Vardzia

The whole cave complex was destroyxed by a big earthquake, so what is visible today is only a small part of the original town. There are hundreds of rooms on 13 floors, some are connected with tunnels.


Elina and Kadri climbing in the caves.

One of the churches with great frescos.

Through the tunnel back down.

The way to our "otel".

There was a great pool at the place where we stayed. The water is coming out of the ground with a temperature of 45 degrees and then cooled off a little. We had wine and we could also see Vardzia out of the window. We enjoyed it so much, that we decided to stay another day.

Sighnaghi- a somehow different georgien town

Sighnaghi in the heart of Kacheti has an interesting story. It became the favorite place of the president and he decided to make it a nice place. That basically means a lot of reconstruction, building and painting, or "Kosmetics" how a local woman put it. It will probably take another three years and this place will have totally changed.

The view from the road: Looks somehow like some village in Spain or Italy.

Endless possibiliets...

Bodbe monastrie not far away from town. There is a place where the holy Nino prayed for water and a spring appeared. Very sacred.



Nice evening with Israeli backpackers and our host family.

Wine time in Kacheti

Wine tasting in a family place. They had the best one we tried so far.


Wine fabrik in Kacheti. Everyone was suprised when we asked for a tour but then the big boss himself showed us around.

Some left over bottle from soviet time.

Truck loads of grapes wait in front of the fabrik.

Family selling theier harvest on the market.

Truso valley

I love that place. By now I have been there 4 times. Its one of the side valleys and populated by Ossetians. Around 1975 they started to leave during the hard winter month when they where cut of from civilization and during the last years only few families come back during summer. The villages and houses are in all different stages of decay. Border guards and shepherds are the only people you meet and most of the time they are quite happy to see somebody and have a chance for a chat. Last time we wanted to stay overnight and they even invited us to stay in their tend. But we preferred to sleep in one of the empty houses that was still in quite a good condition (it still had a roof).


The atmosphere at those deserted villages along the valley and some side branches is quite special and in a way very energetic. Its like people have left but theier memories still remain at that place. Climbing through one of the villages we made interesting discoveries. They are many signs of a once lively social life with bars, schools graveyards and churches. Old watchtowers show that in earlier times these places where fought for and now nobody is interested anymore. Almost nobody. Since the valley is so close to the border to Southossetia it is a very strategically point. So Georgia government decided to open it up for tourists. Students rebuild some of the ruins which will be used as accommodation places. Hard to imagine this place full of backpackers, but the valley has a lot more to offer then old ruins.


Many natural water springs leave coloured terraces and the stones are also very colourful.

There is a little carbonated lake along the river.


The views are great.

State of mind III

The other night Kadri proposed a toast: “To our last three weeks in Georgia!” No way. That can’t be true. Time is going to fast, slipping through our fingers.

What I will miss most? The company of my Triple team mates Kadri and Elina. Definitely the whine and the gloomy autumn weather. The enlightening atmosphere in the mountains, the feeling after reaching a point high above and resting in the sun. Georgian heartiness in all means. Our Veranda in Kazbegi, nights spend there in candle light or in company feasting. People who enjoy themselves, have a good time. The unpredictability of every day life and the feeling that there will be a solution for everything…

Yesterday we decided to go to a concert in the opera house. We had no clue what it would be and to my surprise the theatre chamber ensemble played Bach, Cantata 202: “Weichet nur, betrübte Schatten”. Sitting there and listening to a Georgian Sopran singing in German felt strange and familiar at the same time. But at some point in the last weeks I stopped wondering about these things. Georgia is different, Georgia is great.

Seminar

On Oktober 1st we had our big show down in Kazbegi city. We planned and organized a seminar where we presented our results from the tourist inquiry, the web page about Kazbegi and said something about our project in general.


The invitation posters. First version was written with type writer because of lack of electricity.


Technical, moral and design support: Kaspers and Tönu help Elina to get ready for the presentation.


About 30 people from the village came and provided lively discussions about tourism matters.


Kadri is looking after the well beeing of our participants.


Spiritual intercultural communication.


Driving home after the after party.

Higth euphoria

Last weekend some Glennies met in Kazbegi and we all went on a wonderful trip up to the Meteo station. In 8 thrilling but also exhausting hours we climbed from the church on 2200m to the Meteo station on 3700. It was the highest place we have ever been for most of us. Having a great party in the evening and seeing the sunrise in the morning above the clouds where unforgettable moments. So i would like to say thank you to everyone who came along. Very spezial time indeed!






















The Meteo station in the clouds- our place for the night.


Mt Kazbeg came closer and closer.


Sunrise above the clouds.