Tour Day 10: “This morning, meet up with a local guide who will join you for the day’s explorations. Check out the local farmers market in Telavi before driving to the hilltop fortified town of Sighnaghi, which has been preserved to its original image and now offers visitors stunning views of the surrounding Caucasus Mountains.
“Visit the fourth century Bodbe Monastery, before making your way back to Tbilisi for some free time this afternoon. As you didn’t have much time previously, perhaps you’d like to book yourself in for a visit to the sulfur baths in town and learn what all the fuss is about with this ancient ritual. Tonight, why not get your travel crew together for a celebratory dinner – your group leader will know of some good spots to head to.”
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We’re back in Tbilisi for our last night, above is the view out my window. Everyone is moving on tomorrow except me. I’m staying in Tbilisi for a few days at a guest house in another part of town. M&H are heading home. Ray is going to meet his daughter in one of the Stans to kick around for a few weeks and sleep in a yurt. The Rhondas are going to Turkey. ooo Judy, and ooo F&A, I forget where they’re going but someone will tell me soon. Ksenia is going to do an 8 night food tour in Georgia, although we all agreed, any tour in Georgia is a food tour!
First stop, a farmers market in Telavi. Following are some pictures but my picture of the donut didn’t turn out. That donut was something a person would remember. They’re called Punchulas, not really donuts, rather a circle of fried dough stuffed with the most toothsome rich gorgeous custard. I got mine hot from the fryer. It was SIGH-worthy.
All the vendors reach across the counter “Try it! Try it!” and who am I to say no?
My OIL! The toasted sunflower seed oil from the winery!
And pickles, required to have a big selection on hand as they are the favored cure for hangovers.
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The van and our driver. He did a wonderful job under trying circumstances especially in the mountains with the trucks, torn-up roads, rain, snow, and tourists, not to forget tourists. It was very comfortable I think, as comfortable as I would have hoped since there were extra seats and an accommodating guide and driver.
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Here we are at the hilltop fortified town of Sighnaghi, also known as, we are told by the local guide, as The City of Love. Why? Because you can get married here anytime 24/7. It’s their signature thing!
Note the EU flag. They’ll be so many more as I spend more time in Tbilisi. Georgia is not in the EU yet, they are one of the nine Candidate Countries but one of the concerns causing the recent demonstrations is that the law that just passed will make their application less desirable to the EU, so all these flags are basically aspirational.
Lunch. Yum. And what a view.
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It’s graduation week and the streets were full of these graduates, signed-up like a yearbook, and full of protestors with flags. It was an interesting mix.
And in honor of our Last Supper.
Yes, let’s end with a table of scrumptious food half eaten.
Since it was going to be our last meal everyone called out for their favorites and we ate like royalty.
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