Same hotel – two different experiences
If you’re visiting Ushguli, one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe, your starting point is likely to be the townlet of Mestia. We stayed at the Paliani Hotel before and after our visit to Ushguli, and on both occasions, check in was simple, with dietary requirements being checked as breakfast and dinner were […]…
Providing power to Georgia
The Enguri Arch Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Enguri River which separates Georgia from Abkhazia: the latter has been recognised as an independent state by several countries including Russia, whilst the UN consider it a sovereign territory of Georgia. The energy produced is split 50:50 between Georgia and Abkhazia, and it’s said to […]…
Boating and walking in the canyon
The 2.4km Martvili Canyon is located in western Georgia, and we stopped on our way when driving between Kutaisi and Mestia. A short walk down a slope took us to the Visitors’ Centre where tickets were purchased, and we continued on down towards the river where we donned life jackets. The inflatable boats took six, […]…
A great view of the opera house from the terrace
It was 7pm when we arrived for an overnight stay at the Grand Opera Hotel in Kutaisi, Georgia’s third-most populous city. The check in was cursory with no folder for the key card, the Wi-Fi code was just given verbally and there was no explanation about the facilities or meal times. Our room 103 on […]…
A cave town with a lot of steps
The UNESCO site of Uplistsike, literally ‘the lord’s fortress’, is a rock-hewn town in eastern Georgia, around 10km east of the town of Gori, the birthplace of Stalin. The town’s history dates back to the 1st half of the 1st millennium BC when it was an important religious, political and cultural centre but it was […]…
A fascinating insight into the life of Stalin
Stalin – a name that’s familiar to most people, but in truth, I knew very little about him. However, a visit to the Stalin Museum in the Georgian town of Gori where he was born, provided an insight into the man who helped save his nation from Nazi domination and as the mass murderer who […]…
Beautiful carvings in the church walls
The town of Ananuri is situated on the Georgian Military Highway, 70km north of the capital Tbilisi. It is on UNESCOs tentative list and has a fortress said to be a classic example of Georgian architecture. When the castle was under siege, it was undefeated as a secret tunnel led to the river which provided […]…
A beautiful botanical garden but I wish we’d known it was an RHS partner before we visited
I’ve already written a background review of the Borromean Islands so this review concentrates on the visit we made to Isola Madre (mother isle) the largest of the three islands open to the public. Although Isola Bella is probably the best known of the Borromean Islands, famed for its Italianate designed garden and sumptuously decorated […]…
Making and eating khinkali
Whilst staying in Stepantsminda, near the Georgian-Russian border, we visited the family run Nao’s Guest House, both for dinner and to learn how to make – Georgian dumplings made of twisted knobs of dough, stuffed with meat, fish or vegetables – one of the country’s most important dishes. Our table was laid with a feast: […]…
Insufficient time to enjoy our mountain view
Stepantsminda, formerly known as Kazbegi, is remotely located in north east Georgia, 10km from the Russian border. Our one-night stay at Rooms Hotel Kazbegi was memorable for many reasons. Firstly the journey – from Tbilisi it was a 150km drive up the Georgian Military Highway, stopping at Mtskheta for sightseeing, Guramishvili’s Marani for lunch and […]…
Lucca: History, Culture, and Gelato
There are few places in the world to which I return time and again, but one is Tuscany’s Lucca. It has everything I seek:, culture, gastronomy, charm, and even handles sweltering heat….
Beautiful Lake Ohrid
We fancied going to somewhere different this year and after seeing a review on TV by Simon Calder we decided to visit Lake Ohrid. We were not disappointed and spent a week enjoying beautiful scenery and taking boat trips on the Lake. On one day even visited Albania. Our accommodation was excellent and the owner […]…
