Unforgettable acquaintance with Georgia
I'll start with the fact that I really wanted to go to Georgia. The stories of friends who have repeatedly traveled around Georgia were fascinating. The decision came after viewing the photos and the amazing impressions of a colleague who flew to Georgia in October. Also in the anamnesis was the absence of a Schengen visa for a friend and the closure of Egypt for Russians (we celebrated last New Year in Egypt, and it was very cool).
Due to the late decision that we want to celebrate the New Year in Georgia, the trip turned out to be not cheap - the last two seats on the direct flight St. Petersburg - Tbilisi cost us one third of the entire tour price. Independently search for hotels, choose, etc. - there was no time, and indeed there was no desire either. Fruitful cooperation with Margarita, the manager of the TripTravel company, and this time went without a hitch. Margarita picked up a chic tour for us in the shortest possible time.
In fact, the tour turned out to be what is called “individual”, since everything was selected exclusively for us - both the fact that we want direct flights, and the fact that we cannot leave before December 31 (due to heavy workload at work) . And the fact that we want to live in the center and, if possible, travel on excursions as much as possible.
I must say that this is not the first time in my life when on December 31 I fly somewhere or go somewhere. In fact, this is the most pleasant New Year's Eve chores - waiting for a flight at the airport : ) Of course, given the fact that the New Year itself has already been organized by someone in advance : )
On December 31, we safely arrived in Tbilisi (during the border control - the border guard returns the passport with a stamp and issues a bottle of 375 ml of Saperavi 2012 (! )), we were met by a representative from the host of Sunny Tours, took us to the hotel, where we ( no worse than soldiers in the army) quickly gathered to celebrate the new year in a restaurant. The Old City restaurant, judging by 90% of the guests, is precisely designed to serve tourists who wish to celebrate the New Year in Tbilisi. The tables were bursting with delicious food, there were obligatory khachapuri and kebabs. Of course, champagne. But the wine, oddly enough, was tasteless. But this was the only time in Georgia when we drank tasteless wine. There was a chic entertainment program - with live singing and Georgian dancing. New Year was celebrated three times - in Russian, in Georgian and in Ukrainian.
Then we accidentally had a quest called "Get to the hotel on New Year's Eve. " The fact is that we didn’t take the hotel’s business card, but when we were met at the airport and then taken to the restaurant, the guide girl assured us that we just had to go to the restaurant administrator and ask to call a taxi to our Boutique City hotel. In fact, for some reason, no one could find the address of this hotel, and the taxi driver and I went according to our memories - which we managed to notice on the way from the airport : ) Eventually we arrived.
The Boutique City Hotel is small and very neat. The location is the best, in my opinion, for tourists - in the heart of the Old Town and next to Freedom Square. From any side to the main attractions - within easy reach. And accordingly - walk with your feet : )
When we checked into our room, a pleasant surprise awaited us from the hotel - a bottle of champagne and a postcard, signed by hand and addressed specifically to us. Taking into account the issued two bottles of Saperavi at the border control - in one small unit of time we have already formed a certain supply of alcohol : )
On January 1, we woke up for breakfast, had breakfast and went to sleep again : ) Then, according to the proposed program (and we had a free day and recommendations for spending time were written in the tour program), we went for a walk, got to the funicular, dined with delicious khinkali and walked around the Old Town a bit.
On January 2, there was a wonderful walking tour of Tbilisi with a charming Lady - the guide of Sunny Tours. A wonderful story, interesting facts, a sunny day - everything contributed to the fact that the whole group liked the tour, they did not want to let Lady go.
And of course, in the evening we went to the sulfur baths. When visiting Tbilisi, this is one of the most necessary things: ) Outside, the baths have recently been reconstructed, but inside everything is still quite Soviet: ) Although in fact it is no longer noticed after the first dip in a pool of hot sulfuric water. Of course, we did not forget that we are girls and ordered a massage with a scrub. A strict aunt (: )) came with a bucket, a mitten and a suspiciously smelling liquid. She gave out commands, like a sergeant major on the parade ground - lie down! turn around! sit down! Yeah, you can probably understand her - there are many of us, but she is one. The body was cleaned with a mitten and vinegar (the suspiciously smelling liquid turned out to be vinegar), and the soapy massage turned out to be not a massage at all, but an action called “just wiggle your hands” : ). But we were not upset at all - anyway, the body was very well prepared for receiving and absorbing the precious sulfuric liquid.
On January 3, we went to Kakheti - a two-day excursion with a visit to the Alazani Valley, monasteries, the Niko Pirosmani Museum and the Kinzmarauli factory.
To describe the beauty of the Alazani Valley, even if it is snowy, there will not be enough epithets. All this must be seen with your own eyes. Our group was small - 6 people, two Georges accompanied us - a driver and a guide. And I must say that the main part of our admiration for Georgia is precisely their merit. Firstly, we were practically the only group who were able to travel to Kakheti these days - there were severe frosts and the roads were icy. And on the mountain roads, only a true ace could drive a car - our driver Georgy. As a result, we saw almost everything that was planned, visited Kinzmarauli with a mandatory tasting and dined at an incredible restaurant on the mountain. On the way to George, we stopped at a certain friend of ours and took homemade wine for our dinner. As many as 10 liters : )
The next day, when we were already returning to Tbilisi, at our request, we were taken to a roadside cafe with real home cooking. I must say that Georgian cuisine is very good everywhere, but in private small establishments everything is especially tasty. And we also stopped at a real city market, where we very successfully bought Georgian specialties - Svan salt (which, as it turned out, had to be transported in some completely dense and airtight package, since my suitcase aired out only after two months : )), other spices - adjika, suneli hops; obligatory churchkhela and obligatory homemade suluguni.
On January 5, we went to Mtskheta (the ancient capital of Georgia) and to a private wine production - Chateau Kvareli. Compared to the Kinzmarauli distillery, the wine production technology is different, but the wines are also very tasty, which turned out during the tasting : )
January 6 was a free day, and since it was the pre-Christmas day, we decided to go to the Holy Trinity Collection - the largest cathedral in Georgia. And then they just walked around, bought souvenirs. In fact, the most basic and necessary Georgian souvenir is wine : ) or chacha : ) or cognac : ). The rest is optional - churchkhela, spices, magnets, dishes, national clothes, etc.
After a long walk, we were incredibly lucky with the place we chose for dinner. The basement, which was not very noticeable from the outside, turned out to be a home restaurant inside with a completely homely atmosphere. We ordered the obligatory Adjarian khachapuri, the obligatory by that time chicken soup - chikhirtma and, of course, khinkali. Everything was unspeakably delicious, and the daughter of the owner of the restaurant showed us how to eat Adjarian khachapuri. It turns out that until that time, we ate these pies incorrectly : )
January 7 was the return flight to St. Petersburg. They barely put the bottles in their suitcases and completely forgot about the norm of alcohol that can be imported into the country : ) We also bought cognac at the airport in the store. As a result, at Pulkovo, everyone who arrived from Tbilisi was asked to put their suitcases on a belt and already counted the bottles in the scanner : ) Apparently, our customs officers also know that the best gift from Georgia is a bottle of wine. We had a clear bust with alcohol : ) But we were forgiven in honor of Christmas. Hurrah!!!
I really want to go back to Georgia - to meet wonderful residents, some of them, fortunately, have already become our friends, to see the blooming Alazani Valley, drink real homemade wine and eat real homemade cheese.
Discover Georgia! And do not forget to contact TripTravel for a tour with the obligatory condition that the host should be Sunny Tours.
P. S. Photos in the phone : ) I didn’t throw it off on my laptop, but believe me - Georgia is beautiful!!!