"Georgia, the country of sparkling spirit " a Georgia Travel Page by Fanija

We were two who wanted to see Georgia with our own eyes. We had heard lots about it from other travelers to be well prepared for an active communication with locals, unplanned turns, tasty food and huge ridges of the Caucasus mountains as far as the eyes can see. To be honest, when the plane took off in Riga, the hearts were beating excitedly because all the senses were promising – we won’t forget it. The god of travelers was generous and Georgia was revealed to our eyes more beautiful than ever imagined.
It is not possible to tell in short words all that this country has given to me and why I would suggest everyone to go there. I just know that I will return there again and again.
But now let’s find some reasons why it could be you to go there and why this is one of the best places for those who value sincerity, spirit of adventure and something untouched by modern civilization.

1. People.
Always in the first place for me. But here they are so welcome and so warm that sometimes you even lose your speech how touched you get.
Of course, it helped a lot that we could speak Russian and also that we all have had the background of the Soviet times that indeed had given us a sense of belonging to the same country. I spent the whole week talking, talking and talking. Everywhere – in cafes, streets, shops, markets, transportation. Having noticed that we are not locals, the people always wanted to know who we are and having learnt that, they always welcomed us very warmly. I still remember the old men in a café of Kutaisi who all raised their wine glasses wishing our country to be happy and strong. Another thing so typical for Georgia – they feel responsible for the guests of their country so in the end my pockets were full of small notes with different names, addresses and phone numbers in case I have some problem or – if I return here again and just want to visit them.

2. Food.
Mmmm… Delicious! I could write a book but let’s talk about just something. For example, one of the most typical and served everywhere – shashlik – small pieces of meat put on a skewer, broiled and then served with greens, cut onion and different sauces. The most popular ones – tkemali (made of small local plums, rather sour) and sacebeli (tomatoes plus garlic and spices). We tried this in many places and everywhere they say – this is the best one in the whole Georgia. Yes, this is true – all Georgians highly esteem themselves and their country, and I felt that their spirit has never been broken by any regime they had faced.

3. Traditions.
Again many, of course. We really enjoyed the local toast making. In short it is like that – the most venerable person among all or the eldest one (but it may vary) is put forward to be the toast master or tamada. So this person (usually a man) is the one who makes toasts all along the evening, and there is a special order for whom you raise glasses each time. The toasts are long and lively, and you are supposed to drink bottoms up. Well, if you are a woman, you may get a discount and drink less!  What was interesting, they never make toasts with beer although drink it. We were explained that beer doesn’t go together with wishing good.

4. Nature.
Mountains everywhere, and the scenery was the most beautiful one. I had seen mountains before somewhere else where I had got the impression that they try to grab you and don’t want to let you breathe. The Caucasus mountains make you feel differently – free and full of happiness. This is one of the mysteries hard to be explained. But I will return to those mountains again.

5. Architecture.
If you want to please your eyes with old churches and monasteries that stand there for hundreds and hundreds of years, it is Georgia where you will see many and many of them. Starting from Tbilisi and moving on through Mtskheta, Zestaponi and Kutaisi, we saw some on the most popular there – Jvari, Gelati, Bagrati, Sameba and others – just type the keywords in the search window and it will give you lots of information.

6. Adventures.
Yeeees, if you want adventures, this is Georgia where they can be found abundantly. My adventure was to find relatives. No, no, I don’t have my own relatives there, but my sister’s husband’s father was a half Georgian. A Georgian man had been married to a woman in Latvia, then they got divorced and he returned back to Georgia, and soon they had lost all the contacts with the family. So I knew the surname and the name of the place where supposedly the family could be living. It was a town of 50 000 inhabitants, no address, but guess what – I found them! Because I met so many helpful people in my way and I guess it was just meant to happen. So we spent three days with the warmest people in the whole world meeting all the relatives, visiting many people and taking part in many many meals. Well, I could write a long story about what a Georgian family is like from inside:)

Don't go there if you search for a constant comfort, 5 star hotels all along the roadways and signed and sealed guarantees that everything will be according to a fixed schedule. Instead, go there to find your inner freedom, to dare, to see that the world can be warmer and more friendly than you ever expected.
But you know, i am sure - you are among those for whom Georgia can become one of the best destinations in their travelling life!