Tbilisi. By any standart a grand city! Unique, alive and historical. I'm happy to be back, even tho' our plans didn't quiet work out the expected way.
But let's just start at the beginning.
Since we are two campers on the road for the moment (we are travelling with Kathi and Fabio, the swiss couple who bought our old van before this journey), there's more to be organized automaticly. The night before getting into town, we camp at a majestical hill with a great view on that mega city.
The next day, Fabio's stomach turns from blue to green out of nothing and we need a propper place to rest. It's an overlander meeting spot right at the HUGE cathedral of Tbilisi and we take it with joy.
📍Sameba Cathedral
Fabio was fit enough to go eat out with us in the evening. We found a beautiful restaurant, supported by traditional Georgian live music. Dinner was superb, which is why we had way too much. Aoife and me went for a drink after and found a cute street with many bars to have a georgian wine.
After a night of much wind and little sleep, none of us is in a really good shape, Fabio is suffering still. We're deciding to find an Airbnb in the city to rest and get to see the city a bit.
In no time it is found. Fabio and Kathi took an appointment for their camper, since it's front breaks are gone. It'll take place the day after, so we find ourselfs enjoying the climated rooms of the appartment first of all. By now, everyone starts to feel a bit insecure around the stomach. None of us manages to get out of the door that day. The next day, Aoife and me are heading towards the old town. Tbilisi surprises us with it's extrem diversity, huge monuments, it's history and it's strong spirit. What a hotspot!
📍Narikala Hill, Tbilisi
📍Queen Darejan Palace
📍Metechi Church
Tbilisi's architectural style is proud. With only the exception of Abanotubani (an old town sector), old historical and highly modern buildings are mixed and found right next to one another, and both of them are really impressive. Those old, well mentained gallery houses are spreading an exotic, southern flair, making this city look so unique.
📍 Kopala Hotel
Then again, skyscrapery and glass towers, next to memorial statues or new age arranged parks.
Beside of history, art and music are just the same diverse and important in Tbilisi. There's a number of academies, museums and galleries to be found across the city, giving us a feeling of inspiration.
📍Baratashvili Bridge
As one of the main crossing bridges over the Kura River, the Baratashvili bridge owns an impressive underground walk-through and a gallery, which impressed me with it's strong subiects of recent happenings here in Georgia, but also around the world. Highly political statements give an idea of the young fight against for western values while the big brother is never far.
Anyway, the Kura river created a massive gap right through the heart of the city. From up the Nariqala fortress, you'll have an impressive sight on it.
On the way to the historical old town of Tbilisi, we stumbel over this cute and jolly underground bazar.
📍Meidan Bazaar
Another highlight to us was the persian influence in Abanotubani with its beautiful old center.
📍Dschuma Minarette
The Orbeliani Baths are probably the middle point of it. Its water contains sulfur, which gives the air around it a slightly unpleasant, "rotten egg" kind of smell. Anyway, the main entrance is built typical arabic with its colorfull, detailed mosaic patterns.
📍 Orbeliani Baths
The baths water source lies in an impressive little canyon, which when followed, ends in a waterfall right behind the baths. Along it's steep cliffs, those typical gallery houses. Even more dramatic now with that surrounding!
📍Leghvtakhevi Canyon
The waterfall is an unexpected, quiet resting place. By now, my stomach is a ruin as just like Fabio's, and it's clear now, that we all share some sort of an gastro-intestinal flu.
📍Leghvtakhevi Waterfall
I'm super low on energy and we decide to take a taxi back to the appartment. After resting for a while, i get better, while Kathi is now taking the flu fully. She stays at home while Fabio, Aoife and me are heading for a last dinner in Tbilisi.
Despite our original plans, we decide to take a few extra days with them in Armenia, since the boarder isn't much further then an hour.
The next day, the camper is ready at the garage and everything seems very well made. It must be a good feeling to have breaks breaking again without the sound of a dying monster 😄
See you in Armenia!
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