack is too big.
What is even more surprising is the old not maintained buildings with super expensive cars outside. Side note you don’t realise it because it’s mostly covered in dust. I wonder if cars are cheaper or car insurance is cheaper? I however do appreciate that cars are not speeding and pimped out to making that disruptive noises.
Honesty time
Although small things like how they slice oranges in slices and not quarters is a nice personal preference, or how they could do with interior designers. There is a deeper societal difference that struck me. How we think differently because of our environment or circumstances.
At the hotel where we stayed, we made a really good connection with the owner and we trusted his opinion. Why did we need it? Well, when we met the “stranger” as you would know now is George. We weren’t sure if he was truly friendly, honest and wanting to show us around town or if he wanted to scam us?
Setting the scene. I and Daniel were walking and he came up to us and he started talking to us and walked with us for about a good 3km’s. Also as he mentioned he is a tourist guide and we thought well we will set the expectation up front that we don’t need one. Of course, he wanted to make a connection for his business but in the end, he also is really friendly and hospital.
Maybe some of you can relate and some of you are thinking I’m strange — in my reality this is strange but here It’s not — it’s normal. What a mind shift.
This has been a long snowy post. I’m hoping to keep this up and share my personal experiences!
A frosty cheers
Anina & Daniel
