Weekend in Georgia
Weekend in Georgia
Georgia! Like five years ago, we just paused the trip. We again ride in a taxi, a pleasant driver tells us what else and where we must see. This Georgian accent is just lovely. The driver was driving slowly. On the way to the hotel, he tried to put into the story all the immense beauty of the country. And also advise yourself as a guide) It was about two in the morning in the yard, the driver insisted in front of Tbilisi to call in some other beautiful city, but I had to sleep. The owner of our hotel also slept peacefully. But the persistent driver still got through. Last time we made a gross mistake, we took food from Kyiv on a trip. This time we will not miss more than one opportunity to enjoy Georgian cuisine.
The long-awaited morning came, and we continued our unfinished route. Against the backdrop of a trip to China, events unfolded very quickly. Leaving the hotel, we were in a minibus. After 10 minutes, we got off at the Didube bus station and we were already seated in another minibus. The two remaining places seemed to be waiting for us. Wait another minute, don't leave! We stocked up on beautiful Georgian churchkhela and are ready to go.
Stepantsminda
The driver was clearly in a hurry. On the track we flew at supersonic speeds. Mtskheta rushed past the windows. How easy it is for them. Airport-hotel-bus station-mountains, everyone seems to be waiting at bus stops until you run up and jump into the minibus. After an hour of driving, the driver made a stop for 10 minutes in a picturesque place. The local grandmother immediately fed us a huge khachapuri for 5 lari ($2). A waterfall flowed from the sunny and lush green mountains. On the other side of the road there is a cliff. We rested and rushed up into the mountains. Snow began to appear outside the windows. Dasha and I tensed a little. We only have summer clothes with us. The views that sometimes opened from the minibus are an additional excursion) Fortunately for us, Stepantsminda was a little lower than the snow, and the weather turned out to be cozy. The main goal of the route was the Trinity Church on the mountain. We can see it perfectly, but we need to decide how to get there. Mapsmi cards decided to show us how to do it right. But apparently correct if you have a helicopter with you. But after China, we believed in the accuracy of the maps and did not dare to doubt.
At first, the cards took us away from the main road and took us along a thin street to some Georgian right in the courtyard. When we walked, two guys looked at us with surprise. We looked at the map in amazement. They decided to stop us and correct us. We reached the foot of the mountain. Two roads. Moreover, the one that navigation offers is clearly not easy. About another card they report that there is no passage. Well Ok, second chance cards. The ascent was somehow especially difficult, it seemed that it would be possible to glue the fins together. Although we have passed only 5 meters so far. Fortunately, other victims of navigation descended to meet. They told us that we must go along the road on the left, it is more picturesque and easier. A road that allegedly does not fit in our maps. No matter how long we walked, Mapsme dissuaded us from returning to the original route for tourists with a helicopter. Panoramic snow-capped mountains enveloped us from all sides. The road was much easier than the previous one. Some tourists even climbed with a baby stroller. An hour on the road and we're there. The views from the church are truly amazing. Here the mountains have a very peculiar palette of colors. Like autumn in the mountains. It was about 12 am, and we had already completed the day's plan. It was somehow unusual. Until a week ago, sightseeing within the city could take a whole day to get there. And then we drove through not a small part of the country, and climbed up the mountain. Nothing, now we'll expand the plan. There are waterfalls somewhere. Somewhere in the sense in Georgia. But first, lunch! We went down and went into a very simple cafe. “Is there any Khinkali? ” However, the question, as well as about wine, was rather rhetorical. Khinkali cost 1 lari per piece ($ 0.4) and cold homemade wine 5 ($ 2) lari per glass...
beer glass... 0.5... poured in apothecary style to the brim. Naturally, before pouring wine for us, the owner poured us 100-150 grams for tasting. Wine still goes as nicely as juice. Dasha and I were afraid to stand up from the table. We will also look for waterfalls. The hostess ran out into the yard and said that there are guys there who are happy to take us to the waterfalls in the neighboring town. The guys were in the midst of a beer feast. The man said that for 50 lari he would happily take us back and forth. We have started trading. He argued that the price includes beer. Bidding included a record amount for us: “You are our guests, I will take you for free! You are ready? " The Georgian finished his glass of beer, put us in a bus and took the route to the mountains. On the one hand, of course, the beer before the trip is not very good. But, on the other hand, he is a native Georgian, perhaps this is his way of being in a normal state. The road is over. This did not stop our driver. He started driving to the mountains on the jeep route. The busik was shaking so hard that my arm hurt afterwards. Strongly held on to the seat. At some point, the car gave up and then Dasha and I went on foot. Our rider remained waiting for us by his iron horse. It took about 20 minutes to walk to the waterfall. We chose the route to the Big Falls.
And he was super cool. This is really a real full-flowing mountain waterfall. He is in second place after the Brazilian Iguassu. One adventurer even swam there. In general, the waterfall is a must-see for everyone who has not been there! And the places are quite nice during the ascent. Gorgeous, we have already seen two interesting things in a remote corner of Georgia in a day. The soul demanded a holiday! We asked the driver to dial the hostess of our hotel by phone so that she would reserve a table for us in a restaurant with live music for the evening. Initially, we thought that we would return quite late, but with such a pace of movement, you can do everything you want. We returned back to Stepantsminda and paid off the driver. Still, it's not good to go for free. The next minibus to Tbilisi is in an hour. But again, a minibus was found, the last empty seats, and we were already flying to the capital an hour earlier. We just got high on how easy and simple everything is. It is a pity that our beloved pseudo-reflex mirror could not share our joy. Unfortunately, the lens tragically broke in China. And four days for repairs was not enough. Georgia is actually much more beautiful than these photos taken with the phone.
The offline cancellation card did not want to show us the restaurant. Internet was needed. In the first store, they handed it out to me from a mobile phone. In Tbilisi, a very convenient and cheap taxi. If you do not know how to get somewhere, the easiest way is to catch a taxi and get there. The driver first brought us to the yards. Then I realized that I made a mistake and brought it to the right place) It was rather strange with the music in the restaurant, or rather it was not enough. But the atmosphere was set by a Georgian who insisted that we sit at his table. And then we sit separately from everyone. About Georgian cuisine. How delicious it was. In fact, Georgian restaurants in Kyiv cook no worse. If you have not been to Georgia yet, but want to fall in love with it and fly, just order Adjarian khachapuri in the restaurant.
UIA low-cost tariffs will take care of everything else. True, you have to wait 10 months before departure, but it's cheap. On our last trip at the rate of 8, tickets cost about $ 500 for two. Now for $90 tickets and $4 khachapuri in Kyiv, so you definitely want to fly. Oh, if airlines paid me for advertising… But this is just unexpected from UIA!
Uplistsikhe
The second day began on a knurled pattern. From the hotel in a couple of minutes in a minibus, after another 10 at the bus station. Then a taxi driver caught us and offered to go to Gori for 10 GEL (it would have been 8 in a minibus).
Great, we agreed for the entire route with an expectation of 30 lari ($12.1). First we went to Uplistsikhe. This is a neighboring town beyond Gori.
Drive about an hour from Tbilisi. This is a cave city in which people lived for many centuries. The area is very similar to the Turkish Pamukkale, but instead of white beauties - caves. This city was recommended to us by someone during the previous article. It took about an hour of rather funny “rock climbing” to the city.
It’s not at all difficult, but we just got lost maleh. As a result, we descended from the mountains away from the official entrance to the park. However, the driver was not particularly surprised. There are not so many caves left in the mountains themselves, but it is definitely worth the trip.
Very picturesque panoramas with overflowing rivers. And all this is observed from beautiful cave rocks. Our next stop was in Gori. However, there we let the driver go.
Burn
It was still relatively early in the morning. Taxi drivers actively invited us to see Uplistsikhe and were very surprised that we had already managed to drive there. The main part of the tourists, according to the driver, is pulled up by 12:00. Oddly enough, we started our acquaintance with the city from the museum. Of course, I understand that we don’t go to museums, but it was the Stalin Museum. After watching one sensational film, I really wanted to see what they show there. But my personal opinion is that they did not fully reveal the depth of the problem in the museum. But our stories are not about that. It was interesting.
There was also a fortress in Gori. Before the ascent, we decided to refresh ourselves. But in the nearest Khinkali cafe there was a 20-minute wait. We decided to first take the impregnable fortress on the mountain, and then feast on the capture. On our way up, we discovered a hidden path. The path led us between a wall and a high cliff. From below, it might seem to people that two spies are trying to take the fortress by cunning. The fortress, which is free to enter and is constantly open. As a result, we came to a place where the cliff was already on all sides. Below were giant sculptures sitting in a circle. It seems that the first attempt to take the fortress failed! Oh, I figured it out! New plan! Let's go from the front door! They certainly don't expect us there. From the main entrance they took the fortress from the first time.
The sun illuminated the clearings and lawns above. With pride and triumph, we went downstairs to dine. There were no khinkali in the nearest restaurant. There were no khinkals, Karl! It was a low blow. Absolutely every institution in Georgia has khinkali. It happens that there is nothing at all, even a menu, but there are khinkali. Okay, bring what's in the oven! We had Adjarian khachapuri and some other goodies in the oven.
Now our route lay on the reunion of two rivers! But first, let's look into the enclosures of the open zoo. The fox was lying with a cunning look, the owl was looking at us motionlessly, but the big bird of prey showed with all its appearance that it was about to cut us into pieces. It was a pity for the bear in a small enclosure. I wanted to free him. But if we took the castle unnoticed, then the release of the beast will not go unnoticed. Wish the bear good luck. The rivers, unfortunately, decided to reunite in such thickets that even the dog that stuck to us gave up. We, like pioneers, drilled the jungle and small rivers. Even had to share with Dasha. Some transitions of small streams were unsuccessful and Dasha had to look for another way so as not to repeat my fate. But the colorful rivers did reunite right in front of us. And here we are, with a sense of accomplishment, going to Tbilisi. The fortress is taken, khachapuri is eaten, the bird of prey is in a cage, and the rivers are reunited!
Tbilisi
5 years ago we have already studied every street here, now we need to repeat the best! The center at the glass bridge was still beautiful. Its waterfalls pouring from the rocks are unforgettable. The cheapest cable car we met, at 2.5 lari ($ 0.8), rolled us over the city. We followed the hiking trails towards the park. I had to overcome such a long and climbing route that all the morning adventures were easier.
One of the key difficulties of the route was the encounter with a long yellow snake. Luckily the snake wasn't in the mood for a fight. Judging by the pictures on the Internet, we saw the Capercaillie. It looks like a lizard without limbs in the form of a snake. It happens like that. In the park itself, two surprises awaited us. A viewing wheel closed for a month of repairs and our favorite attraction with Dasha open. This is a Log that rushes along the water slides. The attraction was turned on especially for us.
There was a lot of screaming! I was covered with a wave so that I had to dry for a while. It's joyful! And of course, beautiful panoramas of the capital awaited us. After such an eventful day, a real feast awaited us. We found a very successful restaurant, which we will definitely visit on our next trips. It is called Machakhela near Marjanashvili metro station. True, five years ago we also had a favorite restaurant, but it was already closed. By the way, our favorite phrase in Georgia with Dasha is “Schemyagesyat guri Marjanashvili! ”. It's like in Istanbul, when they announce the stop "Kabatas! ". The restaurant liked the price of wine 1.2 lari glass (0.5 $) or 8 lari (3.2 $) per bottle. The volume of the bottle is 1.7 liters….
Georgians know a lot about wine. I liked more expensive wine at 2 GEL per glass, I like red more) However, the cuisine is just as excellent. It's good that before the last trips I threw off 5 kilograms. This was just right for Georgia) Nothing, after the trip I’ll still sit on a diet for a while.
Kvareli
Our third and, unfortunately, the last day. It will be as beautiful and joyful as the previous ones. Why do we have so few days in such a beautiful country? So we fly home and take tickets for next year! The driver corrected us, they say, take it for the fall, just the grapes will ripen. This morning, with great confidence, we went to the wrong bus station. We ate, and through the whole city we went to the right one. We planned to go again to Borjomi. But the entire western part of Georgia was flooded with showers. So let's go to Sighnaghi, it was very cool there. The driver of the minibus reminded us that we had to go to Sighnaghi with a change for a ride. Invited us to discover something new. He told us to go with him to Kvareli, it's beautiful there, a beautiful lake and tourists also go there. Well, ok, Kvareli is so Kvareli. Forward! We drove for about three hours. The difficulty of the road was maximum. For three hours we listened to Russian chanson from the driver's radio. To the lake one had to go through very strange unfinished quarries. The lake is picturesque. It's a pity our fotik is under repair.
The beauty is that there are high mountains in the background. To be honest, such a difficult road and getting to the lake cast doubt on the whole idea. We went to a restaurant to rest. In the restaurant, besides us, there was a company of loud men. The real Georgian spirit reigned in the restaurant. It was just the feasting Georgians who asked him. The manager decided to please us with loud music and turned on the continuation of the Russian chanson. What kind of torture is that! They asked to include something Georgian. Now it is better. At the end of the meal, the men turned their attention to us. We found out that we are from Ukraine. They called the waitress and told us not to run away. They called us to their table, three guys took the glasses from two, handed them to us.
Filled to the brim and poured Georgian toasts and exchanges of friendliness. We drank for Ukraine, for Georgia, for solving political problems. The waiter brought us a large fruit plate. This five minute meeting with the Georgians made our day. It was really joyful and pleasant. The mood skyrocketed. They persuaded us to stay and walk further! Why do we need to return to Tbilisi, you can stay with us in Kvareli. But you can't cancel the plane. Had there been a day left, the trip would have taken an unexpected turn. The time until the return bus was ticking. We went to inspect the lake and returned to Kvareli. On the way, a bus stopped, and the same noisy company of men took us to the city. The city and the lake against the backdrop of the mountains were very pleasing to the eye. Yes, and happy! There is still a fortress in the city, inside of which a football field unexpectedly turned out.
When there were 30 minutes left before the minibus, we noticed a pointer to the lake. The pointer was in the other direction. We spent all our time on the wrong lake. There is only one bus per day! We will have to return to Kvareli again. The town is still cute. We will probably do this in a year and a half, when we go to Sighnaghi) We spent the last evening walking along the cozy streets of the center of the capital. There is a whole alley of restaurants, when you walk there, you feel like you are in Italy. Of course, we finished our route with the streets in our favorite restaurant. We had to try the whole cuisine, which we did not have time in three days. It wasn't easy, but we made it. Oh Georgia, it was a wonderful weekend and a good rest after a big Chinese trip. Finally, we completely relaxed for three days and rested from building difficult questions and struggling with the language barrier. Georgia, we recommend you to absolutely everyone, especially to those who love delicious food and beautiful walks. Georgia we love you!
Trip information
Date of travel: 18.05. 2018 – 22.05. 2018
Duration: 3 full days
Air tickets: UIA for 11 months
Hotels: Booking
Excursions: All by yourself
Trip difficulty: 1/10 (Very easy)
