After a roughly 30-hour venture via London & Istanbul, we arrived in Tbilisi ("tah-blee-see") on time & with all our luggage! Tbilisi most definitely exceeded expectations. The city is gorgeous, the people friendly, and the food amazing.


Battling jet lag, we started our first day off with a walking tour of the Old Town. The architecture & people are a true mix of east & west with the 4th century AD Narikala Fortress, Public Baths, & 6th century AD Sioni Cathedral which houses St. Nino's cross which is associated with the spread of Christianity to Georgia. Towering over the city is the Mother of Georgia, Kartlis Deda, statue. Symbolizing the Georgian national character, in one hand, the woman holds a bowl of wine to represent her hospitality & in the other, a sword represents her ability to protect herself. Georgia's desire to associate with the West is very clear from their town center alternating EU & Georgian flags, a statue of Reagan near their presidential building, and a George Bush St.


On our second day, still battling jet lag from the long journey & the 11-hour time difference from California, we treated ourselves to the Sulfur Baths. We had an hour soak alternating hot baths to cold showers & some great tea. Afterward, we passed out from late afternoon until 4 am the next day. We tried to rouse ourselves for dinner, but we couldn't muster it. 


Much rested, we spent the remainder of the time in Tbilisi wining & dining. We ate amazingly even though coffee shops don't open until 11/12...10 if you're lucky! Our favorite dishes were Khinkali (dumplings), Kachipuri (bread with cheese & an egg yolk in the center), and Kubdari (flaky bread filled with cheese & chopped beef). Many of the hotels, restaurants, & bars are in remodeled Soviet-era factories. One of the coolest is Stamba which is now a hotel/restaurant/bar/coworking space but was originally a publishing house. We had an amazing dinner here with really creative cocktails. We also really loved a wine bar called Wine Buffet. It was a bit tucked away, but the sign on the front door insisted it was cool inside, so up the stairs we climbed. The owner spoke very little English but was very passionate about sharing his country's wine & expanding our knowledge. We weren't expecting it, but this turned into our bootcamp for planning our next adventure to the Kakheti wine region. We also weren't really sure what was happening as it seemed like a very rushed tasting. He asked our preference of red or white + dry or semi-sweet (Georgians LOVE their semi-sweet wine) & then served us each a rapid succession of 3 different wines to try. After we tried them, he lined up each of the bottles & asked which one we wanted a glass of. We really wish this was the modus operandi at all wine bars! 


We loved Tbilisi so much, that we're squeezing in an extended stay after Armenia before heading on from Georgia. Our hostel when we return will be walking distance from the Wine Buffet :)


Reading

  • Kyle: Never Split the Difference by Christopher Voss
  • Kelsey: Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Listening To