We walked down to Budget Georgia Kutaisi around 7:15 to be there by 8:00. Nothing except Spar opens before 10:00 in Georgia, managed to find a coffee at Spar. Our guesthouse is at the top of Kutaise about 1km walk. Not looking forward to our walk back up after watching the rugby at an Irish pub.
I digress. Our first stop is Batumi, famous as Georgia’s premier seaside resort, earning the nickname "the Las Vegas of the Black Sea" for its bustling nightlife and casinos. It is also renowned for its historic 7-kilometer coastal promenade, subtropical climate, and striking modern architecture juxtaposed with its 19th-century Old Town.
Once we arrived in Batumi we started a walking tour in and around the city. Our first stop was Europe square and statue of Medea.
The bronze sculpture depicts Medea, the legendary princess of the ancient Kingdom of Colchis (which covered much of modern-day western Georgia). In Greek mythology, Medea fell in love with Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, and helped him steal the Golden Fleece from her own father, King Aeëtes. The statue captures Medea holding the Golden Fleece high in her outstretched hand.
Afterwhich we went to Piazza square and to
Church of St. Nicholas.
A Greek delegation obtained construction permission from the Ottoman Sultan, but under the strict condition that the church bells must never ring.
Following the 1878 Russian annexation of Batumi, regional soldiers brought a permanent bell to the tower. Money raised in 1895 allowed for the construction of a dedicated bell tower, finally permitting the bells to ring freely.
Soviet authorities closed the church for over a decade in the mid-1930s. Following World War II, a persistent petition by local women successfully pressured authorities to reopen it in 1946.
Today, it functions under Georgian Orthodox Church, with services held in both Georgian and Russian. I had to wrap a skirt around me and a veil over my head to go in to the church.
From there we went to the Batumi port and had tea on a boat excursion of the black Sea.
Afterwards the group visits moving statue of Ali & Nino. The next stop is alphabet tower of Batumi. Then we walk down boulevard and through dancing fountains park. The last stop of our excursion is The Drama Theatre of Batumi and statue of Neptune. Afterwards we take a boat ride in the sea across the Batumi beach. the boat ride finishes by 1 p.m. and we stop in the a National park. Once we get there we cross the river by the handmade cable-car and hike for 3 km to the waterfalls. People who like cold water can swim in waterfalls. There is a rope attraction in the park that is children's favorite spot. Once we're exhausted and full with emotions we get in the van
and drive back to Kutaisi. The tour finishes at 20:00.
The city is defined by a unique mix of attractions, landmarks, and cultural highlights:The Ali and Nino Statue: A mesmerizing 8-meter kinetic sculpture by Tamara Kvesitadze that mechanically moves to merge and pass through each other every day, representing eternal love.Batumi Boulevard: Established in 1884, this lush, 7-kilometer park stretches along the coastline and features cafes, walking paths, and the city’s famous dancing fountains.Alphabet Tower: A 130-meter-tall structure adorned with the 33 letters of the unique Georgian alphabet, offering panoramic views of the city and sea.Batumi Botanical Garden: Located just north of the city, this massive, 111-hectare garden showcases diverse global flora on a steep hillside overlooking the Black Sea.
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