When my toddler walked Tbilisi…

Ready, Get set, Go! And Myra was off walking!

Is Tbilisi a place to explore on foot with a 16 month old who’s recently discovered her feet? HAHA!

I was starting to wonder why we left the stroller at the hotel…especially at the point when we were climbing uphill and every cat and bird Myra saw she wanted to chase, and some walls looked tasty enough to bite! Yes. You read right..800 year old walls must be taste-tested for endurance by a toddler.

Hi! Can we be friends? I’ll give you my cracker…by the Lover’s bridge. And a padlock.

A slightly unique bond was formed. Between Myra and a Georgian cat.

All they had left to do was to carve their names in a padlock and place it on the bridge. It was hard to separate them.

Next stop: Sulfuric Baths and the Legend of Tbilisi

After the Lover’s bridge, we were taken to view the reason why the city is called Tbilisi. The name derives from Tpili, which means hot springs.

An ancient Legend says that during a hunting trip of Georgian King Vakhtang, 2 birds fell in a hot spring and died. He was so impressed by these springs that he decided to build a city around them.

Then, off and uphill we went, castle-bound for these amazing views of the old city.

Tbilisi is built on hills, like many old cities- so viewpoints are charming, and photo opportunities at every angle stunning.

We were supposed to go all the way to the top to visit the Narikala castle..but neither of us had the energy to carry Myra.

Instead we went to the stunning Tbilisi cathedral of St George and the Virgin Mary.

The illumination was more stunning at night than day.

Tbilisi winter nights are long and days are short. The sun would set at 5 pm.

Myra, however thought the courtyard was way more fun.

Enough photos! Now let me run around please.

Must-haves: back-pack because you may have to carry your baby through some walks, a harness or stroller, and essential items for your child.

Ohh, and really comfortable shoes.

7 Mystifying Facts About Georgia

1. Georgians don’t call their country Georgia.
Georgians call their country Sakartvelo. The name consists of two parts: Kartveli, which refers to a central Georgian region of Karli-Iberia, and the circumfix sa-o is a usual geographic for indicating the “land where Kartveli live.” It’s not known where the English name of the country came from, though there is a theory that might explain it. St. George is believed to be the patron saint of Georgia, and thus the name might have been coined by Christian missionaries in the Middle Ages.

 

2. The first Caucasians or “White People” come from Georgia.
An archeological expedition in Dmanisi found the oldest human skulls in the Caucasus, suggesting that a man from Africa traveled to Europe through Georgia. The 1.8 million-year-old skulls are the remains of a human couple of Georgians called Zezva and Mzia. It is without a doubt that Georgia is a homeland of the first European.

3.Georgia has been producing wine for at least 8,000 years.
They produced wine by accident burrying grapes in a huge clay jar called a Qvevri.

Image 1: the Qvevris, how wine was made by accident-8000 years ago, and is made today too. They also make whiskey like that.

4. No one speaks the Georgian language except for Georgians.
The Georgian language among 14 unique languages in the world and has its own alphabet. The one that Georgians use today is the latter and has 33 letters.

Image 2: If we translated the Georgian alphabet into English. Here’s how it would look.

5. It is one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world.
Georgia has 12 different climate zones, ranging from subtropical to alpine to semi-desert, and has 49 types of soil. This makes Georgia one of the most ecologically diverse countries on Earth. In addition, many of the most exciting animals like leopards, lynxes, and bears reside in the dense forests of the country.

6. Many UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
There are three cultural sites listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list: an ancient city and former capital Mtskheta, the massive cathedral complex Gelati Monastery, and the mountainous region of Upper Svaneti.
Another 15 sites are waiting to be listed.

7. Winter Wonderland.
Spectacular views, and wide open slopes make Georgia’s ski resort Gudauri an excellent destination for heli-skiing and free-riding. Gudauri is a hidden gem of the world for a ski lovers, as it comes without without the crowds or the expenses of European resorts. And even if you are not an adrenaline junkie, Gudauri still offers great slopes for skiers and snowboarders.

Image 3: The undiscovered Winter wonderland, Gudauri. A cafe and rest stop.

Works cited:
Dzagnidze, Baia. “13 Interesting Facts About Georgia.” Culture Trip, 18 Sept. 2017, theculturetrip.com/europe/georgia/articles/13-interesting-facts-about-georgia/

Images:

Qvevri photo:

Georgian Distiller Patents Method for Qvevri-Made Whiskey.” Georgia Today on the Web, georgiatoday.ge/news/3180/Georgian-Distiller-Patents-Method-for-Qvevri-made-Whiskey.

Georgian Alphabet

“Georgian (ქართული ენა).” Georgian Language, Alphabets and Pronunciation, http://www.omniglot.com

Gudauri, A hidden winter wonderland
“Gudauri Photo by Oleg Gritskevich.” Snow Forecast, http://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Gudauri/photos/8486

Old Tbilisi:

My Own, Sahar Sharif (2014).

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