A market, a castle and a cathedral

We woke up to rain, but that didn’t stop us from checking out the market in Telavi. It was a covered market so it wasn’t an issue. The most interesting thing we saw and tasted is what’s nicknamed Georgian Snickers. Churchkhela is a traditional Georgian candle-shaped sweet treat: walnuts or hazelnuts covered in a thickened grape juice syrup. Brad and I sampled some and it was fine.

Next up: the Tsinandali Estate, museum and vintage wine vault tour. Prince Alexander Chavchavadze was one of the most colourful and influential characters in Georgian history. He introduced European style to Georgia, including the grand piano, billiards, and the horse drawn carriage. He also introduced bottling wine. We toured the palace’s rooms which have been restored in 19th-century style as well as the park and wine vault.

We travelled on to Alaverdi Cathedral, the earliest structures of which date back to the 6th century. The present day Cathedral is part of an 11th century Georgian Orthodox monastery and is still in use today. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In order for a woman to enter the cathedral, they need to wear a scarf on their head as well as wear a skirt. Even though the women in our group were all wearing pants, we had to put on a wraparound skirt in order to be allowed in.

We happened to be there for part of Sunday service and Georgian chants. It was a mesmerizing experience. Unfortunately and understandably, no photos/videos were allowed.

Following lunch, we drove for three hours into the mountains to stay at a mountain lodge in Gudauri. A beautiful setting. It’s raining quite hard now; fingers crossed we wake up to clear skies.Read more