2015 ~ Travelling in Georgia

A 15-minute look back at Georgian Summer 2014. Share the love!

From Georgia with love.

Meet Silvia Bettina – Another interesting story about backpack traveling through Georgia

Why Georgia?

After traveling solo through Iran and Armenia, I was excited to meet up with an old college friend in Georgia. I had heard amazing things about Georgia from other travelers and could not wait to explore the country, though sadly I only had one short week there.

But while my exploration of Georgia was far from thorough, I did leave with one solid impression of the country: I love it! Its beautiful mountains, historic churches, European vibes, and delicious food didn’t need more than a week to win over my heart. I will absolutely be returning to Georgia again someday, hopefully soon.

We did manage to squeeze in a couple of trips outside of Tbilisi during my short stay, the first being toMtskheta, one of the oldest towns in Georgia and its capital from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD.

We also stayed a night in Kazbegi, a mountain village that’s home to the Gergeti Trinity Church and some seriously stunning scenery. I had forgotten how much I love hiking; even though it was incredibly muddy and we were slip sliding all over the place, the hike up to the church was beautiful, and more fun than just taking a taxi there!

With its eclectic mix of architecture styles and streets full of stylish hipsters and misfit expats, Tbilisi had no trouble charming my boots off (except that it was super cold and I needed those boots to keep warm). Like, I could totally live in Tbilisi. New life plan?

The only problem is, since I was playing it cool and relaxed in Tbilisi I didn’t take many photos until my last day there, when I was pretty upset and grumpy. Last night I showed these photos to a friend and he remarked how transparently they show my dark mood when I took them. I tried to brighten them up a bit with editing, but having refrained from adding sunbursts and unicorns, I think they’re still a little grim. Next time I’m in Tbilisi I will try to capture its cheerier side!

Source: heartmybackpack.com

5 Tempting Reasons to Visit Tbilisi

2:29 PM People About Georgia, Photo Gallery No comments

Tbilisi is now featured at Like A Local Guide! Check out 5 reasons to visit our glorious capital:
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is a relatively undiscovered travel destination. This fact alone is a great reason to visit, though if you’re still not convinced,Daria, our Tbilisi local, has shared five more reasons to tempt you to her fascinating hometown.

1. Enjoy breathtaking panoramas

Tbilisi is situated in a mountainous area, so you’ll definitely get the chance to enjoy some amazing views. The most popular and easily accessible observation point is Narikala fortress. You can either get there by cable car from Rike Park or by foot from Meidani Square. It’s best to take a cable car up (save your breath for the breathtaking views) and walk down.

With several upscale restaurants and a big Ferris wheel that offers a fantastic panorama of the city,Mtatsminda Park is a must. Head up the mountain by funicular, take a walk, watch the sunset and enjoy the crisp evening air.

There are many other places to get great views of the city including the park at Tsminda Sameba (Holy Trinity) Cathedral, the terrace at Radisson Iveria Hotel and Cafe Flowers near Rike Park.

Photo credit: Daria Kholodilina

2. Sip divine wine at traditional wine cellars

Georgia is famous for its wines. Tbilisi has plenty of small cellars where you can taste different varieties and choose a bottle to take home, or simply stop by for a glass or two. Vinotheca is one of the many cellars that offers tastings, while the atmosphere at Wine Bar Khareba is perfect for relaxing evening tipple. Visit a local wine cellar to learn about the history of Georgian winemaking, enjoy performances by local musicians and chat with friendly bartenders.

Photo credit: Wine Bar Khareba

3. Admire local art and handicrafts

Producing small masterpieces is a part of everyday life in the Georgian capital. You’ll find handmade clothing, enamel and silver accessories, paintings, embroidered textiles and other handcrafted products all across Tbilisi, especially in the Old Town and in the city centre. Meidan Bazaar is the most popular place for buying local souvenirs. Even if you’re not in the mood for shopping, it’s still interesting to see the local handicrafts. 144 Stairs is a great little art café where you can feed your mind and body at the same time.

4. Discover Georgian history

Tbilisi is a city where history and modernity coexist and intermingle. Remnants of its fascinating and complex past can be seen everywhere – Tbilisi was founded around sulphur springs which to this day are a prominent feature of the city centre, and buildings dating back to the 14th, 17th and 19th centuries still form part of the downtown area. Mtatsminda Pantheon is another place that holds great religious, historical and cultural significance for locals.

Photo credit: Morten Oddvik

5. Savour national delicacies at cosy restaurants

Georgian food is disastrous for people who try not to overeat. It’s extremely delicious and there are so many tempting choices that you’ll be hard-pressed to try everything during your stay. There are many different restaurants and cafés in Tbilisi where you can enjoy all the highlights of Georgian cuisine.Maspindzelo, Cafe Gabriandze, Zakhar Zakharich are just a few of the places that serve amazing local food.

Photo credit: Krista

Source: LikeALocal

6 Reasons Why I Fell in Love with Georgia

2:22 PM People About Georgia, Photo Gallery No comments

Italian traveler Mario Brigenti about Georgia:

Situated at the strategically important crossroads where Europe meets Asia, Georgia has a unique and ancient cultural heritage and is famed for its traditions of hospitality and cuisine. However, Georgia isn’t usually a place on people must do & see list. Georgia is where communism, corruption and crime live — not somewhere you travel for fun and joy. Right?

Well, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Here are few reasons why no one can visit Georgia without leaving enchanted with this exotic country:

1) It’s about the unexpected and expected.

During my visit, every day seemed a new adventure. Planning was unnecessary, for experiences unfolded naturally. Georgia is a land of pleasant surprises. You will repeatedly say to yourself, “couldn’t have planned it better if I tried.”

Georgia is about getting lost in a country where you do not understand the language, the alphabet and the people do not understand you. It is about handling and learning to adapt and grow as you face each day on the road. And the only way to learn this is through experience, trial and error, the hard and the easy way.

2) It gets you out of your comfort zone

I really didn’t know what to think about going to Georgia in the beginning but honestly this country absolutely blew my mind. It was literally something that I was waiting to discover, feel and handle with.

Georgia taught me what is travelling truly about and remembered me once again why I love it. Because in Georgia I met so many obstacles on the way I used to travel and I was forced to deal with them in a way or another. Travelling in Georgia is unique. It will enhance your ability and willingness to adapt to new environments; it will give you the self-confidence to make decisions in risky situations and it will improve your ability to take on new projects. After all of this you are becoming much more experienced in life and it will help your understanding of diverse traditions and habits. But during your trip you might not feel it because you are becoming exhausted and confused with all but afterwards you will consider yourself much grown up with a deeper understanding for people, culture, nature and lifestyle.

3) It’s beautiful

The countryside, culturally diverse cities, the people… Georgia has plenty of surprises in store. No other country in the world offers visitors so much to see and do, packed into such a small space. It contains subtropical beaches, dense forests, arid deserts, as well as the highest mountains in Europe.
As in every country in the world, the real beauty of Georgia lies in its landscapes, people, their culture and nature and it can really defy your expectations. You travel through medieval towns, charming countryside, unique mountains, tasty food and most important – people very friendly who will undoubtedly be happy to see you and have a drink.

4) Tbilisi is one of the most unique capitals I know…

Georgia has a mix of rural charm and city modernity, as well as cultural influences from Turkey, Russia, Persia, Central Asia and Europe. You can see a lot of those attributes everywhere around Tbilisi. Beautiful, ornate buildings crumbling in the old town, towering blocky church towers, secret courtyard gardens and grape vines hanging off every house.

5) The second major religion in Georgia is food.

Georgian cuisine is probably the most important attraction of the country. Georgian cuisine absorbed the best culinary traditions of many people of Transcaucasia, Asia and the Black Sea coast and Georgians managed to make their cuisine not only magically delicious but also bright, original, unique, unforgettable and cheap!

6) It seems to be like a puzzle

A mix of everything. The warm-hearted people, the stunning countryside, Tbilisi’s nightlife, rainbows, strong traditions… It’s so hard to describe but I guess it’s just mix of everything.

For me Georgia still remains relatively undiscovered and unfilled. Because Georgia is something that you will never get fully discovered. Like in a puzzle, some parts you can’t ever fill but you can still make the most part of the picture that can stimulate more your imagination and to ask yourself how the entire picture would look like. Because trying to make Georgia’s puzzle will make you feeling like a rock star and provide you endless stories to share afterwards. I love you Georgia, you’re awesome!

Source: travel-hunter.org