Crossing the Border to Georgia

A cloudy day to drive higher into the mountains. Dry stream beds in this semi-arid county. We passed small villages and communities surrounded by grassy fields. Sheep and cattle grazing, often in fields next to cemeteries, occasionally near or on the highway. Mountain tops in the clouds.

Our bus dropped us at the border and we started uphill toward Georgia - about a half-mile climb up steps with a narrow ramp on the right to roll suitcases. Three passport checks, one luggage check and finally we reached the bridge in between the countries. One passport check in Georgia - no visa needed - and we were out to meet the bus. Note: no photos allowed anywhere near the border.

As soon as everyone else made it up the hill we drove a short way to exchange money and then another ten minutes to lunch. Two wonderful ladies had prepared starters, salads, fruit, cold chicken. Afterwards we walked through their yard and gardens where they grow much of the food they served to us.

The drive to Tbilisi was three plus hours, slower than normal because of traffic, especially trucks transporting grapes. Countryside, small towns. We entered the city through an eastern suburb past blocks of Soviet-built utilitarian apartment buildings. Downtown area also crowded with traffic. We passed a very old part of the city and some very modern buildings.

The Marriot Hotel is very nice. Spacious room and a bathroom sink big enough to wash out some clothes. Three of us went with our trip leader Maia around the corner to a dumpling restaurant. We ordered the traditional

meat-in-broth dumplings plus a plate each of mushrooms and cheese dumplings. All very good once we learned how to eat them properly. We also had a great conversation as Maia helped us understand what life was like under the Soviets and how Georgians actually won their independence from Russia.