Georgia On My Mind
Thursday, 31 October 2024
The Price is Right
The Weather of a Lifetime
Time to leave Telavi and head down the wine route on another gorgeous day-divine the weather. We all shared breakfast together and Bakti made a beautiful spread of food. She made homemade porridge with apricot and blackberries. She usually meditates on Saturday and does not speak or use her phone. Clearly, she made an exception for this day.
The Chinese girls were making some soup with meat and the leftover horse-it is very interesting to see them eat as they love to eat meat...as Zoe said, "All kinds of meat." That gives me the chills a bit. Let’s just say they eat very differently than us. Zoe was kind enough to braid my hair and we took some fun photos together.Bakti went on her morning walk. She said she’s not religious, but she likes to sit in the churches and finds peace there. She is such a simple yet beautiful, creative human being. It’s so refreshing to meet people like her and then way she reminded me of myself especially with the way we like to cook and serve others and we like to wake up in the morning and write. She is my sister in another lifetime I think.
After my educational lesson about Georgian men from her and Ms. Korea, I know to avoid them like the plague. She said to avoid them at all costs because they will just take your money or break your heart or both.
The day was perfectly clear, and you could see the most beautiful view of the mountains. I wanted to stop by the bazaar before heading on the Maruska(van) down the wine route.The bazaar was so much fun, talking with the man who sells the various types of cheese. I sampled the teas and the different nuts/ fruits and some women were not as friendly. The cheese can be very salty and they were not my favorite, but I had to buy some from a local guy outside for $.50 he gave me a big chunk of cheese and cut it into pieces.
A Taxi is trying to get my business, but I am talking with the van drivers trying to get to the winery. They are all talking about me in Georgian. It’s always so interesting when a tourist gets on the van and they are trying to figure out where I wanna go. They drop me off at the Shumi winery which was stunning- one of the biggest and best wineries in Georgia with over 2,000 varietals of wine! You can just grab a few tastes and walk around in the garden, near the fountain, or in the Rose garden. There are not many tour groups there or guests so it is super peaceful and the fountain with the Fall pumpkin display is lovely-ahhhh winery heaven!
I met a nice girl name, Sasha who moved to Georgia from Russia. She said she likes Georgia because she can be free in her mind and her actions. She said Russia is very strict and controlling. She doesn’t miss living there and loves her life and friends in Georgia. She was at such peace just sitting on a swing in front of the vineyards.
He drops me off and I am doublechecking making sure I have all my stuff because I had to get off so quickly. I took a walk down the main road and realized that I had a 30 minute walk ahead of me. A local doctor sees me walking and offers me a ride- this is not weird people-this is called being a kind local when a guest is visiting your country. He drops me directly off in front of my accomodation, which was on the way to his weekend home. I am so grateful after the long day of bus rides and just want to take a nice shower and walk.
Adventures of Korea and India Take 2
While we both wanted to visit a famous cheese shop in Telavi, we ended up visiting Simone‘s Winery. The cheese shop was a bit more upscale and formal and we were just in a "let's keep talking and chill."
Simone was always smiling and even if we were speaking of something and he disagreed-he would never speak negatively about any topic. He was always neutral and said there are good people and bad people everywhere you go, but he likes to give people a chance rather than make negative assumptions- example being many Georgians who do not like Armenians. Armenians do not like people from Azerbaijan. Israel doesn’t like Palestine. There are all these world conflicts yet he stressed that you have to stay peaceful, and positive no matter what the circumstance.
Hahe, the Korean girl said she is the woman who drinks like a man and can handle drinking anything. Simone continued to give her many tastes of wine and she actually did Reach a limit. Simone looked very tired as we had so many questions and had spent over two hours together. We left and head back to our original party. Many people had left, but Victor was there playing the guitar. What an educational, fun, adventurous, exciting, thought provoking, blessed, kind, lovely, incredible day!
PotLuck, Friends, and Wineries
I woke up refreshed around 9:00am and ready to take a walk around the city- it was very quiet with only a few shops open. I stop at the community hotel and speak with the girl working there who says they only have one room filled and a large group coming in the evening. She made me a coffee even though they were only serving hotel guests at the moment.
The hotel is just perfect with such traditional Georgian touches. The chefs are in the kitchen with bags or produce and meats ready to cook.I walk up to an abandoned church with an amazing view and a cute puppy is following behind me- nicest street dogs ever.
She teaches me Georgian basics and I repeat after her. It is embarassing because I still cannot pick up Georgian, which I would usually know more words by now traveling in a new country. She says she can teach me the bad words too and I tell her to leave those ones out- not my thing-learning the bad words of a country-serves no purpose, but some foreigners find it so entertaining.
I quickly go back up the hill, which is quite a hike and quite a view. Bakti has everything prepared as Zoe was helping her set up. She seemed to want to have that time alone with her so I was going to help with the food, upkeep, and cleaning. I swept the house, cleaned the bathroom, and wiped everything down. Bakti was frying dough and giving me some fried dough to try, but I was all doughed out after my morning snack.
They started a Facebook group and have various events throughout the year. There were multiple countries for example: UK, Malaysia, France, Germany, Russia, and Azebajan. People were all very friendly, kind and welcoming.
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
Telavi, Telavi, Telavi
In various spots, you see signs for wineries, but then some are not labeled so that is confusing. I walk up to the Nadikeri park where they have an outstanding view. There are clouds and a fog under the mountains, but you can see the snow on top- very peaceful as there are very few people around. I walk back to my guesthouse and say goodbye to my owner.
We share ginger tea and she tells me she has lived in Telavi for 6 months. Her house is lovely with a full mountain view, a small living room and 2 bedrooms. As we are talking, a knock on the door comes shortly after and it is the arrival of two Chinese backpackers. They were traveling for 2 months coming from Baku Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Kuwait.
Zoe and Joanna- Zoe is the extrovert and Joanna the introvert. Zoe has a super friendly and engaging personality always wanting to learn about culture and asking questions to learn more. She likes to try new things and meet new people traveling. We share some time together and help Bakti prepare for tomorrow as she is having a gathering at her home with the expat community. She is preparing a speciality from her country with homemade dumplings and she had horsemeat brought over from her country. She is also making pumpkin muffins out of roasted squash. She is baking bread and making compote out of apricots. She loves to cook and says it is her "meditation," which we share our common therapy with cooking.
When it Rains, it Pours Blessings
I left Mr. Latvia's house and it was an awkward goodbye as we had such a great time and it was sad leaving, but that is the travel life.
Off I went on a small passenger van for $5 that made about 50 stops and took 3 hours. Some tourists take the easy route and I take the budget friendly local route.
I forgot to mention the word “direct” to the
driver, which is important because there are “direct” vans and ones that make
local stops. This is just the way the
buses work in Georgia and many countries in the world- take a taxi or deal with
the stops and the longer commute time.
At
our main stop, I grabbed my coffee and then went to talk to all the drivers (they
speak No English) but I say silly things and they are laughing. They offer me a
cigarette(no) and they offer me some mints. I was waiting for our driver to finish
his 5 cigarettes and that was taking forever.
For
me, I know the schedule of these drivers and it is sad because it really is
cigarettes, coffee, lunch, and talking with other drivers.
Georgian men are actually not very strong with
the work ethic and the women are the main providers, but these men were all
working so props to them.
Having this friendly nature and spirit where you can just sit
with people not speak their language, but share a moment, a spirit, a connection
while drinking a coffee and wishing they would stop smoking-it is really a nice
gift-Rare beauty.
Off we went on a route where we passed 50 miles
of straight vineyards. The fall colors were beautiful, sheep and horses, and
all the local beauty you see from a bus window. There were so many fruit stands
selling watermelons and green melons.
A man who is just walking with the sheep waves
at me through the window. The camera just cannot record the simple exchanges or
traveling.
Finally, we arrive and I am the last person to
get off the maruska. Its a crowded bus area and I have no clue where I am as we
were dropped off on the side of the street in a major intersection(not an
official stop or bus station), which I needed the bus station because it was a 10
minute taxi ride from my accommodation.
I
was seriously concerned with my host not speaking English and no one around me
to communicate with and it was starting to rain….oh this was not good.
I walk across the street and put my head inside
in
front
of a taxi window. I just happened to see the cross on the dash and I use that
for some taxi guidance. His name is Soso and he looks like a Georgian model-
dressed so clean and stylish. I show him the address and he immediately calls
the location.
He
says in such words- he has an American here and she has a reservation at your
location. He tells me he knows where it is, “Get in.”
And
right after I got in the car, the rain starts to fall and I am so grateful that
I found him.
He
thinks im very cute with the backpack on and the friendly smile-sometimes I
behave like a child as I love the attention I get from adults. I mention the beautiful cross on the front mirror
and he says he is Christian. He is married and he has a small baby. He keeps
laughing and I am laughing because he thinks I’m funny.
We arrive at the house and I just ran out of
cash and he said it is ok just give me what you have and for the $3 ride I only
could find $1 USD(otherwise big bills).
“Don”t
worry no problem. You enjoy your stay my
friend.”
It
was less than 5 minutes the ride and he was happy that he could help me and not
focused on money-a human being not a taxi driver lol
He
puts his hand on my head, which i loveeee when people do this as a sign of
blessing and kind of endearment.
I arrive and a friendly Georgian man(husband,
wife, family stay) is waiting and he takes me upstairs, shows me the room,
gives me the wifi and says good night. The room is decorated in this Parisian
way and I have a full terrace for myself with just another couple staying
downstairs. I am going to say this was $12 a night- or less.
Its
just 5:30pm and I ask if there are places nearby for food and he says “No.”
On Google
translate, he writes, “It is far to walk and it is raining.”
Usually,
I can just do a fast until the next day and eat in the morning. This time he
could see in my face that I was so disappointed and I said “Thank you” and went
to my room.
Wake up and Smell the Beagle
Wednesday October 18
The next morning I woke up nice and early trying
to wake Mr. Latvia up to go for breakfast. He drank quite a bit and then he met
up with his neighbor for more drinking while I went to sleep. He is a Latvian,
but a real Georgian who drinks until the party is over. I have limited myself
to just a couple glasses of wine. I actually just enjoy the small tastings and
I am very satisfied. I walked down the hill to see Mr. Armenia
“ Good morning” and maybe share a coffee. He
is an Armenian hotel manager. He has families having breakfast and a wild dog-
that dog was a beagle-immediately I was so excited. I started to love Beagles
after meeting a few adorable ones while traveling. He is such a little rascal
jumping all over the place and he is shouting at him in Russian/ Armenian.
Mr. Latvia told me a sad story that Mr. Armenia
is an illegal immigrant who has no insurance and works for very little pay. He
works everyday and rarely has a day off. He said he is a hopeless romantic who
wants to find love, but his ways of communicating with women are a bit overkill-noted
last night.
He gives me some coffee that is super strong and
impossible to drink (there is no such thing as Georgian coffee) just turkish
coffee, Nescafe, and some instant ones that be quite bitter and too strong for
my tastes.
He lets me feed Maura the beagle which gives me
such joy as she takes the food and runs with it.
I head down the hill to visit my ladies at the
juice cafe(i try to establish connections with locals and then revisit them
when I can) they had given me some great food recommendations and were so happy
I took the time to talk and learn about their lives- age, going to school, what
they enjoy- well it turns only one was there and it was not very exciting. I
just got him a smoothie and bought some fresh bread, cheese, and tomatoes.
So the day continues on and Mr. Latvia is
starting to do his remote work. I am deciding to stay one more night or head to
Telavi. I had another girl to meet in Telavi Thursday so I went with the gut (
good decision) and hopped on a maruska( small local mini van) to Telavi.
I hope to one day meet someone like Mr. Latvia
where I can have such incredible laughs and just easily talk for hours, go
hiking in remote areas, enjoy nature and travel the world. Where is he? He must
be traveling on different planets at this point lol
If
this partner ever does come my way- it would be a real blessing. I have been
involved in 90 percent of my relationships with people who do not want to be
active, travel, socialize, live life, be silly, be adventurous-it just never
happened.
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