Tbilisi

Shortly after leaving the Bagratashen/Sadakhlo border, we stumbled upon a massive traffic jam. It last at least 45 minutes, before we finally arrived in the Ortachala bus station. There I changed my leftover dram into lari, no doubt being scammed in the process (the driver took care of that) and proceeded to get a taxi to the old town. About I managed to understand a handful of words and to answer, mostly extra basic stuff, but when he asked if I needed a hostel I managed to tell him that no, a friend of mine lives here.

Once in town immediataly went to eat. Kharcho and badrijani, with a glass of saperavi. I am so predictable. After a bried walk I went to Newsroom Cafè, where the owner recognized me! I stayed there a few hours, getting some Georgian lessons by him and a friend, before going to Lekha's house, my next host whom I also met last year, when I stayed at her cousin's. We met, ate, she ruined my life telling me that it's pronounced bàsmati and not basmàti, and I finally went to sleep.

The morning after we should have gone to Kakheti, but she was tired, so we decided to postpone. I took the chance and went to visit Tbilisi again, seeing all those things I missed the first time. The sun was shining (one of the things I missed the first time), so I went to the Narikala fortress again, to take a few pics of the city from above, but rather than taking the cable car again, I decided to climb up the steps in the old town.

 

 

Couldn't have chosen better. Not only the steps went up in a labirintine system of alleys and corners, but I reached the Holy Mother of God Church of Bethlehem, built just below the Kartlis Deda, of which I already talked about in last year's trip. This was built in 18th Century and it used to be an Armenian church, but it was later appropriated and totally converted by the Georgian Orthodox Church.

 

 

There is a reason why Orthodox and Apostolic churches lack the elaborate stained glass that adorn Catholic churches. The colours are already inside. Truly, each fresco, pillar and ceiling is a joy for the eye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going out I enjoyed a bit of rest in the local courtyard. It was flowers everywhere. Beautiful and inspiring. Then I kept climbing up, following green paths, until I reached the Kartlis Deda, which looked better with this weather and from this angle. In the end, I reached again the Narikala fortress wall, which afforded the usually amazing views. Hello again, Tbilisi, I missed you too.