Avchala Stadium, 7th July 2026

We arrived last night at around 22:00 in Tbilisi. The transfer dropped us off at the Cruise Hotel, situated a walkable 5.6km from Avchala Stadium. 

The hotel room is great though the TV remote does not work, the aircon works, which is much more important.

Great night sleep and a good breakfast of a typical Hotel buffet. Nothing is open before 10:00 am, even in the hotel, the gym and swimming pool opens from 11:00 to 22:00, completely different times to SA. Had to do DailyJ in the room with 2 bottles of water as weights. Children have their 3 months summer holiday so times are understandably later.

We walked to Avchala through mostly highways and much traffic tough we did cross tge Kura river and as we got closer to the stadium the area became more green and beautiful with fountains and play parks.

The Kura river again, island in the middle.

Arrived at Avchala and watched the first game Ireland versus USA.

Ireland 77 and USA 22

England 40 and Argentina 38 what a game. England defended and Argentina attacked. Both teams played until the last second!

South Africa 53 and Wales 33 great game, South Africa through to the semi-finals.

Raining hard so we left the game at half time, we think our Bolt was a Tesla, wow! The head up display and camera system around the car was amazing.

Final score for Georgia 49 and Uruguay 3

Last Dinner in Kutaisi at the Sister's, 6th July 2026

Giorgi our guide to the Prometheus cave was kind enough to recommend a few restaurants in Kutaisi. So when we got back early from the day 4 tour we went out to explore and find one.

The first one we tried was Bikentias Kibabery a standing only room place that was filled with only men. In shorts, covered in mud after the hike in wet clay I would have stood out like a sore thumb.

We carried on to the sisters with was a restaurant that had possibly been a hospital in a previous life.

I had mushrooms with walnuts and Khachapuri (ხაჭაპური), Georgia's famous and beloved cheese-filled bread. The name combines the Georgian words khacho (cheese curds) and puri (bread).

Michael had pork ribs and potatoes. When his dish arrived it was one huge pork chop.

According to Michael he will never look at our pork chops the same way. It was that good!! That one pork chop is equivalent of 2 or 3 of ours.

We went for a walk after the meal and found Mio, tge ice cream place from the previous day

Michael had 2 scoops caramel and oreo, delicious, I had an americano coffee. 

We got a message to say our driver was ready to take us back to Tibilisi so we made our way back packed our stuff into the vehicle and are making our way.

Interesting that we think our driver filled up with paraffin or nitrogen after telling us to get out of the car for 2 minutes.

This car was parked at the petrol station.

Last stop of the 4th day Sairme pillars, 6th July 2026

The Sairme Pillars (also known as the Sairme Columns) are a dramatic natural monument and rocky massif located in the Lechkhumi region of western Georgia, near the village of Sairme. Rising roughly 700 meters above sea level within the Tsageri Municipality, these sharp vertical towers are the result of ancient geological block structural landslides and volcanic rock layers dating back over 20 million years. Once again hectic walking up and holding yourself back getting down.

Shaori lake region of Georgia, 6th July 2026

Once the St Georges church hike is finished we drive to the Racha region. Crossing the pass separating Imereti and Racha regions, we arrive at the shore of Shaori lake in the pouring rain. I run out the car to get a picture. Raining so hard, there is noone fishing or swimming.

Nikortsminda Cathedral, 6th July 2026

We do not stop for lunch, instead we carry on to Nikortsminda Cathedral an 11th-century Georgian Orthodox church located in the mountainous Racha region of Georgia, famous for its exceptionally rich stone carvings and vibrant interior murals. Built between 1010 and 1014 during the reign of King Bagrat III—the first ruler of a unified Georgia—it represents a crown jewel of Georgia’s Golden Age architecture and remains structurally unchanged from its original form.

Good is represented by Christ holding the cross.

Evil is represented by the dragon.

We have lunch while standing in the alcove of a house watching the rain fall down.

Tskhrajvari and Racha, 6th July 2026

The tour started at 09:00 from Budget Georgia, we walked down with all our bags and left them at the office in Kutaisi ready for our trip back to Tbilisi.

The first stop is the highlight of the tour is Tskhrajvari mountain. We hike up to the summit (1590 M) to the church of St. George. From the peak we should have seen the entire Western Georgia and Kutaisi but it was very misty. 

Much clay making the ground very slippery. 

120 steps up to the church with the many crosses.

The Mist

The cliff 

The wildlife ;)

The little house where the monk lived with a tame bear.

Tiny Church of St George, who has never been to Georgia. We lit a candle for Vovo and Rita and all that have left us, one for the whole family and friends for care and well being, and another candle for good wishes for the whole world.

St George next to Michael and the cross of St Nino with angled-down arms most commonly refers to the Grapevine Cross or the Orthodox Cross. This cross is characterized by horizontal main arms that droop or sag downward. It is the primary symbol of the Georgian Orthodox Church. According to tradition, Saint Nino was given a cross made out of grapevine branches secured together with her own hair, which gave the cross its organic, downward-sloping look.

Our way down was much more fun, following a broken down ladder type structure we carefully wound our way down back to the car.

The ruins of a 2km cable car constructed in the soviet era, it remains as a reminder of the plight of the first emigrants to Georgia that took apart structures such as these and Sanatoriums where the russian elite holidayed, to sell and make a living. The sad part is that it is not worth repairing these structures back to their previous glory.