Georgia & Armenia
Spanning between the Black and Caspian Seas, at the crossroad of Europe and Asia, Christianity and Islam, the Caucasus is one of the world’s most diverse and complex regions. Expect unequaled hospitality, complex geopolitics, lots of monasteries, and funky alphabets.
Spanning between the Black and Caspian Seas, between Europe and Asia, between Christianity and Islam, the Caucasus is one of the world’s most diverse and complex regions. Expect unequaled hospitality, complex geopolitics, lots of monasteries, and funky alphabets.
Tbilisi
Sulfur baths, tbilisi was on the silk road, my story
The Caucasus is home to some of the most hospitable people in the world. Upon arrival at Kutaisi’s international airport, every visitor is given a complementary bottle of Georgian wine.
Food is an integral part of Georgian culture and Georgian life. Everything I tasted was unique.
A fifteen minute ride from the old town with Bolt - Georgia’s version of Uber - will get you to the Dezerter Bazaar, Tbilisi’s biggest food market. Babushkas peacefully compete to sell fresh fruit, vegetable, cheese, bread and sweets coming from all over the country. Everyone I encountered was willing to pose for me and seemed excited to have their photo taken.
Churchkhela is a traditional candle-shaped snack made of grape must, nuts and flour. Easily the most common street food, I was told to head to the markets for the best quality.
My favorite local food was without a doubt Khinkali, the Georgian dumpling. A delicious dough stuffed with meat or cheese, quite similar to Xiaolongbao I tasted in China.
Chacha is Georgia’s version of vodka. It seems like every restaurant, shop and grandparent make their own at home.
გამარჯობა! Georgian uses one of the most unique alphabets in the world, one of the fourteen scripts that exist in the world.
An estimated fifty thousands stray dogs walk the streets of Tbilisi. What happens to be a challenge for other Caucasus countries was dealth with quite efficiently by Georgian authorities: the majority of the dogs I encountered
Outside of Tbilisi however, very few dogs have golden tags. A few stray dogs joined me on my hike to the Gergeti Trinity Church. Though I was far too afraid to open the snacks, I didn’t experience any problem whatsoever with them.
In Tbilisi, dogs are the true ruler of the city. While walking the streets, I witnessed a young man get out of his car to politely ask this dog to get out of his way, under the fascinated eyes of a group of tourists.