From Kakheti, we caught a taxi back to Tbilisi and then a Marshrutka to Kazbegi. The taxi was hilarious as the car had no seat belts & the driver spoke no English. After about 45 minutes of him trying to ask, us trying to think of what he was trying to say, and a failed use of google translate, we figured out he was asking where we were from. Very nice man. A Marshrutka is basically the bus/shuttle system in Georgia, but it's a 9-13 passenger van which is notorious for crazy drivers. 


Kazbegi, also known as Stepantsminda, is a mountainous region known for hiking in Georgia. It looks straight out of the Sound of Music. Within minutes of entering the region, we were wow'd by the soaring steep, green mountains that felt like the Swiss Alps. Probably a few more cows hanging out on a major highway than in Switzerland.


We stayed in a small guesthouse which included breakfast for $20 a night. We would walk downstairs in the morning to the kitchen & be immediately greeted by the sweetest woman with a table full of eggs, fresh bread, homemade cheese + jam + butter, kachapuri, dumplings, pancakes, vegetables, and coffee. Our host loved her coffee; every morning as soon as she made her cup after ours she would rejoice in how great & necessary it was. It was the most amazing meal & she would pack up our leftovers to later serve as our lunch during our hikes.


Our biggest venture in Kazbegi was a hike to see the Gergeti Trinity Church & the Gergeti Glacier. The church combined with the scenery made for the most beautiful hike. All in, we ended up doing 10 miles and 4K feet in elevation. 


Reading

  • Kyle: Never Split the Difference by Christopher Voss
  • Kelsey: The Breakdown by B.A. Paris

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