13/9/19 Travel to Mestia

The train was at 7.10am which meant leaving the hotel at 6.45, and breakfast didn't start until 7, so the hotel was kind enought to pack some for us.

The train was full and left perfectly on time.  Clean, a bit cramped but otherwise fine except for it being a 5 hour trip to Zugdidi!!

From Zugdidi straight onto a Marshrutka for the 3 hour trip to Mestia.  And the bus was kind enough to stop and left everyone take a picture.  Scary steep windy road with us travelling in a rickety old minibus at up to 90kph.

Finally got to Mestia.  Our luck - I'd booked a hostel (most accom is in hostels) and it was right at the top of the village up a very steep cobbled street/lane.  Only $40 per night but clean and comfortable.

12/9/19 Stepantsminda in the Kazbegi region

Sam from our hotel took us on todays trip - and what a fantastic day it was.

First stop was the Ananuri Lake/Dam and the Ananuri Fort.

Sam - a fabulous guy

Last laugh!

Next stop the fresh mountain water - supposed to be excellent for your health.

The water was freezing

Past the ski village of Gudauri and to a lookout where paragliders were taking off.

This was built during USSR time and is about friendship between all the countries making up the USSR

And finally to Stepantsminda and up to the Gergeti Trinity Church.  The view from here was specatacular, with the clouds just clearing to provide a view of Mt Kazbek at over 5,000m

And to finish the day, some coffee and food at the very fancy Rooms Hotel in Stepantsminda.

Note the reflection in the window

It was a day to remember - fabulous company and wonderful scenery.

11/9/19 Khaketi wine region

Our hotel organised for Giorgi from the hotel, along with his Dad Jusef, to take us to the Khaketi wine region for the day today.

We got to see how the traditional Qvevri (sounds a bit like query) wine is made.  They'd recently harvested and placed the crushed grapes into these 2000L qvevri.  They then stir them every couple of days for about 2 weeks, until the skins etc fall to the bottom.  The rest, I'm not to sure of.

This is the first crop of champagne that they've tried.

The obligatory wine tasting.

The amber is the qvevri wine - I preferred the Europian style

We visited Telavi and Sighnaghi - villages within the region of Khaketi.  And the valley below was huge.  Unfortunately overcast, so we couldn't see the mountains.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped in for some bread and were lucky to be able to go in and see how they made it.

The finished product

Gas fired - but traditional is by wood

Giorgi in the background

More finished product

10/9/19 Street art of Tbilisi

On our journey to try and find street art, we came across a market where Dermot managed to buy a hat, and me some slippers and a beanie.

He didn't choose this one!

The one he purchased - from the Svenati region of Georgia

Finally, after about 3 hours of walking/exploring we found the street art of the subways.

And lots of these along the main street of Tbilisi - Rustavelli street.

We went to a great little place at the back of our hotel for dinner.  I had some Khinkali - delicious.  We then joined in for some dancing with the locals!

9/9/19 Tbilisi free tour

We're staying at the Elle Boutique Hotel and the people running it are fantastic.

We slept in after a late night, then went looking around Tbilisi and joined the free walking tour at 3pm.  Giorgi that took us was great - so passionate about his country.  We were the only ones that turned up, apart from his friend from Azerbaijan, and the tour went for 3 hours.

First off some Georgian architecture and buildings in the main street of Rustavelli.

Traditional bread making.

The sulphur bath houses

And a park right in the centre of the city, which was Giorgi's favourite place in the city.

Georgi with us

 We finished off the day with some nice Georgian wine.