My penultimate piece in this series for ‘picture of the day’, and my first one for a brand new year, will once more focus on Georgia and her capital city, Tbilisi. It is comforting to know that this trip was so memorable that I can be free of trying to make memories with yet another trip, given how fraught travel has become these days.
It was in Tbilisi that I found luxury and homeliness—and leisure and impulsiveness—in equal measure. Taking long walks across this small but energetic town—on day one with a tour company and thereafter on my own—became an experience of its own.
The chapels and churches scattered here and there offer a peaceful refuge both from the weather outside and the chaos inside the soul, while the artisanal cafes and restaurants provide much needed nourishment for the mind and body.
I do hope to return to this magical place in the future, probably sometime in winter, and so I shall dream on.
Did you travel to Georgia by yourself (ie. solo travel), or with a companion?
I’m curious if you felt safe in the country.
I went there solo (with my US visa; Americans can enter visa-free for up to 365 days) but signed up with a local travel company (which I found on GetYourGuide) on day 1 itself and took all subsequent trips with them in and around the capital city, so it was only within Tbilisi outside the tour hours that I found myself alone. I stayed at a guesthouse which I found on Booking.com, and the hosts were very friendly and helpful. The country is still emerging from the shadows of Soviet Russia and I guess that is one reason they are heavily dependent on tourism and welcome visitors though I was later told that there is significant racial friction (even though large numbers of Indian students and businesspeople are present). In general, even as a woman, I felt safe, respected and appreciated.