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I am Tamuna Margvelani, the guide of an amazing trip orginized for 22 people in May by British tourist agency Odyssey Overland, together with our company Badagoni Tour . The only thing I would like to do is to share our impressions and invite you to join us in a memorable experience.We spent 10 days visiting beautiful and important places around Georgia, showing them Georgian heritage, an amazing breathtaking mountain peaks and telling them about culture and traditions of our lovely country.
Our first destination was Batumi, were we spend an incredible time, first we visited Gonio fortress and then were wandering in white streets of the city, in the evening we went for dinner to the restaurant “Old ship” were we had Georgian evening, with traditional “Supra”, as you probably know this is Georgian culture, you don't just offer your guest a cup of tea - you give them the whole kitchen. A “supra” is a Georgian tradition for guests where you offer enormous amounts of food and wine and you fill your glass to the top, the "Tamada" or head master makes a highly philosophical toast, and the rest of the people add their own thoughts to the toast and the guest finally goes last. Then you drink your glass to the bottom. No one drinks until the next toast. This is what we did with whole group, we had Georgian” Tamada” and he pointed out, "We don't drink for nothing, and every drink must be done for something, that's why we drink." The first drink is for God, or sometimes Peace, then for family, prosperity, safety, loved ones, lost ones, and the list goes on until the wine goes out, traditional singing ensues, It’s truly one of the most heartwarming experiences you can have.
After Batumi we drove to the mountain province of Svaneti, Georgia is blessed with natural beauty and you can see it when traveling to Svaneti, The drive up to Mestia is great, you go through a variety of scenery, trip is bit long but is really excellent. You simply cannot stop taking pictures here! “It's fantastic!” I heard these words several times from everyone in the track. First night we camped in one of the villages, made fire and cooked dinner. Next day we drove to Mestia were we visited all sightseeing, old Svanetian house, 12th century towers, which are truly remarkable, mineral waters and ethnographical museum with superb collection, then we visited Ushguli the highest inhabited place in Europe, on the road to Ushguli we saw Ugvir’s small Lake, which was surrounded with huge mountains and was incredibly beautiful, and finally we reached to the most remote village in the most remote region of a remote country, time has stopped there we felt like we were traveling in past. Next day we completed our Svaneti odyssey and drove to Kutaisi, were we visited different cathedrals and Bazar as well, that night we camped along the river Rioni, and we had party as every evening during our trip, all the group gathered and were having a lot of fun. The day after we went to visit Stalin’s museum in Gori, Georgia has a strange fascination with Stalin, most famous export. There is apparently a statue still somewhere in the city, our group I guess had never been before to a museum to such a man, that affected so many others so greatly and so terribly. “Most leaders of his ilk never get a museum after death. Stalin is the strange exception” noticed Ann, lovely old lady from the group. Then we visited the oldest cave town Uplistikhe, from where we drove to see Mtkheta the old capital of Georgia and our last destination that day was current capital- Tbilisi. We were walking in the streets of Tbilisi, which is known as Caucasus capital as well. People exited with mixed culture and architecture of old town. In the evening we went to Russian restaurant and had crazy Russian party, it was an amazing night, everyone was drinking Russian Vodka and had a fun. Next day we had city tour in Tbilisi, we visited every important places, started from old town, from where we moved to Rustaveli Main Avenue, it’s the center of the town with modern wide streets, very different from the old part of Tbilisi. We finished tour in Holy Trinity cathedral, which is the biggest church in Georgia. Next day we drove to Wine Region Kakheti, were we spent an amazing time as well, we visited family with wine caller, where we were able to see traditional wine making process, and tasted home maid wine, then we moved to “Badagoni” wine factory, were we had an ability to see modern methods of wine making as well and tasted an incredible Georgia White and Red wines, everyone was informed that Georgia is the motherland of wine, so to see both traditional and modern methods was important for them to get know well traditional Georgian winemaking. That evening we had birthday of four people from the group, so after Georgian wine tasting we started preparing for night, we wanted to organize beautiful and unforgettable day for the heroes of the day, so we camped and preparation started, we made fire, some people started to roast beef, cook groups were cooking different kind of dishes, it was special day,, I went to Telavi to buy birthday cake, candles and Georgian souvenirs for anniversaries, we decided to make lovely surprise for our guests. Evening started with congratulations, we brought birthday cake with candles, and were singing birthday song, it was so beautiful, everyone were congratulating and I presented them Georgian traditional dolls. Everyone was dancing and had an incredible time together, we cut Cake, later I noticed that the cream of cake was on the face of everyone around, and when they were going to do the same to me I rushed away, we were running around the field but I survived J and kept clean, I am Georgian, of course British couldn’t catch meJ It was fun, we had a guitar, fire, delicious Georgian and British traditional food, sky with moon and stars, romantic nice couples, and of course a huge amount of Georgian incredible wine, we had everything for happiness. Whole group made toasts for Georgia. “For Georgian unbelievably hospitality, which you don’t believe while you don’t experience on yourself” toasted group leader- Pete. Next day we drove to Georgia Azerbaijan border. There were even tears when there were leaving for Azerbaijan, and everyone was repeating one and the same, - “I’ll definitely came back”. Our lovely couple Sharol and Tim is going to get married in few months, they promised me to come back but next time with kidsJ I’m sure they’ll keep promise. “After traveling through so many countries that can make you lose faith in the world, Georgia proved to be one place where you gain that faith back. It is one of those places my heart will always stay.”- exclaimed Sam, when he was crossing the border. “Unforgettable days I’ve spend in Georgia will be always in my mind”-said Caroline.
So, you also do have a chance to spend an unforgettable Georgian vacation with us. We welcome to anyone with a spirit of adventure and looking forward to share our favorite destinations with you. |
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Wine Tour in Diocese of Alaverdi |
Pitcher Wine Festival
in
Alaverdi Monastery We are people who love wine, food, and culture are able to share these pleasures on vine-yards, in an atmosphere of celebration and conviviality.
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