On our way to the Black Sea resort of Batumi, we visited the Musicians Park, a two-minute walk from the Black Sea Arena, Georgia’s biggest concert hall.
The park, which opened in 2016, had a broad central path with offshoots on either side, each leading to one of 35 life-size sculptures featuring an eclectic mix of Georgian and international musicians. They were from various ages and musical genres e.g. from Beethoven and Bach to Michael Jackson and Miles Davis. As you approached, sensors picked up your movements, and songs or music belted out from speakers hidden in the surrounding foliage, and you could sit and listen on a nearby bench.
Some were instantly recognisable like Frank Sinatra, who serenaded with ‘My Way’, and Louis Armstrong who growled out ‘What a Wonderful World’. Others I’d never heard of e.g. Vano Mchedlishvili, who we were told had been a popular Georgian folk singer.
I posed with Elton at his piano and Elvis, but unfortunately the Beatles were too popular with a queue lining up.
As well as being really interesting, the setting was stunning with trees, wood carvings, benches made from tree trunks and jasmine arches which provided shade and aroma. There were also statues and bird boxes and lots of bird song.
It was all free and despite a lot of people, it was easy to find a quiet space, but unfortunately our time was limited, as it would have been easy to spend at least half a day in the park. It was an unexpected highlight.
