Telavi
Has been a very relaxing two days in Kakheti, wine country. Yesterday spent most of the day lounging at Chateau Mere, a vineyard, winery and hotel. Today we hired a driver to drive us around the area. Saw some churches and monasteries, ranging from old to very very old. One cathedral, the second tallest in Georgia, was built in the 11th century, with the original wall paintings still visible, although sadly faded. There aren't a lot of funds for church restoration or preservation here. Another monastery we visited dates back to the 4th century! That one was built up on the side of a mountain, with breathtaking views of the countryside below. And just behind us, further up the mountain, and over, is Russia, specifically Dagastan. Invaders used to come over these mountains, and this church would be the first watchtower, the first to send out the smoke signal to others further south and west, about the coming attack.
Finally, can't visit wine country without some wine tasting. Although our wine tasting was more like being invited in by the owners to sit down at their table and drink and eat with them, including two large jugs of wine that kept somehow refilling our glasses.
As if we haven't seen enough churches on this trip, our excursion on Monday involved driving two hours outside of Tbilisi to the remote cave monastery of David Gareja, overlooking the border with Azerbaijan. This part of the country is a desert, a vast wasteland, in contrast to the lush wine country to the north. Our guide explained that centuries ago when the Persians invaded (more than once) they would purposely come through from this area, and destroyed the trees and landscape, so as to make it inhospitable for Georgians to live there.
We also stopped by a convent where the original woman who brought Christianity to Georgia is buried. There is a spring there with holy water. Our guide insisted that we take some. So now, I've got a whole Vitamin water bottle full of holy water. Let me know if you want some.
More pictures up:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106419429553511755451
Has been a very relaxing two days in Kakheti, wine country. Yesterday spent most of the day lounging at Chateau Mere, a vineyard, winery and hotel. Today we hired a driver to drive us around the area. Saw some churches and monasteries, ranging from old to very very old. One cathedral, the second tallest in Georgia, was built in the 11th century, with the original wall paintings still visible, although sadly faded. There aren't a lot of funds for church restoration or preservation here. Another monastery we visited dates back to the 4th century! That one was built up on the side of a mountain, with breathtaking views of the countryside below. And just behind us, further up the mountain, and over, is Russia, specifically Dagastan. Invaders used to come over these mountains, and this church would be the first watchtower, the first to send out the smoke signal to others further south and west, about the coming attack.
Finally, can't visit wine country without some wine tasting. Although our wine tasting was more like being invited in by the owners to sit down at their table and drink and eat with them, including two large jugs of wine that kept somehow refilling our glasses.
As if we haven't seen enough churches on this trip, our excursion on Monday involved driving two hours outside of Tbilisi to the remote cave monastery of David Gareja, overlooking the border with Azerbaijan. This part of the country is a desert, a vast wasteland, in contrast to the lush wine country to the north. Our guide explained that centuries ago when the Persians invaded (more than once) they would purposely come through from this area, and destroyed the trees and landscape, so as to make it inhospitable for Georgians to live there.
We also stopped by a convent where the original woman who brought Christianity to Georgia is buried. There is a spring there with holy water. Our guide insisted that we take some. So now, I've got a whole Vitamin water bottle full of holy water. Let me know if you want some.
More pictures up:
https://picasaweb.google.com/106419429553511755451
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