laura sue's travels

Home again, Home again, Jiggity Jig!

2008-02-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

So as most of you know I am back in my cozy lil' house on Cottonwood. I am happy to be home, but am starting to miss (besides the friends I made) the quintessential Georgian traits, places, quirks, sights: Marshutkas, dodging traffic to go to my bakery across the street, mandarinis, totos, the metro, car honking, "chinese food", shurmas, lil ole ladies selling wool socks...

This is long overdue, but these are just a few of my favorite shots and memories, some you have seen, some not.
Thanks for checking this out while I was away. It was nice to share and maintain contact with y'all back home!

Within my first week in Georgia, I was sitting on the balconey of the hotel and these sniper guys just walk out of the attic of the building, no more than a block away! So I ran up to my room and snapped some shots of them! Later I found out that the building is the patriarch's house (head of the Orthodox Church) and it was a religious holiday and Saakashvili was visiting. They shut down the surrounding 3 blocks.

This is Ana, she was part of the family that we (the Perdues and I) stayed with in Svaneti. Neve and Ana, despite the massive language barrier played for hours in the garden. They created a mini-wonderland of leaf rivers, moss houses and Svan hat boats on the steps into the house. They really bonded. The international language of play.

Hannah and I went to convince grandma that Hannah could milk cows (she really is a milk maid), when I looked up the hill and saw these ladies coming home. Pretty cows and alpin-glow!

This is such a typical sight in Georgia. Warm, sunny, windless day....do laundry!

Surami

2008-02-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

Surami Fortress in the middle of the town.

Our guide up the snowy trail. Sweet boy to take out time from his important afternoon of sledding.

A cute picture, but a sad story. See the wall behind us, how it looks wet. Supposedly the man who built it had a vision that he must build his son within the walls to save the fortress and in essence the people of Surami. Since that time the wall is wet, from the weeping son inside!

Freddy decided to take the quick way down! Yep, that's him cruisin' down!

Khashuri for Christmas

2008-02-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Fred and I were invited to Thea's family's home for Georgian Orthodox Christmas on January 7th.
We were treated like family and greeted with loads of yummy food!

We toured the town the next day....

Yep, Stalin is still there. I'm surprised Misha (Saakashvili) hasn't put himself up there.

This is one of 4 tractors given to Khasuri from the government. Misha went on some tirade about giving every village a tractor..then in the heat of the moment it turned into every person in Georgia...I don't think Georgians would like them, 'cuz they don't have horns.

This is one of the lovely churches in Khasuri, St. George's

The Bus and the Groomer

2008-01-03T12:26:00.000-07:00

One of three brand spanking new groomers...um way better than the one's at snowbowl

Load 'em up!

Yep we just got outta that thing! Sweet!
That's our friend Ryan behind me.

They are building and building hotels, condos, and hopefully more bars!
We were hard pressed to see any sort of similarities to "ski resort life" akin to the States, but you can't bet the view.

The Skiing

2008-01-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

Sweet old Soviet era, rusty chairlift.
Thank gosh that is not what they use today!
Check out that amazing plateau!

Freddy getting ready to ski down.
Look just to the right of his head...I was trying to capture the beginning of ice fog.
By the time we skied down and took the lift back up, the visability was very poor.
Weather in the mountains changes quickly.

Me chillin', trying to avoid getting run into by crazy Georgian skiers!

So beautiful!

Only in Georgia

2008-01-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

Beautiful sunrise on New Years Day!

Fast food right next to the lift. That's Ryan displaying how
easy it is to get a Shaurma (kinda like a grilled Gyro, very tasty) with out taking off your skis.

Puppies! (and an another Niva shot)

Need a hat? Glasses? Coke? Fanta? Get it now!
Oh and check out the "line" for lift tickets.
Chaos.

Sweet Graffiti Shots (1 of 4)

2008-01-02T01:13:00.000-07:00

The main street there is Rustaveli Avenue, when I was in the hotel I would take a bus on this route everyday to school. On this commute I spied this alley wall full of stencils! I have been trying to get there since this summer and finally dragged Freddy with me. I love it, most of the stuff on the wall I haven't seen elsewhere in the city. Unfortunately that Niva is always parked there...but there is another unintended Niva photo!

This is on the dumpster on the opposite side of the alley.
Possibly the official emblem of the stencilers?

Kissy kissy...hehe

Sweet Graffiti Shots (2 of 4)

2008-01-02T01:01:00.000-07:00

I think its supposed to be a video game screen!
It's huge!

He is in the top left corner of the video game stencil.

The ballard.

His donkey. hehe.

Sweet Graffiti Shots (3 of 4)

2008-01-02T00:54:00.000-07:00

Alley wall...
Not sure what it is about, but I like it.

Alley wall...
I love the mustache

Alley wall...
I am on the hunt for a clean print of it.

Creepy baby face on the alley wall.

Sweet Graffiti Shots (4 of 4)

2008-01-02T00:46:00.000-07:00

Tin Tin! I remebered this one from when I was apartment hunting.

I would see this one everyday on my Marshutka ride home from classes.

Hah! One of the many on the alley wall.

Just off the alley wall.
I think this is my favorite! I secretly hope it is directed at me,
because I have been running around and taking photos of all this person's work!
It's a message...hehe
(see older posts for the "kissing" stencil)

the Pantheon

2008-01-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

We decided to wander around to find this cemetary nestled in the hills of Tbilisi.
This is where some of the most famous writers, artists, and thinkers of Georgia lie.

This is a pretty common layout for a Georgian cemetary.
If there is room many have a table and chairs.
The day after Easter is a feast day for ancestors, they will have a supra at the family plot.

Overlooking Tbilisi.

Just wanderin' around Tbilisi

2008-01-02T00:23:00.000-07:00

Sweet moon boots...Fred says we don't have room for them!

Sweet rig! this is for the street cleaners.

This is outside of the bazaar. It says Miss Potato..hahah!
No we didn't get anything to eat there...

Hi Mom! This is another Niva...I love 'em.

A different view of Tbilisi

2008-01-02T00:14:00.000-07:00

Freddy and I hiked up to this imposing statue of mother Georgia.
She holds a goblet of wine, showing hospitality to visitors, and a sword,
showing their strength against enemies.

Yikes! OK I'll drink the wine!

A prayer tree with Old Tbilisi in the background.

Old Tbilisi on the left, the cliffs of Mtvari River,
and Sameba Church glowing in the background.

Christmas!

2007-12-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a traditional Georgian Chirstmas tree,
surround by my collection of Georgian jee-jaws.
The tree is shave wood, at the top there is an apple and some holly.

Winter Solstice/Burrito Party

2007-12-23T01:42:00.000-07:00

Like a good Cahill woman I got themed napkins!

That's Fred's head, Ryan, George(my History prof.), Lasha (Khatia's bro.), Khatia, and a little bit of Heather (Peace Corp. volunteer)

Sour cream, rice, pinto beans, cheese, cabbage, and salsa! Just like the one's I make myself at Taco Del Sol!!

With thanks to my ladies at the Taco shop I was able to get tortillas that could actually roll into a burrito!
Thanks ladies. Everyone loved them and the American's were very happy to have some Americana in their bellies! ..and the Georgians didn't think they were half bad!

Random Tbilisi

2007-12-23T01:28:00.000-07:00

These are just some random shots that I have collected in the last weeks.

This is a boat in my apartment complex. I think it needs some lovin'

Christmas decorations at the Parliment Bldg.

We weren't sure what was going on here, either a fashion show or a music video. But this is a building that is from one of my first posts

This is a Lada Niva 4x4...I want one.

Lovely Ladies!

2007-12-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

That's Thea, my Georgian language teacher, on the left and Tsimari, my student, in the middle. Thea and I were invited, last Sunday, to her home to interview some family members.
I got three interviews done that day!! Her mother fixed us a proper Georgian meal (check out the table!) and served up some fantastic family wine!

A Day in Signakhi

2007-12-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

A lovely view of Signakhi with the Caucasus Range in the background.

Ninotsminda, Bodbe

2007-12-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

This is the chapel were St. Nino (see older posts) who brought Christianity to Georgia, is buried. Today it is a nunnery, which in Soviet times where used as a hospital.

Beautifully carved door

Foreground is the little chapel (4th c.) and background is the bell tower, which has been renovated

Not St. Nino's grave, but nice no less. St. Nino's tomb is inside with a primative, but beautiful fresco,
lots of gold work, and enamel...sorry no photos

Lovely grounds surrounding the chapel. As we were leaving I noticed the bells in the trees.

Niko Pirosmani

2007-12-05T07:15:00.000-07:00

The reason why we went to Signakhi was to see this portion of the National Museum. Below are the works of Pirosmani:

Niko Pirosmanashvili also known as Niko Pirosmani is a late 19th-early 20th century primitivist painter. He paints mainly animals, people dining, and people serving food (typical Georgian scenes). He was born in the Georgian village of Mirzaani to a peasant family in the Kakheti province, where the museum is located. He was orphaned as a child and put in the care of his two elder sisters. He moved with them toTbilisi in 1870. In 1872 he worked as a servant for wealthy families and learned to read and write Russian and Georgian. In 1876 he returned to Mirzaani and worked as a herdsman. He gradually learned painting. Pirosmani is also known for a romantic encounter with a French actress who visited his town; Pirosmanashvili was deeply in love with her, and to show his love, bought her enough flowers to fill the square in front of her hotel window (allegedly driving himself bankrupt).

the deer

Classic Georgian supra scene

Doctor on the donkey

the Lion

A (class) room with a view

2007-11-30T07:33:00.000-07:00

These are just some shots from the Montana Room/Center for American Studies (my classroom) at my Institute on the 6th floor.

Beautiful snowy peaks with Soviet block apartments in the foreground.
A common view in Georgia.

I love these trees. They look like they are from Narnia.
Can you tell it gets really windy here?

I see this pair quite often from my classroom window, flying between the Narina trees and this one. But I didn't notice the nest until the leaves began to fall. I wish I was here in the Spring to see the babies.

Here is a close up. I love the grey and black.
They are about the same size has a large crow or medium-sized raven.

Don't forget the Graffiti

2007-11-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

Wow! I found the real stuff...and not too bad.
They actually did it in both English and Georgian, Kork
Who said graffiti kids were uneducated...

One of my favorite stencils.

This is actually a giant sticker...cool huh?
and that's the Georgian letter "P" or "puh"

VOTE! Remember November 7th

Free Media! No violence!

2007-11-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

On November 7th, the government used unnecessary force to end a 4 day long peaceful protest against the government’s decision to change the date of the parliamentary elections.

See: http://www.civil.ge/

Independent media were taken off the air in Georgia when President Mikhail Saakashvili declared a state of emergency (11.7) in response to mass anti-government demonstrations in Tbilisi. Until it was forced off the air, Imedi TV was rated Georgia's most popular television station. Today, Imedi, which means "Hope" in the Georgian language, is out of business - no broadcasts, no advertising revenue. To this day, the station is still not on the air.

"Viewers are smart enough, astute enough, to recognize Imedi portrays one view, Rustavi Two portrays another view," said Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. "You have to have all of those views out there in the marketplace of ideas, or you cannot argue you have a vibrant democracy. So, all broadcasts need to be resumed."

So the people decided it was time to mobilize to inform the government that a democracy does not shut down media, even when they are reporting the other side.

They marched in the opposite direction from which the military and riot police has pushed protesters on Nov. 7th, from Rika Square to the Parliament building. The 10,000 to 15, 000 met for maybe 20 to 30 minutes voiced their concern and then dispersed peacefully. They showed Saakashvili’s government that they were capable of a peaceful and organized protest.

I joined just as they turned from Freedom Square on Rustaveli St. At first we didn't think aything was happening, then we noticed that traffic had thinned and then disappeared all together, then we saw this...

Loads of people clapping and chanting Sakartevelo!

The banner says "Media Freedom! No Violence"

Yep, I'm really there. Actually standing on the double lines of Rustaveli, with the parliament building behind.

Of course, the police were in full force...but the are standing around eating sunflower seeds.
That's good boys.

Mandarini Mania!

2007-11-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

My friend Khatia (see birthday blog) is from Batumi and she invited me to go visit her family. I was excited to get out of the city and chill out for a couple of days. It proved to be a very relaxing and wonderful weekend. The weather was sunny and so much warmer than Tbilisi in the last couple of weeks. It was a nice change, to be in the quiet country.

Batumi is known for its mandrians and most families, including Khatia's have many trees which they pick in hopes of gaining a little bit more money to support the household.

This is the view from their orchard just below the house.

Nini, Khatia's daughter, and I went pickin' crazy.

Look at me! Trying to find the perfect fruit.

Ahhh...Move over Sunkist!
Since their are no chemicals used to force-ripen the fruit many of the ones we picked and you can buy on the streets are greenish, but taste fantastic...way better than we can get in the States...I'm serious. We, along with everyone else on the train, brought a large duffel bag full of mandarini! I now have appox. 3lbs of 'em sitting on my balconey... I dread when they will be gone..I could easily eat 3 back to back.

View from the top

2007-11-19T11:37:00.000-07:00

We hiked to the top of the hill they live on. There once was a church here, 6 months ago the government destroyed it in the hopes of building a hotel with water park...sigh.

Towards Turkey!

See that white line..those are the Caucasus mountains and Abkhazia.

Downtown Batumi, on the left is the ferriswheel, from my previous blog of Batumi

Gotta love outhouses with great views!

Turkey in 5 mins.

2007-11-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

Well I had to renew my 90-day visa for Georgia and the best way to do this is to leave the country and pop back in. Turkey is only 20 miles from Batumi and it was a nice day for a drive. I just told them I wanted to take pictures of Turkey, so I paid my $20 for the visa, was stamped out of Georgia and into Turkey. I got a lot of "an American!", "Honolulu, huh?", "Hey Chic-ago, gangsters"...

The long march into Turkey, still in between the border. Note the trail of trucks waiting to come into Georgia. Yes, the easiest way is to do this on foot. My friends waited for me on the Georgia side while I went in....

Took photos for 5 mins...
The road into Turkey again note the line of trucks. This stip of the coast was once part of Georgia. Many families were spilt up when the Soviet Union established itself in Georgia.

Looking back into beautiful Georgia.
Then...

Walked back in! I breathed a sigh of relief when they gave me the entry stamp!

Georgian Folk Singers!

2007-10-21T09:20:00.000-06:00

I took this video on my little camera(apologies on the quality) to give you a taste of traditional Georgian music. I really like it!

Tbilisoba!

2007-10-21T09:17:00.000-06:00

Today I went to Tbilisoba-the Day of Tbilisi. It's the largest annual celebration in the the city, commemorating the foundation of Tbilisi. It was a beautiful Autmun day with loads of people and many rural artists and craftsmen representing their region of Georgia. Tbilisoba was established in 1979 and reintroduced in 1994 after having been suspended for six years due to political unrest. But today one would not even think of those bad times with all the music, food, art, games, and tons of people.

Organ grinder...no monkey

Pony rides...thats the organ grinder in the front seat.

Cool old guy selling drums

Not quite sure, but there were several of these people alone the bridge connecting one of the festival to the other. My guess is it was a way to mourn those lost in the wars in the recent past.

Khatia's Birthday Supra!

2007-10-11T11:20:00.000-06:00

My Georgian friend Khatia invited me to her birthday dinner with close friends. We met everyone at the Restaurant Moscow...

Typical Georgian dinner table, this was only the beginning, plates just get more and more stacked up

Drinking wine from the horn...

Yes I drank the whole thing! That is Khatia, the birthday girl, next to me!

One of Khatia's friend, saluting the the Georgian national anthem sung by a live band. He said it will be a historic photo! I'd better keep it.
Haha.
I had a wonderful time speaking broken Georgian and broken English.

Graffitti & Grasshopper

2007-10-11T11:04:00.000-06:00

I continuely find fantastic stencil graffitti in Tbilisis, check it out...

Sweet Bruce Lee!

French maid on the dumpster

Keep Tbilisi clean!

A Georgian dinosaur! Found this guy in one of my bedroom windows, maybe 2 and half inches long! I scooped him up in a glass and let him back outside, i don't need a roommate!

Where is Svaneti?

2007-09-29T04:21:00.000-06:00

It's not the greatest map, but the red circle is were svaneti is, note the Inguri River we drove up to the headwaters at Ushguli.

Traveling friends and then some

2007-09-27T12:50:00.000-06:00

These are the Perdue's. Mike and Jane, with Ian, Hannah and the little one Neve. They are from Iowa.
Very nice folks and they invited me to go on a Svaneti adventure with them! I said cool!

and this is bon jovi...

First stop...Lunch

2007-09-27T12:46:00.000-06:00

Our view during our roadside lunch break.

Bee boxes! There is fantastic honey here

Sorry they made me do it freddy! Unmarried women are supposed to eat the wing, so they will get married. Married people can't eat the wing, I couldn't let it go to waste!

Our yummy bread was baked there! Cool huh?

Side trip into Racha Province

2007-09-27T12:42:00.000-06:00

We decided to take a side trip in to the province just to the east of Svaneti. It is also mountainous and most of the time over looked for Kazbegi (further East) and Svaneti. Our guide Shota is from Racha, way up in the hills where he learned how to ski and climb.

Our homestay house!

A church in Racha...i can remember the name..but Shota said we had to see it if we went to Racha, it is famous for the carvings on the outisde, which isn't common in Georgia.

It is very cliffy here, very pretty!

Holy Dam Batman!

2007-09-27T12:34:00.000-06:00

Gotta have the smooth talking guide, Shota (not Rustaveli) to get you in to...

This! The Inguri Dam and Resevoir. Wow it is massive and just crazy looking in this kind of topography.
Those kooky Soviets!

Abkhazia is just on the other side of those mountains! Crazy.

In to the wilds of Svaneti

2007-09-27T12:28:00.000-06:00

But first the Check point...Russians on the left with huge guns...

the UN on the right with...a trailer...and a tough, but all too shiny car

gotta have some goofiness..Thats Hannah..yes thats a blue fauxhawk, she is cool and she knows how to milk cows

thats me! see i really did go, i didn't just steal someone's camera that had sweet photos on it! hah ..or did i?

The drive into Svaneti

2007-09-27T12:19:00.000-06:00

Inguri River! Look at that gorge, this river looks like it has some amazing kayaking possiblities

a town nestled in the hills...

..complete with a Svan Tower. It is said these were used during waring times to house the whole village and animals. The bigger the town the more towers

These towers go all the way to Ushguli, gotta love those Soviets. heh

MOUNTAINS EVERYWHERE!

2007-09-27T12:13:00.000-06:00

Here! (sorry for the blurriness, it was from the car blazing forward towards Mestia)

There!

Everywhere!

...and then there's Ushbah (4700m)! It's actually a fish tail peak (2 summits!), the other is hiding behind. (I don't think I got a photo of it, i'll dig)

Mestia

2007-09-27T12:08:00.000-06:00

At the edge of town

Downtown Mestia, alpin-glow and the cows coming home

View from the homestay in Mestia

These dove fence toppers are everywhere and i had to take a picture, not everything is about mountains...heh

Mountaineering Museum in Mestia

2007-09-27T12:05:00.000-06:00

Mikhail "Misha" Khergiani, was a very famous climber during the Soviet era. He climber all over the world, starting with his home in Mestia, there is a Svan tower next to his home where he would practice when he wasn't climbing Ushbah. He died while free climbing the Dolomites.

The "Rock Tiger"

Some other Georgian climbers, I didnt catch the names, but they are sweet photos!

Misha's maps in his bedroom.

Driving to Ushguli

2007-09-27T11:48:00.000-06:00

Mt. Elbrus is that you?! See the white moon-like peak behind the Sawtooth-y range. It is possibly Elbrus!

Check out that landslide...don't ask me what kind...Marty, man?

One of a dozen river crossings

Beautiful, but look at the road! Right on the edge! EEk!

Still driving up to Ushgui

2007-09-27T11:43:00.000-06:00

Fall colors

That's our truck!

Svan Tower

Inguri River

Postcards from Ushguli

2007-09-27T11:27:00.000-06:00

At 2320m, Ushguli is the highest village in Europe. This is from my guest house in Upper Ushguli looking down at Middle and Lower Ushguli.

Looking back towards Upper Ushguli. Hideous view huh?

The beginning of the Inguri River, yes it is THAT milky with glacial till!

The infamous hairy free-range pigs! They are everywhere, but how cute are they!

Homestay in Ushguli

2007-09-27T10:59:00.000-06:00

Thats it there with the blue gate is the last house in Upper Ughguli. Its just a church, a cemetary, and cows after that!

Look at the carvings in this chair, the uncle is an artist and carpenter....i think his name was beniko haggetadze! Hahah I jokes Benny.
He did have some fantastic paintings.

Neve and Ana, the international childhood language of "playing". I'll have you know they made a river complete with two dudes in a boat rowing towards a waterfall and a meadow for the horses, of courses.

Our family! Pishpash to the language barrier, they were the kindest people and they best food I have eaten in Georgia. Despite our empending head colds, none of us wanted to leave. No, it doesn't have to with the sweet old Svaneti dude that gave me a hug AND a thumbs up cuz I am American! Ok maybe it does....heh

The ever-changin face of Mt. Skhara (5200m)

2007-09-27T10:47:00.000-06:00

Boo! I want to see your heads!

Not quite....

Almost...

Ahhh...thanks Bessie and Mytle..

Random Ushguli

2007-09-27T10:22:00.000-06:00

Teeny tiny frog!

The moon and alpin-glow!

Teeny tiny sheep!

Not so teeny tiny rock! Geomorphology rocks! hehe

Bagrat Cathedral in Kutaisi

2007-09-27T10:17:00.000-06:00

Beautiful huh?
but....

No roof! Damn turks (circa 11oo)!

Complete with new icons

and of course St. Nino's cross

Random Tbilisi

2007-09-18T07:44:00.000-06:00

I have been walking up and down this strip for the last...however long I have been here and I just noticed this sculpture/statute. They just started some construction there so it looks like he is jumping into the hole!

This is Mohawk the Cat...yes I named her. Everytime I go to this one strip of cafes, she is there with two others, but she is the only punk rock cat...all white, with that little strip of grey and orange on her head! Rock on Kitty!

Crazy architechure. Its not the greatest picture, ( i was speeding by in a cab), but its built like Lincoln logs stacked together or for my family it looks like a great game of JENGA! It's a goverment building, but I've heard different Ministries from different people, its either Ministry of Education or Finance...

Monument to the unknown soldier- WWII

2007-09-18T07:33:00.000-06:00

Water flows down those steps into a pool with fountains and a mosiac of Georgian flags

This is in Vake Park, a block away from my school.

Mtshketa-- Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

2007-09-18T07:26:00.000-06:00

Mtskheta was the capital of the eastern Georgian kingdom of Iveria from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD founded according to legends by son of Japhet, Mtskhetos and it was here that King Mirian and Queen Nana were converted to Christianity by St. Nino in the 4th century(337).

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) where fragments of the robe of Christ are kept.

Beautiful carvings! That's a peacock, above the window

This door is all carved in what looks like celtic shapes and animals. The door and column are blackened from people saying a little prayer or giving a kiss on their way out, out of respect.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

2007-09-18T07:20:00.000-06:00

The top of a little chapel which was carved on the inside of the Cathedral.

Nino give Christianity to the Queen of Iberia (Georgia)

Here's my girl

2007-09-18T07:13:00.000-06:00

Here is St. Nino (see below, I forgot I had this)
She is my new favorite icon.

Jvari Church

2007-09-18T07:10:00.000-06:00

This is the place where St. Nino planted her cross. As history/legend goes Nino brought Christianity to Georgia.
Her cross is interesting, the horizontal arms actually aims down ( I will get a good picture of one) and when she
made it, she used her own hair to tie it together.

A spirit tree behind the church, like the native americans!

On the inside. But its not Nino's cross.

View from Jvari Church

2007-09-18T07:01:00.000-06:00

Gifts for Stalin

2007-09-09T09:12:00.000-06:00

This was a huge portion of the museum. It was an overload of bad propaganda, not even convincing facts. They sorely need a curator to go it and rethink their representations, to at least show the good and the bad, including the very bad!

They told me it was muskrat...i think she meant mink. But Stalin actually wore this!

A carpet from Turkmenistan

Accordian from Poland

On the left is Stalin on the right Lenin. A gift from the Dutch, wierdos! Imagine marching in those. Ha

Stalin Museum, Gori

2007-09-09T09:07:00.000-06:00

I had to go to the Stalin Museum for the pure kitch and curiousity of it. It is in the town of Gori, just an hour west of Tbilisi. Gori is Stalin's birth place and the best thing to happen to Gori. With probably the only 2 outdoor statues of Stalin, Stalin Ave., and an almost frozen in time Soveit feel. I found it full of propaganda and not much fact. Of course they did not mention the millions he killed and exiled, but neither did the mention the positive things he did for the Soviet Union

The "Big Man"

"I give my blood to the motherland and Stalin" By a dying soldier

Six hours after his death by "high blood pressure" (or poisioning) they made a cast of his face.

They have preserved Stalin's birthhome underneath a massive stone mausoleum, note the stained glass roof.

Finally People Pictures

2007-09-09T08:54:00.000-06:00

Alexa and Julia

It was amazing we found this nun, living in the caves!

And another one! Note: The matching face and scarf!

Julia doing here Saint impression.

Look like Montana?

2007-09-09T08:49:00.000-06:00

10 miles outside Sydney, Mt. Hah! Kidding try 2 hours southeast of Tbilisi!

As soon as we got into the cab and started driving on the "road" (it was more like a riverbed) I felt like I was at home!
There is even sage! So when we had to stop to cool the car down (a Lada, which was bomber!) , I picked some sage, looks slightly different, but has the same smell!

Looking towards Azerbaijan.

These guys were all over the place. I tried to catch one for you mom, but then ran into a posionous snake! No worries though!

Davit Gareja

2007-09-09T08:29:00.000-06:00

With my new German friends, Julia and Alexa, we ventured to southern Georgia on the border with Azerbaijan to look at this famous monestary! This last photo was as we hiked up the mountain to see the formerly used cave monestary. We hiked up with some Georgian border guards equiped with Kalshnichovs! We found out later that the caves are actually in Azerbaijan and sometimes they don't allow you to see them. Georgia is in the process of exchanging this land with Azerbaijan, it is extremely important to them.

View from the Top!

2007-09-09T08:22:00.000-06:00

Cave Frescas!

2007-09-09T08:18:00.000-06:00

After a 3km hike up in 90 degree weather, we were rewarded with many many caves and a dozens of beautiful frescas painted by Georgian monks as early as the 6th century. I believe they repainted some in the following centuries! Amazing.

Turkish Sulfur Baths

2007-09-09T08:12:00.000-06:00

I met two very nice women, Julia and Alexa, from Germany. We decided to get our private room for soaking in the hot water. There a several in an area just around the corner from the hotel. It was very relaxing.

Hot Men, Hot Art

2007-09-05T09:26:00.000-06:00

Sorry Freddy, this is some pretty stiff competion. HOT! (Yes, those are aqua socks!) But if you can tear your eyes away from the seaside stud, check out the misty mountains in the background. That's about where the botanical gardens are (see below).

Ummm..what can I say? This needs to be reproduced on black velvet.
(This was in my room at the homestay in Batumi. I had to giggle and document!)

The Black Sea

2007-09-05T09:05:00.000-06:00

Sunset on the first night! With my newly found friend Payaam, we traveled to Batumi, which is on the southern coast of the Black Sea in Southwestern Georgia, very close to Turkey.

It was a stormy day, which makes for beautiful photos!
The Black Sea coast here is mostly rocky, but nice smooth rocks, which are nice to lay on.

There are some spots where the sand peeks out black. "Ebony and Ivory" kept popping in my head.

Beautiful coast line with some Soviet-style apartments in the background.

Technical Difficulties

2007-09-04T06:00:00.001-06:00

Ok so I guess the Black Sea photos aren't working, which was on a account of the spotty wireless reception at the cafe. I will repost it in the next couple of days.

Disclaimer

2007-09-03T04:37:00.000-06:00

I haven't quite got the hang of this posting thing and I'm doing mulitple posts at a time. So these last couple of ones from my trip to Batumi are in the reverse order. Start with the Black Sea and go up, or just go as is. Also this program only lets me do four photos at a time, so I will add more in different posts and if there are requests for more I will try. But you all will see these agian when I get back. Enjoy!

Gonio Fortress

2007-09-03T04:36:00.000-06:00

Ancient fortress just south of Batumi. It has housed all the major occupiers of Georgia and its Black Sea Coast

I walked along the wall and got some great views of the surround topography!

Gosh! I don't know what this was for but it was from the top of the wall and it was at least 30 feet down!

Skiing Anyone?

2007-09-03T04:29:00.000-06:00

These were at the base of the hill at the Batumi Botanical gardens.
I don't know about these....

More gardens!

2007-09-03T04:26:00.000-06:00

Batumi Botanical Gardens

2007-09-03T04:23:00.000-06:00

About 10km north of Batumi are the beautiful Batumi Botanical Gardens. My Friend Payaam and I spent
several hours wondering around in the shade.

This is a friend that followed me throughout the gardens!

From the top of the hill a view of the Black Sea coast to the north and the train line I came in on.

The Lesser Caucasus

The Land of the Golden Fleece

2007-09-03T04:18:00.000-06:00

Jason and his argonauts sailed the Black Sea in search of the golden fleece
to then place him on the throne of Iolcos. They landed on the shores of Colchis,
today's Georgia, more specifically Batumi. King Aeetes of Colchis would give the
fleece to Jason if he completed certain tasksFirst, Jason had to plough a field
with fire-breathing oxen that he had to yoke himself. Then, Jason had to sow the
teeth of a dragon in the ploughed field. The teeth sprouted into an army of warriors.
Jason was forewarned by Medea, however, and knew to throw a rock into the crowd.
Unable to decipher where the rock had come from, the soldiers attacked and
defeated each other. Finally, Aeëtes made Jason fight and kill the sleepless dragon
that guarded the fleece. Medea put the beast to sleep. Jason then took the fleece and
sailed away with Medea, who had fallen in love with him.
This is a monument to Medea and the golden fleece

Batumi!

2007-09-03T04:06:00.000-06:00

The Batumi bazaar. Payaam and I had to stay in a very nice hotel our first night, becuase we couldn't find a homestay right away. These are some shots form my room.

I'm not sure what the building is, but it looks like it should be in the Caribbean.

This is along the Batumi Boulevard.

The main drag in town

Construction and Graffitti

2007-08-26T07:39:00.000-06:00

With all the construction in Georgia and especially Tbilisi, these massive trucks are everywhere! They look like giant beetles!
Ha, I like 'em. Much of the construction in Old Tbilisi is to keep up with the growing tourist industry. Much of the time they keep the facade and make it a casino, hotel, or restaurant.

This is just my first installation of the graffiti in Tbilisi. I have a strange fascination with graffiti from all over the world. Better write that in my list of future Geography articles! The top one is interesting politically, it is a rendering of Mikhail Saakashvili. He has aligned himself quite closely with Western Europe and the US, some Georgians are not to keen on that. The election is next fall. I just like the next two and as I sit in this cafe I spy another cool one...until next time.

Guram's home in Armazi.

2007-08-26T07:26:00.000-06:00

Within my first day in Georgia the Director of the school I will be attending (Tbilisi Institute of Asia and Africa) invited me to his country home for a real Georgian meal. His daughters and lovely wife (not in the photo) took very good care of the extremely jet lagged american and feed her wondefully. His home is over looking the Mtkvari river, the same the flows through Tbilisi. In the bottom photo Guram is to my right, the others where family friends.

Room with a view.

2007-08-26T07:09:00.000-06:00

My Room in the Hotel Charm

2007-08-26T06:53:00.000-06:00

I am staying in the Hotel Charm, which is in the section of Tbilisi called "Old Tbilisi" (more photos of this beautiful area to follow, in a couple of days), it where are the cafes, bars, and galleries are. This is a lovely room on the top (third) floor. The windows look out to some beautiful churchs, the Ambassadori hotel, and the Mtkvari river going through Tbilisi.
The women who work here are so wonderful and kind, even through my severly lacking Georgian and their nonexistant English! Check out some other photos on their website: www.hotelcharm.ge

Birthday BBQ

2007-07-16T23:55:00.000-06:00

I had my 29th birthday today and had a lil BBQ in 102 degree weather to celebrate. I had a baby pool out for those that wanted to cool off, but it ended up being a giant dog water bowl. I managed to use it once or twice (see photo 2).

It's inevitable that the instruments come out and they came out to sing my "Happy Birthday" as the cake, adorned with far too many candles, was brought out for all the aching sweet tooths (note: The cake was chocolate-peanut butter ice cream) . With a little help from my favorite neighbor Annie, we blew out the candles (see photo 3).

I received three pretty cool gifts from nature: a crazy red sun set, a marvelous magenta lightening show, and rain. All of which I did not photograph, so you'll just have to take my word for it (see Newman in bottom photo admiring the lightening show!).

Despite the lightening and rain the bluegrass continued with some crowd pleasing renditions of the Cure, Pictures of You and Whitesnake, Here I Go Again. Thanks Caroline!
Sorry no photos of Caroline spread eagle on the hood of a car but you can see her in her ever popular video...(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTiwCez6Zs).

...Like a twister I was born to walk alone.

Pre-pre-departure

2007-06-28T10:27:00.001-06:00

I've started this blog with the intention of keeping friends and family up-to-date on my adventures in the "land of the golden fleece."