Georgia and Armenia August-September 2018
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A good start Business Class Barcelona-Munich-Tblisi, with a few airport lounges thrown in- one could say non stop snacking! |
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Click on photos to admire us in all our glory
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Trudged for hours around Tblisi, but did cadge a ride on both a telecabina and a funicular railway - all on the same day |
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Stayed in the Vinotel and they had a super cellar . Also yummy food - see 2 photos with blue cloth above. And champagne for breakfast! |
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In the dungeons of te Vinotel with Anna. The padres were happy after her vino |
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Two of our favourite pics - what a good day! |
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| Toured north via the ancient capital, Mtskheta, driving through mountains to Gudaisi, a soulless ski resort and ditto, hotel . Next day to Kasbegi Monastery : | ||||
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| Back down to Gori, birthplace of Stalin, where the museum still believes in his greatness, and, whoppee, let us ride on his train |
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Click to admire larger photos of us
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Then to the cave city of Uplitske & onto Bakuriani, via Borjomi. From there to another wondrous cave complex, Vardzia. The climb knocked the stuffing out |
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of us- needed some lunch after the exertion! Looked inwards at Rabati, eventually reaching Kutaisi & nearby Gelati Monastery-impresivo! |
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Then on to Enguri Dam & via fantastic scenery to Mestia, where we stayed 3 nights |
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with a balcony with some view. Trip for a light lunch in Ushguli & 2 suppers in a german beerhouse, nice waitress! |
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George got lost seeking out a Svan tower impossible for us to climb, but we had another good supper, and less than good breakfast before heading on to . .
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| Batumi and a pleasant stay in the World Palace: excellent roof top garden for a few more snacks! Even risked a shower after a | |||
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refreshing stop at a scenic McDonald's, not allowed there often, if ever, before!. Long downhill trek in the Botanic Gardens |
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Through Tblisi again & to David Goreji monastery. Overnighted at Chateau Kevarli, modernistic room and views, and an educative wine tasting |
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Pleasant, but chilly, meal in the busy hotel courtyard. Stopped at Gremi & Alaverdi and saw Qvevri wine making in a small house. Then Tsinandale Palace |
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What a pity the sympa driver, Nuigi, could not speak our lingo- then we could have sacked the misogynist George!
ARMENIA
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Met on the border by a lovely guide, Hedegan. She escorted us round Marmashen monastery & into Gyumri , its museum, churches & the Berlin Art Hotel |
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After a night there, onto the Armas Winery. Almost spent all the time in our red car, but decided the tasting and the lunch were too good to miss! |
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Hedegan left us in the Grand Hotel, Yerevan. After a swim & a night there, trundled over to the Tufenkian Historic hotel .Met up with Prof Theo & 6 others |
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& started our in depth tour of monasteries- fortunately a few meals were thrown in as well! After the genocide museum we headed for Khor Vrap monastery |
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After a cave restaurant lunch, Noravank monastery. Overnight in Goris. Onto Tatev monastery,with its Wings of Tatev - |
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| an amazing cablecar. Time for another lunch before a caravanserai, Noratus cemetery and the 250 steps of Sevans- below | |||
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Yet more monasteries- Goshavank & Haghartsin- before the luxury of another Tufenkian hotel , Dzoraget( pronunciation?), beside the river with idle staff |
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And still more- Sanahan & Hagpat - but then some lunch!. And back to Yerevan. Multi impressed by the Matenadaran- book repository - and the Mother See. |
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Prof. Theo and Mashtots, founder of the Armenian alphabet
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Saghmasavank & Hovanavank- phew!, who dreamt up these names?- with guide, Guiane |
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Final day- my, only one monastery,Geghard, & then the Temple of Garni- followed by a slap up lunch, all baked underground |
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3 flights home, but, hey, all business class. What a holiday: thoroughly monasteried out but purring contentedly |
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