Charles and Fred: July 2012

Welcome to Batumi on the Black Sea

Welcome to Batumi on the Black Sea, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

In the meantime, we have arrived in Batumi, where the air and the vegetation is completley different, a lush tropical feel to the place, feels like arriving in a different country. Being only just 8 am, we have some time to kill before we can make it to our room at the Hotel Rica (which, strangely enough is exactly the same price as the hotels we stayed at in Tblisi (namely 70 euros), Fred not wanting to try a guesthouse/homestay, oh well... The train journey was excellent, had a good sleep on biscuit coloured cheesecloth seats and we arrived exactly on time at 7. A bit of a struggle at the station, with people bustling to bring us to their hotel or guesthouse but we took our time, consulted our Bradt guide and are now in the lobby of the Rica/Titsa Hotel, looking forward to four days here before returing to Istranbul for our last weekend.

Scenes from Khakheti, the wine country of Georgia

Scenes from Khakheti, the wine country of Georgia, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

Whenever I come ot these sorts of countries I so-much want to take photos of ponies and carriages, bringing home the just cut grass and, sure enough, in Khakheti I managed it, with a few more to follow.

Freedom

Freedom, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

As seen from the Georgian Military Highway on the way to Kazbegi.

The amazing village of Shatili

The amazing village of Shatili, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

t looks like Yemen, smells like the Lake District and is two kms away from the Chechen/Russian border.

Just back from three days in the mountains - a buzzard caught

Just back from three days in the mountains - a buzzard caught, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

We took a 4wd out for there days and took some very good advice by going up north to Shatili, which is about 2kms away from the Chechen/Russian border. A difficult drive along dirt tracks, mostly following the course of the rivers along the valleys, Shatili was an exceptionally beautiful spot.

Old Tblisi is being restored

Old Tblisi is being restored, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

Tblisi is a lovely city with beautiful builings, friendly people, plentiful wine, delicious food and great views. Today will only be our second full day here and we look forward to exploring more. There is a lot of EU (and other) money being spent on rennovating the Old Town, as well as on new projects such as the flashing light pedestrian bridge of the river, not to mention the cable car up to the castle overlooking the city. Last night, we ended up at the main fountains, where we were treated to a specatcular display of water movements set to light and (European) classical music. So relaxing, so much fun watching the other onlookers.

Welcome to Tblisi

Welcome to Tblisi, a photo by CharlesFred on Flickr.

We have arrived in Tblisi and will be spending the next two weeks in Georgia on holiday. Arrived yesterday afternoon, looks to be a lovely place.

We had not been out on the streets of Tblisi for more than half an hour before we were offered a large plastic glass of beer and were then taken on a little walk to see this lovely waterfall at the back of the sulphur baths and below the Botanical Gardens. Then it was back for more beer and discussions about Stalin and Putin. Great fun, these people!