Due to bad internet and crazy days I got behind on the blog. I am going to jump ahead so we are only 1 day behind (which is always true so the pictures have time to upload). Hopefully I will got back to catch days 7-9, but we will see
Day 10 was a busy day with Real Georgia tours seeing many of the sights in Eastern Georgia. The main stops where in Davit Gareja and Sighnaghi for a wine tasting. Another long but really good day!
Morning breakfast in our apartment in Tbilsi. We had picked up everything from the Carrefor yesterday
Lincoln strapped in and checking out the scenery as we left Tbilisi.
This trip has involved cows everywhere. They are generally on all the roads and take their time moving for cars.
It was about 2 hours to drive to Davit Gareja. This was the view as we got closer. The area is actually super dry and basically a desert but it was a little green while we were there.
The road there was ridiculous. It is basically no better than atv tracks for much of the way. The guide said the EU had given money to repair the road but it was "lost" by the government. I have no idea how a motorcycle made this trip. There were literally car size holes in the road.
Here is the entrance to Davit Gareja. It is a cave monestary that was ransacked like 400 years ago and only recently been restored.
Some of the caves where the monks live. At one point there was like 600 monks living here from Syria (500 years ago), now there are about 30
The view up the hill. Over the top of the hill is the border with Azerbaijan. It is disputed territory. We had wanted to take a hike to the border at the top, but between it being well over 90, the threat of border guards and large amounts of deadly snakes we skipped that part.
Next was the long drive to Sighnaghi where we had lunch and wine tasting waiting. Along the way we passed through many villages selling different things for each village. This village made bread. We went to visit a bread maker. It is all done the old way and it was really hot in there. It is called mother's bread.
Churchkhela is the national "candy". It is nuts that are covered in sweet grape juice and dried. One village specialized in this and we stopped and saw where some is made.
We also stopped for sheep cheese, which Lincoln really liked
And finally we made it to our wine tasting and "lunch" at Okro's wines at 4 pm
Lincoln and I enjoying the view on the 3rd floor terrace
The view was amazing!
Zach had quail for lunch
Lincoln loved our sommalier. Luckily she was cool with having Lincoln want to climb and sleep on her
Lincoln ran laps back and forth on the balcony while we did wine tasting of 3 Georgian wines and Brandy
The wine celler where they still make wines in clay pots (and use the same gas valve that we use on our beer!).
Lincoln checking out the clay pot
Next we walked around Sighnaghi. This is a statue of a doctor on a horse by the river. It reminded me of any old European walled city. But the location was great on top of a hill with great views all around. Also it kept it's charm through communism
This dog was so sweet! He was limping but he still followed us for most of our tour. I wish we could have taken him home with us. There have been lots of street dogs and cats around.
Next up was the Bodne Convent or St. Nino's Monestary. This is the newer church they are making. There was also an older church the houses the remains of St. Nino who brought Christianity to the area (I think in the 4th century)
The nuns had a great garden that they were tending while we were there.
Tower near the entrance
Lincoln loved the view! He kept saying bubbles which is his general word for awesome
After about 2 hours of driving we were back in Tbilisi at 9 pm. We enjoyed a bottle of wine
And some American pizza delivered to our apartment by Rodney's pizza
After packing we headed to sleep. In the morning we start our trip to Svanti region.
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