Georgia 🇬🇪 Evening walk and dinner 15th July 2026

We walked to find a laundry. I could not understand the laundry man,  finally he somehow explained to Michael - 15 Lari wash 28 minutes, come back, move washing to dryer and 16 Lari to dry another 28 minutes. So we walked around old town and saw lots of restaurants and souvenir shops for 28 minutes. Moved the washing to the dryer which he then says was 40 minutes ( we think he cannot run all the dryers at once) so we went for a beer while we waited. Lovely little bar we had passed on the way to the laundry.

We collected and folded our washing and went for dinner and a few more beers. Chicken wings for Michael and a falafel giro for me with an awesome plate of chips to start.

Walked back to our hotel, on the way, bought a bottle of keffir, it settles the stomach and helps me sleep.

Georgia 🇬🇪 Gergeti Trinity Church, 15th July 2026

Built in the 1330s, the Gergeti Trinity Church is a 14th-century cross-cupola church in Georgia's Khevi province. 

It is the only cross-cupola church in the entirety of the Khevi province.

Perched 2,170 meters (7,120 feet) above sea level beneath Mount Kazbek, its isolated, cloud-piercing location made it an ideal medieval fortress. The church historically also served as a vital sanctuary  and during foreign invasions, precious relics, such as the Cross of Saint Nino, were transported here from the ancient capital of Mtskheta for safekeeping.

Throughout the 20th century under Soviet rule, religious services at the church were strictly prohibited. Despite this, the mountain site remained a popular destination for travelers.

Following the restoration of Georgian independence, the church was handed back to the Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church and is once again is an active Church.

Perched on top of a hill and surrounded by hills it is astonishing.

Georgia 🇬🇪 Russian-Georgian friendship monument, 15th July 2026

This landmark you are referring to is the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument (also known as the Treaty of Georgievsk Monument or Gudauri Panorama). It is located along the dramatic Georgian Military Highway near the Jvari Pass, overlooking the deep gorge of "Devil's Valley" in the Greater Caucasus.

The monument was erected in 1983 to commemorate the bicentennial (200th anniversary) of the Treaty of Georgievsk. 

The 1783 Treaty was signed between the Russian Empire (under Catherine II) and the East Georgian Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, with the original treaty Georgia was established as a Russian protectorate in exchange for military protection against Persian and Ottoman invasions, in this way, Georgia surrendered control of its foreign policy to the Russian Tsar. 

For many Georgians, the "friendship" celebrated by the monument is viewed with bitter irony. Following the treaty, Russia ultimately violated the agreement, annexed Georgian territories into its empire in the 19th century, and later incorporated the nation into the Soviet Uniin.

It was designed by the celebrated Soviet-Georgian architect Giorgi Chakhava (noted for his highly complex architectural structures) and famous artist Zurab Tsereteli, It features a massive, brutalist-style concrete and stone cylinder built right on the edge of a sheer cliff. Inside, a giant tile mural spans the entire inner wall. The left side highlights figures from traditional Georgian history and mythology, the right side portrays Russian Soviet-era themes (like the October Revolution and the Great Patriotic War), and the center features a mother protecting her child to symbolize future generations. It includes famous verses from the iconic Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli translated into both Russian and Georgian, emphasizing the ideals of loyalty and support. 

Today, following the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and subsequent severing of diplomatic relations, the political message of the monument has broken down. While it now serves as a complex cultural relic of Soviet propaganda, it remains one of Georgia's most popular tourist stops.

We stopped at the restaurant under the monument. Oh my word, my americano cost R95 i am used to paying R30 and Michaels hot chocolate R180 usually R48.

Georgia 🇬🇪 The multiple names of the country. July 2026

The country of Georgia is a fascinating case of polyonymy, meaning it is known by completely different names depending on which area of the world. 

Locally it is called Sakartvelo (საქართველო)

Meaning: "The place where the Kartvelians live". The word is derived from the core region of Kartli (central Georgia). According to medieval Georgian chronicles, this name traces back to Kartlos, the mythic pagan ancestor and unifier of the Georgian people.

Internationally by the West, it is called Georgia.

Meaning: "Land of the Wolves" or culturally linked to "St. George", the English name comes from the Old Persian designation for the region, Gorgān or Gurğ, which translates to "land of the wolves". When Western European Crusaders and pilgrims traveled during the Middle Ages, they started using this name.

The St George Link: Because Gurğ sounded phonetically similar to the Greek name Georgios (George), and because the local populations fiercely venerated St George (featuring his cross on their battle flags), the Crusaders erroneously mixed the two cementing the name "Georgia" in European languages.

Internationally (Slavic) it was called Gruzia (Грузия)

Meaning: Also from the Persian source, it is used widely across Slavic, Baltic, and East Asian languages due to historical Russian influence. It evolved from the same Persian/Arabic root (Gurj/Gurjistan) through a series of consonant and vowel shifts as they traveled north over the Caucasus mountains. In recent decades, the Georgian government has successfully campaigned to have allies drop the Russian-derived "Gruzia" in favor of "Georgia" or "Sakartvelo". Lithuania has officially adopted the name Sakartvelas for all official communications.

Regionally & Historically: Vrastan and IberiaVrastan (Armenian): Neighbors in Armenia have historically referred to Georgia as Vrastan. This stems from the ancient root Vir or Virk, which was the old Armenian designation for the Iberian kingdom of the Caucasus.

Caucasian Iberia (Greco-Roman): Ancient Greeks and Romans referred to the eastern Georgian Kingdom as Iberia. This is entirely a geographic coincidence and is completely unrelated to the Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal.

Georgia 🇬🇪 Day trip to Kazbegi. 15 July 2026

Walking to Budget travel for the 2nd day of North and Eastern area of Georgia.

Our first stop is the Zhinvali water dam for a photo stop.

Dogs and the traditional open Bazar of souvenirs.

Driving a few kilometers further we stop at Ananuri castle. 

The legend goes that the invaders (Tatars), surrounded Ananuri Castle. They assumed that the trapped Georgians would quickly starve or surrender, the defenders survived comfortably for weeks because of a secret underground tunnel that led directly to the Aragvi River, allowing them to fetch fresh water and food.

The tunnels.

To mock the starving invaders, the castle guards threw fresh fish out over the walls. Realizing a secret passage existed, the invaders captured Ana, a brave local woman, who came from the nearby village of Nuri. They tortured her severely to reveal the tunnel's location. Ana chose to die under torture rather than betray her people. In honor of her ultimate sacrifice, locals combined her name and home village to name the stronghold "Ana-Nuri".

Tower to watch out for enemies.

The Ananuri Castle Complex is a late-medieval fortress in Georgia that served as the primary stronghold and seat of the powerful Eristavis (Dukes) of Aragvi. Positioned along the Aragvi River, it controlled vital mountain trade corridors linking central Georgia to the North Caucasus. This historical bottleneck allowed the Aragvi dynasty to collect taxes, build defensive fortifications, and play a major role in Georgia's regional feudal wars from the 13th to the early 19th centuries

After the excursion in complex we are heading to the north. On the way we stop at place were 2 rivers (Black and White 

"Aragvi" mix). The next stop is Viewpoint of Gudauri. There is a wonderful view on Caucasus mountain range from the viewpoint. Then we visit Holy Trinity Church of Gergeti.

Georgia 🇬🇪 Rabati Castle, 14 July 2026.

Rabati Castle (also known as Akhaltsikhe Castle) is a 9th-century medieval fortress complex in southern Georgia. Originally named "Lomsia," it expanded into a fortified city in the 12th century. 

Surviving centuries of conquests and extensive renovations in 2012, it uniquely blends Georgian, Ottoman, and Russian architectural influences.The castle's history can be divided into several key eras:

9th–13th Centuries (Georgian Origin): Originally known as Lomsia (meaning "Lion" in Georgian), the fortress was expanded and transformed into a city in the 12th century, earning the name Akhaltsikhe, which means "new fortress". It served as the stronghold and administrative center for the Jakeli princely family.

16th–19th Centuries (Ottoman Rule): The Ottoman Empire captured the region in 1578. The area surrounding the fortress took the Arabic name Rabati (meaning "fortified place"). During this era, Islamic architecture was introduced, including the historic Akhmediye Mosque, a madrasa, and a hammam.

19th–20th Centuries (Russian Empire): The fortress was captured by the Russian Empire during the Russo-Ottoman War of 1828–1829, fundamentally altering its cultural and political status.

2012 Restoration: The 7-hectare complex underwent an extensive renovation, restoring the citadel, mosque, church, and Jakeli palace. Today, it also hosts the Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum.

Cultural dances taking place. Beautiful girls all with long black hair. Now the long trek back to Tbilisi.

Georgia 🇬🇪 Vardzia city of caves. 14 July 2026

Vardzia is a spectacular cave monastery complex and historic rock-cut city in southern Georgia, constructed during the Golden Age of the Kingdom of Georgia in the 12th and 13th centuries.

It is carved into the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Mtkvari River. It stands as a monumental symbol of Georgian resilience, engineering genius, and spiritual devotion.

In King Tamar's Era, after Giorgi III passed away, his daughter, the only woman to ever be named King, continued the project. She ordered the fortress to be transformed into a vast monastic, cultural, and spiritual center. The central Church of the Dormition was consecrated in 1186.

At its peak, Vardzia contained over 6,000 rooms spread across 13 tiers. The city included living quarters, chapels, wine cellars, libraries, and an advanced, functional water system.

On our way to the church complex

We had lunch eggplant and walnut wrap for me and pork and potatoes for Michael and we shared mushrooms.

We ordered our food at the above restaurant and carried on to the caves.

Leaving for Rabati Castle and then the long drive home.