30/09/2025 Dinner nearby last night … lost in translation, but a litre and a half of wine arrived! We did take some home. And the most garlicky chicken 🤤
Soup with the leftovers A relaxedJ … anything to do with the wine?Parked up near the new cathedral
We did a 3 hour walking tour. Excellent guide, but why do they talk so fast? Sam, the Australian, we’d given a lift to from Svaneti, was on the tour.
David the guide explaining the Georgian toasting tradition Peace Bridge opened 2010Theological UniSulphur bathsLunch was good until unusually J wanted pudding. A step (several mouthfuls) too far.
We both really like the architecture and feel of Tiblisi so will stay another day.
Our Own Tbilisi Tour
01/10/2025
We loaded two bags with laundry and staggered 1.3km with it. Under £10. Georgia so much better value than Turkey.
Free of our burdens, we did a Katherine led walking tour. I’d plotted the main places of interest that we’d not done yesterday with the official walking tour. We had planned to use the cable car up to the view point, cafes and gardens and then take the funicular down. But the weather was grey so there would have been limited visibility.
Lots of fun statues, I especially love the last one showing the joy of dance. Lots of decrepit buildings – shabby chic. Many with cracks from the 2002 earthquake. But economic uncertainty and decline since the Soviet collapse and insufficient building regulations to force demolition or repair.The State buildings looked the part. Including a permanent demonstration outside the Government building. I wonder if the stormy skies above are symbolic? We checked on which day’s demonstrations were planned. Armenian Church with no floorArmenian church tower as Soviets destroyed restDid enjoy the frescos, some C18Public Services Offices, known as the Umbrellas Freedom Square. The St George was donated recently by a Georgian sculpturerFun clock tower built by the owner of the adjacent puppet theatre Underpasses, some with shops and a convenient convenience Part of the Berlin Wall – we saw a similar gift from Germany in TiranaThe new cathedral Side view of the Peace Bridge
We both think Tbilisi is possibly our favourite capital. Plenty to do for a city break.
Our lovely lunch of 2 soft drinks, bacon and cheese omelette (J), chunky fries (both) and delicious trout stuffed with cheese and walnut paste as only £16.10 in a side street restaurant. We didn’t eat again.
Clune Gap Years 