The weather in Tbilisi, Georgia in the Caucasus region of Europe was good for the 3 days I was there, and I felt fortunate to enjoy some more calm sunny days in October as it rains back home.  In Tbilisi it was pretty much wall to wall sunshine as temperatures stayed at around 70+ degrees, so made for a really delightful environment to enjoy this fine city.

I’ve realized that the food in this Eastern part of Europe has a lot of similarities, often called Georgian, but variants in other countries.  The food in Azerbaijan and Ukraine was similar to many kinds of things I found here, and to be honest I was ready for something different at times, but that did not stop me enjoying some local cuisine, with Kachapuri now a staple. That said, on my Saturday night here I had one of my best restaurant experiences.  I’m not sure if it was because it was a Saturday, or that this is common place at the Restaurant Gorgasali in Old City, as there was live music and a show going on in the restaurant.  When I sat down I had no idea what was coming up, and in fact not even during the entire evening.  Everything was in the local language, and with some Russian thrown in.  We had some Kazakhstan music especially for a party of Kazakhstani’s in the restaurant, and they were clearly enjoying their time.  My highlight was when the whole place was singing (and plenty dancing) to the well-known to the song from the film ‘The Way’ ‘Ali Ali Oh’ …personally I have absolutely no idea why this song, or the relevence, but everyone loved

Tbilisi is noticeably more of a tourist city than my recent destinations, and it is an increasingly more important part of the country’s economy, but that is not to say that most visitors are English speaking, though there were some.  I went on the free walking tour again and learned plenty about this country that was part of the 1991 devolution of USSR, so, like Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Belarus is 28 years old as an independent nation    Our tour guide, Zura explained that he is 33, so is older than his country, and he remembers the times when there were big celebrations as they got their 2 hours of electricity in the evenings.  Made me think did that particular anecdote.

There are five languages in Georgia, yes 5, and Zura explained that the best way for a foreigner to learn how to pronounce some of the words is the practice with your hands around your own throat, but try not to strangle yourself doing it!!

Trip Advisor has constantly guided my trip and it was no change here as I was able to find time for most of the recommended attractions, apart from the Monday mistake.  I wanted to visit the Georgian National Museum, but I didn’t check opening times well enough, and found out too late that they were closed on Monday, my last day.  Though, I enjoyed lots of fun things, had some nice meals and was able to take some fabulous photos to remind me of my visit here in this truly excellent spot in the Georgian capital.

Being here does allow for playing an interesting game similar to Deal or No Deal – the Tbilisi version is “Death or No Death”, it is very easy to play, just try your luck on a pedestrian crossing, but there are no green or red crossing signs, it is just crossed fingers.  Cars in Tbilisi don’t stop, ever, even if you are already crossing.  If you are lucky they might veer around you, if you are not so lucky, you better run.  Once you start playing along it is kind of addictive!

I went out walking to find the Dinamo Tbilisi soccer stadium, and I saw the other side of Tbilisi, the poverty side.  Walking the Javakhistvili Street in between Old City and toward the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena,

I came across a lot of rundown houses and streets, and it brought it home to me that presently Georgia is still a fairly poor country with reported in articles almost a quarter of the population under the poverty line. In the tourist part money has been spent, restaurants, hotels and the surrounding areas are pleasing on the eye, but you don’t have to go far to see things differently.

The wander back in a different direction saw things change again, on Afmashenebeli Street, it was once again modern and so, so different.  This is a place with character, and I liked it much more for having had the experience of this insight.  I wandered 19 miles, and could have done it in a fraction of the time via the Metro, but I would not have been able to experience the place, and one such moment was an underground passage.  There are many of these in this part of Europe so that you can navigate the streets, but this one was smaller, dingy and with little lighting.  It was definitely in the ‘little bit scary’ territory, and as my heart and my pace quickened I was off and out before panic could set in.

I now start my four-legged journey home, it will take 32 hours all told, going Tbilisi -> Istanbul -> Zurich -> Amsterdam -> Seattle.  With just a one-hour transfer window in Istanbul it was a mad rush across the airport, through security to search for gate B8 to just about meet my next flight time.  On the flight I kept my fingers crossed that my luggage had sped across the airport as quickly as I did.  Pleasingly, it did make it to Zurich, and just to take the trip full circle, not only did I return to the same hotel from where I started, but I was located in exactly the same room, number 722.

The final leg brought a third visit to Amsterdam, though I have never stepped foot outside the airport, just here for connections.  Yet another short connection, another step to speed across the airport to meet my final leg of the long flight back to Seattle.