მოგესალმებით საქართველოდან! Mogesalmebit sakartvelodan! Greetings from Georgia! Welcome to Georgia, a country laden with history, churches, diverse climates, awe-inspiring geography, and the best FOOD. As you might have already guessed, I spent my spring break in Georgia, known to Georgians as Sakartvelo or, more correctly, საქართველო.
Starting in Kutaisi, we journeyed across Georgia to the capital, Tbilisi, made a day trip into the mountains, and came full circle, returning to Kutaisi on an eight-day snapshot of this marvelous country. Due to the sheer amount of information, locations, adventures (and misadventures), and lessons acquired, I have chosen to make this more of a non-traditional blog post, relying heavily on photos to tell a story that words would not do justice. Therefore, without further ado, I introduce a brief visual journey through Georgia.
Kutaisi
Starting in Kutaisi gave me a taste of the vast array of experiences Georgia had to offer, from the humid depths of Prometheus caves to the cliff edge retreats of Motsameta monastery and the hilltop wonder of Bagrati cathedral.
Tbilisi
Welcome to Georgia’s bustling capital, hosting anywhere from 30,000-50,000 stray dogs (depending on who you ask) and 1.1 million people.
It’s ancient, modern, and heavily dotted with churches, history, and phenomenal food. Some highlights include seeing Mother Georgia (with a fun little trip up the mountain that made me confront my fear of funiculars), witnessing philosophical thought in architectural form (the Leaning Clock Tower), visiting the sulfur baths that assuage my aching feet, and experiencing a massive church that I was surprisingly older than (Holy Trinity Chapel)!
Caucasus Mountains
A journey that is not for the faint of heart. With winding switchbacks, occasional snowstorms, slightly dilapidated roads, soaring heights, and foothills that sprawl for miles, the Caucasus Mountains truly inspire awe and a healthy level of fear.
In my seven-hour journey through them, I got to experience it all – including Gergeti Trinity Church located at an impressive elevation of 2,170 meters and only accessible through hiking or a journey in 4x4s driven by fearless drivers. It was truly a memorable experience, especially when we got stuck in the mountains due to a stalled truck in the tunnels.
Georgian Food
I had been told for weeks about how amazing Georgian food was, but I did not actually understand how good it was until I tried it. From khinkali (dumplings) and nigvziani badrijani (eggplant rolls) to khachapuri (filled bread, the best one was with cheese and egg), Georgia had something for every palate.
Much to the delight of other members of my trip, they also had more traditional American fast-food places like Dunkin Donuts, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s, though their offerings and tastes are unique from their counterparts in the United States.
(Including KFC, Wendy’s, McDonalds, and Burger King)
I hope you enjoyed that brief look at the beautiful country of Sakartvelo! Until the next adventure, iki (Lithuanian for come again)!