My Travel Diaries of
Georgia
Summary
Currency: lari
Capital: Tbilisi
Drink like a local: wine, chacha
Special facts:
- The country of Georgia is incredibly old and owes its name to the Christian saint Saint George.
- Small chapels and Orthodox churches can be found all over the country. Women must wear a headscarf in the churches.
- The “towers” of the Caucasus are iconic for Georgia. Even today, Georgia is like a bastion between countries with which it has difficulties. There have been constant invasions into the Caucasus, be it by Muslim armies from Turkey or Persia, or by other Christian armies, the Tartars or the Russians. The last invasion took place in 2008, when Russian troops occupied Tbilisi.
- Georgia is not only struggling with conflicts with its neighbors, but also with internal divisions. The regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are autonomous and this autonomy is defended by Russia. It is possible to travel from Georgia to Abkhazia and back again. The same is possible from Russia. If you want to travel from Russia to Georgia via Abkhazia you risk prison sentences.
- Apparently, the first wine in human history was produced in Georgia – this is evidenced by 5,000-year-old finds. Even today, especially in the Kakheti region, we can still taste wine that was produced using the old method: by fermentation in clay pots underground!
- Tbilisi is a remarkable city and is considered a party metropolis. Many artists have already made a name for themselves here and many young Europeans travel to the capital from other countries to party.
Language
The Georgian script is unusual and unique. I call it “worm script” because the characters look like a series of small worms. As part of the Soviet Union and because of the proximity to Russia, many people in Georgia also speak Russian. English, on the other hand, is not very widespread and is only learned and spoken by the younger generation.
- Hello – გამარჯობა (gaumarjoba)
- How are you? – როგორ ხარ? (rogor khar?)
- Thank you – მადლობა (madloba)
- Bye – ნახვამდის (nakhvamdis)
- Cheers! – გაიხარე (gaikhare)
- Where is the next party? – სად არის შემდეგი წვეულება? (sad aris shemdegi ts’veuleba?)
Food
Für so ein kleines Land hat Georgien eine unglaublich gute und vielfältige Küche. Die besten Restaurants, die ich auf meinen Russlandreisen fand, waren stets georgisch.
My lesson:
Georgia has incredible mountains and incredible food
Travel Diaries
Georgia and the Caucasus – this is the little-known end of Europe, which flows geologically and culturally into Asia and oriental cultures. It has always been my dream to explore these remote countries on my own.
The people are very hospitable and the country is safe. The youth are making themselves felt in the capital, the country is developing more self-confidence and is orienting itself strongly towards the West. However, this repeatedly brings it into conflict with its large neighbor Russia.
