Georgia | FindPenguins

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Trip start
August 8, 2019
Georgia skip's retirement travel
Lagodekhi National Park, Georgia
August 8, 2019 in Azerbaijan ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Georgian national park preserving the natural forest of the region, located in the east of the country, just a few miles from the border with Azerbaijan. The pictures are pretty self-explanatory. However, the river pictures might need a bit more. The first of these shows the "bridge" over the river. It is a big log (pretty much a whole tree, really) that has a jerry-rigged rail. I hadn't seen anything like this railing. Next is a downward picture where the rail and the log are visible. Last is a look downriver from the center of the bridgeRead more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Sighnaghi, Georgia
August 8, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Ridge top town, built as a refuge from raids from Persia/ Iran. This is another beautiful place. The first pic looks over the town from atop the highest watchtower. The second looks out from the ridge, taken from the same spot, catching part of the structure. Third is of one of the old gates. 4th is an old church. Georgia is historically Christian. 5th is a pic of the center of town. Last is a bronze statue of an old time doctor on his donkey.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Bodbe Monastery
August 9, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Built on the site where Saint Nino who brought Orthodoxy to Georgia in the 4th century is buried. The Saint Nino came here from Cappadocia. Her cross had downward sloping arms, said to have been made when she lashed the arm to the upright using her hair.
This is an active nunnery. The pictures are of the churches and iconostases. The last is the current tomb of St. Nino.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Telavi
August 9, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
City in the wine region. Large plane tree in pics 3&4 is a big deal here. Over 900 years old. The other pics are of the fortress and a King's statue
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Tsinandali
August 10, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Estate of Alexander Chacharvadse, a Georgian Prince of the late 18th century. Also a wine making operation. First is the house. Then one of the original walls of the inside of the house, the summer gallery, the old church (now a ruin), the labyrinth and a look at the grounds.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Schuchmann Winery
August 10, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Aka Vinoterra. Georgia has the oldest known wine making tradition in the world, over 8,000 years. They have a unique method of wine making. Grapes are put in a trough where they are crushed by foot. The juice, seeds and skin are placed into underground clay vats or amphorae, up to 3,000 liters at this winery, maybe as large as 10,000 liters elsewhere. See the second picture. The filled vats are left uncovered for a couple weeks for the natural yeast to ferment the juice. The vats are then sealed for 6 months during which the seeds and skin settle to the bottom, acting as a natural filter. The clear wine is pumped off. The mast at the bottom is distilled for chacha, similar to grappa, a grape brandy.
The first pic is the view from the porch over some of their vineyards. The other 2 are of the more traditional wine making processRead more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Shuamta Monastery
August 11, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
16th century monastery, now an active convent. Unfortunately, the main church is under restoration and closed. So the pics are of the facility with one snitched picture of some Georgian Orthodox iconography in the little side chapel being used by the resident religious community.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Tbilisi old town
August 11, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
A wonderful part of the city. Lots of old buildings with none new. Lots restored. Many restaurants. A great traditional bakery.
First is the clock tower that comes to life hourly. Next is the oldest building remaining at 284 years. Not that old, but the city has been dstroyed 27 times. Built for one family but now housing quite a few families. The Soviets removed the wealthy and divided their houses. Next is a street scene followed by that bakery. Fifth is an old caravansarai from silk road days. Last is inside one of the old buildingsRead more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Tbilisi
August 11, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C
Seat of the patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church, which I'm told relates to the Greek Orthodox and the Patriarch of Constantinople.
The first pic looks at the cathedral from outside while the second is the nave and chancel. Next is the chancel and some. Then a look at the iconography and through the iconostasis to the inner sanctuary. Last is the iconostasis open with a priest exiting to continue celebrating a wedding.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Tbilisi
August 11, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
The capital of Georgia. A beautiful city. It's unusual for me to say this, but this is a place I would come back to. It's that nice.
First is an overview of the city from the Narikali fortress (see another post). Next is the Mother of Georgia statue overlooking the city from the ridge near the old fortress. She has a sword in one hand for enemies and a glass of wine in the other for friends. Third looks down on the botanical garden followed by a waterfall in the middle of town near the botanical garden. Next is the statue of the falcon and pheasant. Legend has it that the king's hunting falcon caught a pheasant and was lost in a sulfur hot spring, enticing the king to move the capital here. Finally is that king's statue next to an old church on the site of the first castle.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Narikali fortress
August 12, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Ancient fortress mostly in ruins. I didn't get to the upper part, but the lower part houses a small church that has been restored.
First is the fortress from down below. Next are several pictures of the iconography in the church, including the iconostasis.
The last 2 are of the old city wall. The last one looks down on a 5th century bastion recently excavatedRead more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Ananuri
August 13, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
13th century ducal fortress with 17th church and monastery. First is a look at the fortress, followed by two pics of the carving on the exterior of the church. Then the iconostasis and a bit of fresco that survived a fire. Finally a look through one of the fortress openings at the view.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
The Caucasus Mountains
August 13, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Various pictures of the Georgian Caucases that speak for themselves. These are taken from the road North from Tbilisi towards Russia. Amazingly beautiful.
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Stepantsminda
August 13, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
In English, the name means St. Stephen. It's a town not too far from the Russian border. Founded by a hermit monk who built his hermitage here, and the town grew up around it.
First is a look up to the old church and monastery on the ridge above the city. Second is of inside. Then views from the ridge. Last is a look at the city from up top.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Svetitskhoveli Cathedral
August 14, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Major cathedral in the former capital, before Tbilisi became capital in the 5th century. This is where Christianity came to Georgia in the 4th century. Legend has it that the mantle of Christ is buried here. The pics are the building, a detail of the outside and several inside pics.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Gori
August 15, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Stalin's birthplace, also know for it's castle/fortress. The pictures are a statue of Stalin, his first office from the Kremlin, his private rail car, the house where he was born. The last two are of the Gori castleRead more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Uplistsikhe Caves
August 15, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Underground cave city with evidence of habitation dating to the 11th century BCE, with major development beginning in the 2nd millenium BCE. Much destroyed by earthquakes. Also a trading center on the silk road, and former capital of western Georgia.
The first pic looks up Main Street. Second is the apothecary. Third is Queen Tamar's Hall, even though there is no evidence that that only "female King" was ever here. Next is one of the caves. Fifth is a ceiling dating to Roman tines in the 1st century BCE when Pompeii was here. Last is a destroyed three nave church converted from a pre-Christian temple. The new church, 17th century, is above.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Kataisi
August 15, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ 🌙 26 °C
Second largest city in Georgia, located in the west central part of the country. Former capital of this kingdom.
The old market and it's one exterior wall. The wall is a bas relief but may be hard to see given the angle of the light. The others are street scenes.
Seems like a tired townRead more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Bagrati's Cathedral
August 16, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
In Kataisi. Built in the 11th century, attributed to King Bagrati. The church is restored after being destroyed by the Ottoman invasion. Architectural work and historic study began shortly after WW1 when the Ottoman empire fell. Reconstruction was only completed in 2012. It is now an active church. The pictures are various looks inside and outside of the cathedral.Read more
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Prometheus Caves
August 16, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Large cavern discovered recently. Here are various pictures inside the cave. The last one is from the boat ride to the cave exit.
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Georgia skip's retirement travel
Batumi
August 16, 2019 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Georgia's primary port, located on the Black Sea. The first four pictures are taken around the city on a drizzly day. Fifth is the Black Sea from Batumi. The last is the Black Sea coast, just across the border in Turkey.Read more
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Trip end
August 17, 2019