Georgia
The territory of modern-day Georgia was occupied by many small kingdoms since the medieval times. It then became the united Georgia during the 11th-12th centuries. The united Georgia collapsed under Mongol attacks and broke into autonomous regions. Georgia was annexed by the Russian Empire in the beginning of the 19th century. It then became an independent sovereign state in the southern Caucasus region since 1991. In the 2008 South Ossetia War with Russia, Georgia lost more land. Now the population of Georgia is almost 4.7 million.
The geographical map of Georgia. It is surrounded by bigger neighboring countries.
The Georgia national flag and the slogan of Tbilisi: "the city that loves you".
Tbilisi:
It was founded in the 5th century, and has been serving as the Georgian capital for nearly 1500 years.
Upon arriving at Tbilisi in the year 2012, a street signage and an election advertising board were displayed next to one another. Number 5 refers to the political party of GNM.
A Tbilisi minibus going towards the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, biggest cathedral in Georgia.
This reminds me of a real story:
While i was in a Tbilisi city bus, two Africans boarded the same bus, they did not pay the bus fare, and sat down at the last row. Incidentally, the bus conductor also boarded the same bus. The conductor went through all passengers, and came to the two Africans.
Conductor: "ticket?"
Africans: "no ticket"
Conductor: "where is the ticket?"
Africans: "no money, no money"
there it went on...
Conductor: "i call the police" (repeat many times)
One of the Africans jumped up, walked to the ticketing machine, dropped two coins, and said: "It is only two Lari."
Lari is the currency of Georgia.
Outside my hotel, the first sight i saw was the statue of Mother Georgia. At 20 meter tall, the statue was built in the early 1960s, and it is a metaphor for the Georgian character. Carrying a sword and a cup of wine, the guest is warmly welcome but intruders are fiercely resisted.
An quintessential building style in Tblisi, the protruded balcony can be seen on the right.
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| The old street of Tbilisi |
The old town of Tbilisi is full of old streets such as this.
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| the view |
The Narikala fortress on the mountain, the old city of Tbilisi, and the Kura River form a scenic view.
The Bridge of Peace, connecting old Tbilisi with the new district.
Someone took this picture for me.
The freedom square, the site of various mass demonstrations including the Rose Revolution.
Tbilsi old town under the moon light.
The city wall of Tbilisi is lit up at night. It is nice to take a leisurely stroll around the city wall.
The entrance to the metro station at freedom square.
The messy market at Didube.
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| baby on a Balcony |
Going to Kazbegi:
After several days in Tbilisi, i took a shared taxi to Kazbegi Mountain. Kazbegi mountain is the ski resort of Georgia in winter time. In summer time, it is the hiking hot spot. The taxi traveled north from Tbilisi, then followed the Georgian Military Highway to the border with Russia. The taxi stopped at the town of Stepantsminda, which is at the foothill of Kazbegi Mountain.
Along the way, there is an attractive medieval Ananuri castle. The taxi stopped there briefly, for some photo time. The castle is on the tentative list of UNESCO world heritage site. The castle was built by a local family, probably 200 years ago.
The monument at the Jvari pass, to commemorate the opening of Georgian Military Highway.
I posed for a picture in front of the Southern Caucasus mountain.
The mountain surrounding the Jvari pass and the dirt road through the mountain.
The travetine rock along the Georgian Military Highway.
The scenery before reaching Kazbegi Mountain.
Another view.
I was able to see the Kazbegi Mountain and Gergeti Trinity Church once i arrived at the town square of Stepantsminda.
The town square of Stepantsminda. The Gergeti trinity Church is sitting atop the mountain.
As i planned to return to Tbilisi before night fell, i took a 4x4 ride up the mountain, to visit the Gergeti trinity church.
Going straight will lead to the city of Vladikavkazi in Russia.
The next day, i took a train to Batumi, the biggest city at the Georgian Black Sea coast.
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| Two guys along the railway track |
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| A little girl in the train |
Batumi:
Batumi is just next to north eastern Turkey. It is the governing city of Adjara province.
The Black Sea coast of Batumi, it is a pebble stone beach.
At night, the musical fountains of Batumi played to the admiration of its people.
The quiet street of Batumi in the early morning.
It was almost noon time, and yet the street was empty.
I took a minibus to Gonio-Apsaros, an ancient Byzantine fortress built more than 1000 years ago. Inside the fortress, there is a small museum, and some derelict stone wall.
Inside the Gonio-Apsaros fortress, the small museum is on the left hand side. The fortress is located 10 minutes to the Turkey border by bus.
Mtskheta:
It is the spiritual heart of Georgia, and the historical center of Mtskheta is a UNESCO world heritage site.
The Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is the most important church in Georgia, it was built in the 11th century.
The Jvari Monastery, built in the 6th century, it is on the top of a hill.
At the confluence of Mtkvari and Aragvi rivers, the historical center of Mtskheta is on the right. This is seen from Jvari Monastery.
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