A week in Georgia

 I had hoped to write this sooner, but getting back home I had to catch up on life in France, so this has been the first chance I've had to publish this post about our second week away.

It was of course the original reason for our Caucasus trip - to visit the couple of Georgian friends Leo and Marika whom we had hosted while Leo was a postgraduate architecture student in Nottingham.  But they both have to work, so having spent a weekend with them we joined up with the guide Eva (also seen here) and driver Ilya for a few days' tours to places outside the capital.  The weather turned wet and cold until our last day, which spoiled a lot of views, but we still saw a lot.

Our hotel in the Old Town was comfortable and convenient for walking around the tourist centre of Tblisi, which we did often during our week's stay.  The travel agent had arranged daytime trips during the week, but over the weekend Leo drove us east to an area, Khakheti, which produces most of the country's wine.  We visited monasteries and a town wine festival, and also a gallery including works by Pirosmani, one of the country's most popular modern artists who liked his wine as you can see).

                                   

                          

We spent the week, while Marika and Leo were at work, exploring the area west of Tblisi, including the old capital of Georgia and its cathedral, a monatery overlooking a lake and a snowy mountain pass, then later the château Mukhari, a winery of some quality.

Probably the outstanding visit of the week was to Mtskheta, the old capital of Georgia, which is just west of Tblisi at the confluence of 2 rivers.  The 6th century Jvari monastery is on a promontory overlooking the rivers, and the 11th century cathedral of Mtskheta just below.  Both were impressive - photos to finish this brief post, and more to come as I reflect on the complex, intertwined history and culture of the two countries we visited over this memorable fortnight.