GEORGIA
Perched on the east coast of the Black Sea, tucked between Russia and Turkey, the country of Georgia offers a great variety of attractions, and with a peaceful, forward-looking populace, there has never been a better time to visit. Here are many reasons to get there before the tourist hoards discover it. Georgia, located on the crossroads of Asia and Eastern Europe, is one of the still relatively unknown gems in the West.This ancient country in the Caucasus was part of the Soviet Union for most of the 20th century, followed by a turbulent 1990s that saw civil war and economic crisis. But today Georgia is emerging from the complex transition with world-class architecture, a strong youth culture, booming techno scene and a whole lot to offer travelers. It’s like the perfect match and everything you do just amazes you even more. “What’s so magical about it?” you’re probably asking right now. It’s a mix of everything. The warm-hearted people, the stunning countryside, Tbilisi’s nightlife, maybe something else… It’s hard to describe but ….. It’s the mix of everything.
The Bridge of the PEACE
It is located over the Mt’k’vari River (better known as Turkish Kura) in Tbilisi, Georgia, and is designed for pedestrian use. The design of this bridge replicates a shape of a marine animal.The Bridge of Peace provides a beautiful view of Narikala Fortress, Metekhi Church from one side and the Presidential Office and Baratashvili Bridge from the other.The Bridge of Peace was designed by an Italian architect Michele De Lucchi, who had previously designed the buildings of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and presidential Administration of Georgia.The lighting design belongs to the French designer Philippe Martinaud. The Bridge was officially opened on May 06, 2010. It is 150 meters in length.The structure of the bridge was built in Italy and transported to Tbilisi in 200 trucks while the lighting was installed on site during the assembly of the structures.The lighting is switched on 90 minutes before sunset illuminating Kura River below and buildings on both banks of the river.The Bridge of Peace is a stunning design as well as a convenient crossing between the newly constructed Rike Park and the Old Town. It also provides superb views of the city.
The Food
Tbilisi is not the place to go if you’re watching your weight. Every meal is a supra (feast). Take the local cheese bread, for example. Called khachapuri, it is filled with the local sulguni cheese, an egg yolk and slathered in butter. The result is gooey and delicious.Spicy meat dumplings called Khinkhali are popular too, while salads dressed with walnuts and bean stews cooked with cilantro will have vegetarians salivating. Meat lovers should opt for a simple shashlik, tender marinated meat cooked on a kebab skewer. For pudding, try churchkhela, sweet, pressed dry grape skins rolled into a long sausage and filled with walnuts.Churchkhela – Georgian traditional sweet that is made from nuts and grape juice. In order to taste this dish you need to spend a lot of time. Churchkhela, which is divided into Imereti and Kakheti, is preparing for several months by special technology. Rtveli Pudding.
Wine is central to Georgia’s national identity and for a good reason.…
Wine lovers have a lot to thank Georgia for. It is widely believed that this is where wine production first began, over 7000 years ago. In fact, our word “wine” is derived from “gvino” – the Georgian word for wine. Archaeological remains suggest that as early as 4000 BC grape juice was being placed in underground clay jars, or quevri (also known as kvevri), to ferment during the winter.Georgia is a land famed for its natural bounty. These days there are over 500 species of grape in Georgia, a greater diversity than anywhere else in the world, with around 40 of these grape varieties being used in commercial wine production. Conditions are well suited for viticulture: summers are rarely excessively hot, winters are mild and frost-free. In addition, the mountains around the vineyards are full of natural springs, and rivers drain mineral-rich waters into the valleys. All this means that Georgian wines have a reputation for being exceptionally pure.
The UNESCO World Heritage Sites
If you’re into ticking UNESCO World Heritage Sites off your list, Georgia has three. That’s in addition to an inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (qvevri wine-making) and an inscription on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register (manuscript collection of Shota Rustaveli’s poem “Knight in the Panther’s Skin”). Two of the three are partially mentioned above. One is the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta, including Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, Jvari Monastery and Samtavro Monastery. Another is the combination of Gelati Monastery. The third is Upper Svaneti, a region in the Caucasus with medieval villages and tower houses.
Fez Travel 