Borjom-Kharagauli national park, 3rd July 2026

Tour started at 08:00 from the travel office in Tbilisi. We met our guide Giorgi, a lovely Georgian guide, ex rugby player so Michael was in his element.

We drove to our first stop, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park Visitor center to get permission for the hike. Giorgi then drove us to the start of the trail.

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park is one of the largest protected areas in Europe, covering over 85,000 hectares of dense forests and alpine meadows across the Lesser Caucasus mountains. It encompasses roughly 1.5% of Georgia's total territory and features a vast, well-marked network of trails ideal for ecotourism.

Beautiful scenery.

So, i thought i was fit. Was puffing like a steam train. 8km straight up and the other 8km was on screed with switchbacks guiding us down. The red spots is where I exceeded my max heart rate.

We stopped a few times for lunch and water breaks and then to put our feet in ice cold river water.

Stunning rock formations 

We then got a taxi back to the start and drove back to the start to drive to Borjomi where .ichael found Georgian T shirts and we had lunch. Liver and hearts for me (I thought they were from a chicken) they were not. Still very good. Michael had spaghetti carbonara and we shared a plate of mushrooms. Delicious!!

The water is naturally carbonated from a local source and for R20 you can fill a bottle, which i did.

The driver that was supposed to collect us was late so we had to hang around Borjomi so we went to the park from which this water is sourced.

Borjomi carbonated water, one of the few industries in Georgia has a huge factory and the water is exported to multiple countries.

Avchala Stadium, 2nd July 2026

Went for an 8km run around Tibilisi stadium during the Uruguay/ Wales match, got back 1hr 13 it was hot, stopped a few times for water.

Wales 47 - Uruguay Nil

Argentina 62 Ireland 40

England 68 USA 40

South Africa 33 Georgia 5

Well played South Africa and well defended Georgia.

Driving to Avchala Stadium, our first Bolt experience, 2nd July 2026

Memorial of the Berlin wall and message to Trump.

Europe Square

Bolt experience was great, 20 Gel and delivered to Avchala stadium.

Georgia, Tbilisi 2nd July 2026, a bit more history.

Rike Park Music Theatre and Exhibition Hall, popularly known as the "Rike Tubes" are located on the left bank of the Mtkvari River, these futuristic, conjoined glass-and-steel tubes were designed by the renowned Italian firm Studio Fuksas.

The tubes sit in Rike Park, just beneath the Metekhi Bridge and directly across the river from the historic Old Town.The Design: The two periscope-like tubular structures were originally intended to serve as a musical theatre and a multi-purpose exhibition hall, framing views of the city.

Only the exterior metal and glass panels were completed. Following a change in government and shifting urban priorities, the interior was never finished, and the complex has sat completely abandoned and fenced off for years.

Because the modern, metallic design clashes with the traditional architecture of the Old Town, the building has faced public criticism. Tbilisi authorities have debated whether to demolish the abandoned structure completely or find an adaptive reuse purpose for the site.

We walked up the stairs to find mattresses of homeless strewn about the floors. Michael reckons it is prime homeless estate as the views are astounding.

Georgia, Tiblisi, 01 July 2026

In the native language, Georgia is called Sakartvelo (საქართველო).The term translates directly to "the land of the Kartvelians". It originates from Kartli, which is the central historical region of the country. Locally, the people refer to themselves as Kartvelebi (ქართველები), and the Georgian language is known as Kartuli (ქართული).

We arrived at the airport and we were mobbed by men wanting to give us a ride to the airport. They have Bolt in Georgia so lets just say that we should have gone with Bolt. So angry I grabbed my bag and left Darren's water flask, as Darren says pay it forward and let the flask serve someone else.

The hotel is in a traditional residential area, whereas the Hotel could have been built in the stone age, so much detail with metal door trimmings , ancient lights, and an intricate wrought iron staircase with the reception at the bottom and the rooms above.

In Georgian practicality, it has a wash line. With only 16kgs of luggage between us, we are grateful for the line.

The primary river flowing through Tbilisi is the Mtkvari (known internationally as the Kura River). Originating in northeastern Turkey, it winds through the heart of Georgia's capital, visually and historically dividing the city into two sides before eventually flowing into the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan.

On our way to and back from Budget Tbilisi  Travel, we walked 10km of Tbilisi old town seeing many attractions. We paid for and booked the 4 day hiking and the 3 day site seeing tours.

This tower is intentionally built to look like it is on the verge of collapsing, humorously held up by a single dark grey steel beam.

Gabriadze constructed the tower using hundreds of recycled bricks and decorative tiles salvaged from abandoned buildings and ruins across Tbilisi.

Every hour, a small window opens at the top, and a mechanical angel emerges to strike the bell outside with a hammer.

A lower window opens twice a day (at 12:00 PM and 7:00 PM) to present a brief, poignant mechanical puppet show called "The Circle of Life," depicting a couple meeting, marrying, having children, and growing old together.

The tower is attached directly to the Gabriadze Marionette Theater, where world-class puppet shows are still performed today.

We visited the botanical gardens.

We continued down the hill through various attractions.

Virtual reality tour on an air ballon.

Bridge of Peace.

Random statue, so beautiful.

After a Macha large milk shake in Istanbul at 4am, full breakfast on the plane around 6am (food was excellent on Turkish airways) large ice cream in Tbilisi and a large pomegranate juice made with a press on front of me, wow it was yummy. I was not hungry for supper.

Michael had a traditional pork, potatoes and red onion dish called and we made our way uphill back to the hotel.

We slept very well.

St Francis to Cape Town, 29th and 30th June 2026

We drove to CT, grateful for an uneventful trip with 2 very hungover sleeping boys memories of driving back to hostel. They can sleep anywhere at anytime. We stopped in Heidelberg for breakfast and Delish and other Breakfast places were all closed. So we drove 1km into town to Rooi Cafe, what a fantastic egg, bacon on roostercook breakfast.

In the morning we woke up with the Amy and Andrew having to go to work and Holly to school, I did my daily J and we walked to red sofa cafe to meet Terrance and Darren for breakfast. It never disappoints. Egg Benedict with mushrooms and spinach. 

We packed up and made our way to the airport and sadly said goodbye to Darren for hopefully just 2 and a half months. Terrance we will gladly see on the first day back as he generally collects us from the airport.

Bye CT.

Hello Istanbul Airport

Hello Caucasus range of mountains.