Let's start with 11 things you sure do not know
about Georgia,
let's go? Raise the anchors!
საქართველო
1- How is Georgia in Georgian?
As you may have guessed from the title, it is called
Sakartvelo, and in its alphabet is written as the red letters above.
2- How much money do you need
in your pocket?
If a euro is 3.06 lari, you can image the
cost of living in the Caucasian country.
Hosting on an Airbnb with an entire apartment in the
"Old Tbilisi" for 60 euros a week or a local meal with a drink for 3
euros are some of the examples that show that living in the Georgian capital
is, even though it is a capital, a destination very cheap for european travelers.
Of course, forget about those prices on Rustaveli
Avenue, probably the most expensive in Tbilisi.
3-The bridge of peace
This bridge over the Kurá River, is a pedestrian
bridge that connects the two Tbilisi, the oldest with the most recent.
From it you can see how the two parts divided by the
river in the city, rise up on hills and descend until you reach the illuminated
and iconic bridge, which during the day and at night offers wonderful
views.
From this bridge you can also see emblematic sites
such as the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Imposing and orthodox, this
cathedral was completed in 2004 and is part of one of the buildings of the
majority religion in the country with the most references in the city.
.
In addition to all this, the bridge is located near
one of the best cableway in Tbilisi.
4-Kartlis Deda is the mother of all (the Georgians)
On the hill of Sololaki is located since 1958
the statue known as "the Georgian mother." Standing 20 meters tall,
this imposing woman offers wine in her left hand, thus greeting those who come
as friends of Georgia, and in her right hand, a sword, wanting to protect the
country from those who come as enemies.
5- What is a Kinkali?
The country offers a wide culinary offer, similar to
that of neighboring countries.
Among its dishes, two national stars stand out; these
are the Kinkalis and the Kachapuri Acharuli.
The Kinkalis are a paste-shaped sachet of different
fillings, these can be meat, cheese or mushrooms.
It is eaten by grabbing them from the end of the bag,
which will always be undercooked, and it is eaten until it reaches the extreme
where it is caught, which is not eaten because it is considered a lack of
education. (They'll look you weird if you do).
Kachapuri Acharuli is a bread dough with oval shape and elongated ends that in the center contains cheese and butter. Shortly after finishing their baking in the traditional stone oven, they add a raw egg.
The Kinkali use it as a national symbol and you can find it in all the souvenir shops as a key ring or figure. The same stores also have souvenir figures of Stalin, as a curious fact.
6- Wines only in Spain? Will I eat only kinkalis?
The streets of Tbilisi, especially the old town, as well as souvenir shops, are full of restaurants and wineries.
Wineries: In Georgia two fundamental things meet to have good wines, some excellent lands and climate for vineyards and a thousand-year-old tradition with the elaboration of wines. They also produce another type of distillate and fermented.
Their countrymen boast of their great tradition and quality of the wines, which can be found in their usual packaging (bottle of wine with cork) or in their traditional vases (if the wine you like and the vase too, you know, two for one).
Restaurants: not everything in the Georgian cuisine are Kinkalis and Kachapuris, as I already mentioned, it has a great gastronomic offer. Yes, my friend, if you are from the group of cilantrophobics, get ready, they throw cilantro to everything.
In its culinary offer I only miss more rice dishes, fish, vegetables and in general vegan offer.
Maspindzelo: Exquisite food in the restaurant.
It was without doubt the best restaurant we went to for traditional food
Marani Wine, really good.
The only rice dish we found.
7- What do the Georgians speak?
They speak the Kartuli, which for us is said Georgian.
They use an own alphabet that consists of very striking characters, for us they would be like drawings, and use this one also for the numbers. But do not worry, restaurant menus are also in English.
The alphabet they use is called "Mjedruli" or going back in the past "writing of the knights" and appeared in the 10th century. While the first allusion to the language dates back to the 2nd century.
8- Joseph Stalin wasn't born in Russia
Yet the truth is that Iosef Stalin was born and grew up in the city of Gori, Georgia.
Avoiding the border area with southern Ossetia, we can see where Stalin spent his childhood and early adulthood, visit the house where he was born and a museum dedicated to him.
- As I said before, something very curious about Georgia is that it is full of souvenirs with the image of the iconic Dictator
- In the next point you will find the reason why you should avoid the border area with Ossetia.
9- Do you need bodyguards to go to Georgia?
Quiet, as in any trip; you do not need anything more than desire and preparation to go to Georgia.
Tbilisi, still a capital, is not crazy and you can breathe mostly a peaceful atmosphere all the time. The peripheries are the peripheries, that is not different anywhere.
However, if you want to get away from the capital and travel to different places like Batumi, to the monastery dug in the mountain or Sighnaghi, you should avoid on your way places like borders with North or South Ossetia and with Abkhazia, which are the secessionist zones , as well as the Pansiki gorge.
Street in the Old Tbilisi, near the thermal baths.
Also, if you do not feel safe, in the entire capital you will find a lot of businesses and cars that advertise tours for tourists at affordable prices.
10- Quantis (or the Georgian horns)
No, this does not go with ulterior motives. Like the ancient Vikings, Georgians also use horns to drink. Although this is only done in formal meetings (a traditional dinner called "Supra")
In the aforementioned ceremonies, this horn is used to make a toast. They are meetings where the Georgians connect through speeches of experienced oratory with the past, present and future. They always do it from love and always start talking about the parents, to whom they give the greatest importance.
If someday, for mysteries of the universe, you find yourself making a toast surrounded by Georgians with a Quantis, remember, do it with wine or brandy, since with beer it is considered an insult.
11- Why does Georgia look like a hodgepodge of Russia, Ottoman style, medieval and European?
Now I will show you a short summary of Georgian history.
I have created this table for you to understand the cultural influences of the country ..
Georgia is an ideal place at the level of trade and military strategy, being a bridge between Europe and the East, and Asia and Europe. For that reason, history has developed in this country in the following way:
tabla blog
Through the centuries, Georgia has harbored in it different empires, colonies and invasions.
For that the current Skartvelo, remember in its streets, people and its folklore, the relics and pieces of each stage of its past.
Annavolldamm
| 1160 - 1212 |
The
western part "Cólquida" and the internal part "Iberia" -> colonized
by Greeks. The Romans conquer everything and stay for 7 centuries |
1800 |
Tsar
Paul I of Russia incorporated Georgia into the Russian Empire. The last Georgian king was Solomon II in 1815 |
| S.VII |
The
weakened kingdoms derive to the Muslim conquest |
1918 - 1921 |
First
modern state |
| S.X |
The
regions were liberated and united to the kingdom of Georgia. This kingdom was tolerant of Muslims and Jews |
1921 |
Invasion
and conversion to the URSS |
| S.XIII |
The
kingdom was subdued by the Mongols and later by the Timurid Empire. |
April
9, 1991 |
Independence
of the URSS |
| S.XVI |
The
Persian and Ottoman Empire were made with the east and west
respectively. |
May
26, 1991 |
The
first president after independence was Zviad Gamsakhurdia |
| 1783 |
The
Russian Empire and the Georgian East signed a treaty of a mutual
military support. The agreement was broken by Russia when it let the Persians sack the city of Tbilisi. |
He
is the first president after separating from the URSS, so the day of
his election is considered the day of independence |
Through the centuries, Georgia has harbored in it different empires, colonies and invasions.
For that the current Skartvelo, remember in its streets, people and its folklore, the relics and pieces of each stage of its past.
Other photos and anecdotes:
Yes, in Georgia Edeka arrives, I have added it as a curiosity. For those of you who have visited Germany or lived there, you will know what supermarkets I mean.
I especially laughed a lot, because I've worked years for this company. It is somehow, as if they "accompany" me.
In Tbilisi, one of the streets is literally called Salami Street". And here I'm!
(This coincidence with the salamis, will come with us on more trips)
I spend many hours collecting information, synthesizing it and trying to explain it in the most entertaining way possible. If you liked this article, share it and follow me, you will also find me in my instagram Annavolldamm02.
We tied the boat for today. See you between the lines.
Annavolldamm



















