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Having taken what we thought was a short detour around some road works we, instead, ended up on a very long detour in the mountains. (It has to be said that in Georgia and Turkey road diversion signs are non-existent and we got lost many times – as did the Satnav!)
But with the recent snow fall, this little detour proved to be absolutely stunning! The sun shone and the candy floss puffs of snow glistened against the clear blue sky. A veritable winter wonderland indeed.
I think I can safely say our visit to Georgia was pretty much all about the cities! And the wine.
We really wanted to drive out to some of the northern countryside regions, but after driving south from Russia through the Caucasus Mountains it was apparent that both winter and the snow had arrived making access difficult. We tried one route over a mountain between Kutaisi and Batumi but got turned back after 40km as the road was closed due to snow 🙁 We’ll just have to come back another time!
Not that being in the city was a hardship. Good food, fine wine and a massive range of beer to choose from!
#1 Tbilisi, the capital, is wonderful
#2 There is a delicious salad of tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions and a truly scrumptious walnut dressing. Georgians must eat a huge amount of walnuts
#3 The Georgian script is crazy looking (looks a bit like Thai script)
#4 Mountainous landscape so there’s lots of skiing resorts in the north
#5 Georgians grow grapes so there’s more delicious red wine than even I can drink
#6 Most people, especially in Tbilisi, are terribly stylish – and wear really nice shoes
#7 There’s a petrol station called Gulf that sells ‘G Force’ petrol – which fans of ‘Battle of the Planets’ will appreciate
#8 Batumi, which is a Black Sea costal town, is gorgeous
#9 Feels really European
#10 Lots of the houses, in the countryside and in the towns, have ornate verandas or balconies
#11 Loads of cabbages and persimmons
#12 I LOVE Georgia
In the previous blog I wrote about the importance of all the little details in our daily life that build up, over time, to create the big picture. I mentioned the scary bridge crossing…..well, if you will indulge me….I’d like to tell you more 🙂
One of the best things about this trip is that there is a nice balance between routine and spontaneity. I love routine and with a trip like this there’s lots of routines to get your teeth stuck into. Living in such a small space means you have to be organised and you naturally fall into a pattern of chores that need doing. From opening the curtains each morning to setting up the tea making paraphernalia. From checking the drawers are locked to closing the sun roof cover. From locking the car each night to lying in bed watching something on the computer.
But unlike being at home and going to work where, no doubt, everyone has their own set of routines and chores: we are constantly on the move. So each day is different. Each day we have different vistas and different experiences. And it is here where the beauty of travelling lies. Each day is filled with hundreds of small un-noteworthy details that don’t amount to much. But combined, these small strokes build up to create one large painting. And it’s in these small details, that happen in the gaps between each routine, where the real beauty lies.
(A companion piece to Building with Botox)
I have literally fallen head over heels in love with Tbilisi; the capital of Georgia. We are staying in the old part of the town which nestles under a 4th century fort perched high on the hillside.
Where Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva have been renovated to within an inch of their lives, parts of Tbilisi sit preciously on the edge of destruction. It’s like walking around a city that has just been discovered, decaying under a mesh of grape vines that criss cross from one side to the other creating a canopy of forbidden fruits. The eclectic mixture of architecture: from Middle Eastern, Moorish, Neoclassical, Art Nouveau, Soviet and Modernism only add to its utter charm.
What with the endless eating and boozing over the last week in Tbilisi I’m not sure if I’ll fit into any of my clothes anymore!
So, with that thought here’s me modelling some key looks from my Winter 2016/17 Collection. I will accept any modelling offers as a result…. enjoy 😉
(This should be read after A Story with a Happy Ending – a somewhat unflattering portrait of Russia.)
On our final night, probably ever, in Russia we ended up camping close to the Georgian border in the forecourt of a cafe/petrol station (avid fans will recall my blog post ‘Service Without a Smile‘ and know how these work). It was really cold outside so, having eaten in the cafe, we smuggled in a bottle of wine and some beer to drink in the warmth. We were half way through a rather dull game of Scrabble (yes – Captain was winning) when the friendly security guard approached for a chat and to give us some sweets.
(This should be read before The Happy Ending Story)
I’m starting off with two bits of good news: firstly, we found a bottle of port and some blue cheese in a supermarket in Atyrau! Secondly, as avid readers of the blog, you will no doubt already know that Brian was reunited with us – so I won’t bore you with the details of that. So with Brian back on board, the port safely stored away and the cheese stinking the car out we headed to the border with Russia. We only had a four day transit visa with which to travel through Russia and we had lost a day of that waiting for DHL to cough Brian up; so it was a case of ‘foot to the floor.’
