Anyone that has heard of the Soviet Union likely also heard about Gulags. They are the bread and butter of all anti-communist/Soviet propaganda for many generations now, and frankly, they deserve their notoriety as one of the worst parts of the whole Soviet experiment… These were extremely scary penal colonies (of sorts) that contained the […]
After all my more “organized” trips, I try my best to share all the details of them with my readers. It is one thing to say that a country is beautiful, or that it is budget friendly, and it is another to literally tell people every single thing that you did during your trip there,
My Georgian Itinerary and Budgetary Notes (July 2023) Read More »
Kutaisi surprised us immensely, purely positively. This was helped in no small way by its superb dining scene. I do not enjoy hyperboles, and some restraint can go a long way especially in more subjective issues like this, but from my own perspective, despite its much smaller size, the eateries here in Kutaisi offer the
A Guide to Eating Well in Kutaisi: A Case of Quality over Quantity Read More »
When it comes to caves, nothing can come close to what Prometheus has to offer, at least within Georgia. It is huge, the biggest I have been to so far, though that sadly does not mean much on its own. As was the case with Sataplia, you have to go in with a group of
Prometheus Cave: Spelunking Meets Classical Music Read More »
Kutaisi, or I should say the Imereti region that it presides over, is not only home to a lot of cool old architecture, or ancient monasteries, or some Soviet legacy. It is also one of the more popular destinations within Georgia for more natural wonders. Caves and ravines top this list, though I preferred to
Sataplia Nature Reserve: A “Jurassic Park” in Georgia Read More »
As if Tskaltubo did not already affect me in ways that are hard to put into words, I was determined to explore yet another mostly abandoned “Soviet town” during this trip of mine to Georgia. This one is called Chiatura, and it used to be a bustling mining town with a ton of cable cars
If I had to find a single word to describe how my day trip to Tskaltubo turned out to be, I would have to go with bittersweet. In essence, that single word can tell you how my entire second trip to Georgia felt for the most part. There are many reasons for it feeling that
Tskaltubo: A Rapidly Transforming “Soviet” Spa Town Read More »
Despite my unwavering love for Kutaisi, I must admit that there is not much to do or to see within the city, which is partially what makes it so charming as well. However, it is, much like Batumi, an excellent hub town, and in fact a better one. There are many short and long day
Overlooking Kutaisi: “Hiking Around” Gelati and Motsameta Monastery Read More »
Kutaisi is the best city to live in Georgia. There, I said it. Now that you know my stance on the issue, the rest of this love letter to Kutaisi should make more sense. I do not presume to know what every little Georgian city offers to its denizens, but among the “big three,” I
Georgian cuisine is excellent, if not a bit heavy. For winter, Georgian dishes are ideal, for summer, well… For us foreigners, well at least for me and my mother, they can be quite overwhelming to eat during summertime. That is why, we regularly opted to eat at more international eateries during our time in Batumi
Truly Beyond the Khachapuri: Best Restaurants for Foreign Cuisines in Batumi Read More »