| The Caucasus - My Journal |
Relaxing in an Idyllic City
Tbilisi, 22nd to 23rd August
Wow! Tbilisi is a really nice city! Seriously...after a few short hours of wandering, and even without seeing any of the major sights, I've really fallen for the place. But, because of the nature of some of my favourite aspects of the place, I feel a little guilty about having fallen for it. It's a bit like falling for a girl because you fancy her sister...
Basically, Tbilisi is a very small, but picturesque capital, situated on a quiet river and it all revolves around a handful of major streets, which run alongside the river, and a few squares which act as the focal point. It's very easy to walk around and the main roads are full of nice restaurants, good shops and other interesting things. Even better, the maze of small streets which connect to the main streets hold a completely different way of life that is fun to explore and you really feel like you could uncover anything while wandering through them. The main roads feel modern and European, while the side streets feel exotic and foreign, but they all combine effortlessly together. However, by far my favourite part, was the collection of chic cafes and eateries which have sprouted up at one end of the city. It's clearly targeted towards the "new rich" of Georgia and foreigners, but the place has such a fantastic atmosphere. Walking through the beautifully crafted bars and restaurants, it feels like you're in the Latin Quarter of Paris. These places, where life is all about relaxing, drinking and eating, life's simplest pleasures, has a strong allure and the fact its hidden in the corner of town makes it feel even more mystical and magical. But this attraction is why I feel a little guilty. I should've fallen for Tbilisi because it's a beautiful city in the southern Caucasus, not because part of it feels like a small version of a Western city! Oh well, that's just how it goes!
If I lived in Tbilisi, I'd definitely frequent this part of town. However, as a backpacker, the prices here, also similar to the Latin Quarter in Paris, are a little out of my current budget, so I had to satisfy myself with just a look.
My two days in Tbilisi went by quietly and I didn't actually explore much beyond my initial wandering. When I returned on my first evening, I found the homestay packed with life, there must've been at least 25 beds in the warren of the apartment, and the place seemed much more busy and lively than I realised it was going to be! I ended up chatting to a friendly group of Israelis, who I hung out with for the next two days.
On the first night, we all went to a nearby Irish bar(!), which had excellent live music and very cheap local beer. On the second day, I joined them for a trip to the nearby "Tbilisi Lake", more of a small creek in a little valley in the mountains where the Tbilisians love to escape to and has been very commercialised. Nevertheless, it was a fun place to pass half a day or so, the cool air, the fresh water and the strong sun made it feel like a beach holiday spot.
Apart from the challenge of dealing with the frequent and lengthy power-cuts in the area (bring a torch if you come here, so you can negotiate the bumpy streets at night) my first visit to Tbilisi went by quickly and quietly. I hadn't had time to actually check out the sights during my brief stay, but as my friend was to get married in a couple of days in Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, I needed to push onwards with my travels. But it's not a problem, I'll be back in Georgia in a week or so, when I can complete my explorations here. And, come the night of the 23rd, my last night in Tbilisi (for now) I was very, very excited about making my way down to Yerevan for what would no doubt be an amazing and unforgettable experience!
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