We are currently in beautiful and exciting Georgia! So far, the country surprises positively in every way - beautiful and interesting, with incredibly hospitable people.
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Flight from Stockholm to Tbilisi
So we are currently in Georgia, together with our travelling companion Hélène, a freelance journalist whom we met on a press trip in Turkey. This trip is a private trip that we have organised ourselves, with some help from the country's tourism organisation.
We flew with LOT Polish Airlines from Stockholm, via Warsaw, to Tbilisi. The flight was relatively smooth, and not very long, but we flew at night so it was still very tiring. There was no real night's sleep at all ... and when we arrived, we were so excited that we immediately went out on the town to look around!
Two days in Tbilisi and Mtscheta
We have planned to experience Georgia during a ten-day round trip by rental car. The trip started with two days in the capital Tbilisi. This was almost on the verge of too little time, but we still managed to see most of what we wanted, including the historic and holy city Mtscheta, which is twenty kilometres away.
Cosy neighbourhoods and hospitable people
We knew Georgia would offer historic buildings and fine wines. What surprised us is that Tbilisi is also an incredibly cosy city, filled with charming neighbourhoods, promenades, cable cars and art. There are also plenty of cafés and restaurants with a great atmosphere.
People are incredibly hospitable, as we have already discovered. Whenever we've had trouble finding or understanding a sign, someone has quickly rushed over to help. When we pointed out a place we were looking for on our mobile phone to a woman passing by, she immediately turned around to follow us and show us the way.
Incidentally, there are plenty of stray dogs here. It is perhaps a bit sad in a way, but what still feels good in the context is that everyone looks well-fed. In addition, they are incredibly nice, calm and almost "well-behaved" careful. In the capital, most are tagged with chips in their ears, which means they are vaccinated.
Best this week
The best thing this week? Yes, it is of course that we are on site in Georgia and get to experience a new exciting country. I (Helena) have also had a challenge in that my computer suddenly refused to connect to wifi, but after tips from the hotel's IT guy, I have now shopped for a wifi adapter - and I finally have internet on the computer again. Happy Friday!
Your turn... What can you highlight as a positive from the week, big or small?
The week ahead
We now continue to discover other parts of Georgia. We're travelling around by rental car, from wine regions and mountains to the Black Sea coast. You can follow the journey on Instagram at @freedomtravelnews and we will also update with the occasional post here, mixed with reports from Innsbruck and reports by our guest writers. Now we take the opportunity to wish you a great Friday and weekend!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the "Stopover" in Stockholm and an Irish evening
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bmlarstravellingblog says:
We think Georgia is a really exciting destination so of course we will follow your experiences from home. The best thing this week is that the covid infection that hit me just over four weeks ago is finally starting to go away even though I'm still insanely tired. Then we have packed Laikan for what seems to be the last trip of the year a few days ahead. Since we stayed in the motorhome 98 nights this year, it must be a goal to reach 100 nights, maybe a little childish but still fun....
25 October 2024 - 19:28
Helena says:
What a tough time with covid! Glad you are starting to feel better!!! Hope the last of this year's 100 motorhome nights will be nice!!!
26 October 2024 - 4:30
Frido says:
Politically, Georgia is a disaster. Russian vassal state. No thanks to supporting them!
27 October 2024 - 8:55
Anna Nilsson Spets says:
Yes if you are going to look at the political state or their laws or religion in different countries and boycott anything that has a negative connotation then you probably had better stay at home in your cave. People in these countries also need food on the table.
28 October 2024 - 6:25
Frido says:
They are supporting an ongoing war. No sense in travelling there!
28 October 2024 - 18:04
Helena says:
Hi Frido! How do you think we are supporting an ongoing war? We recognise a country as more than its government. We believe in meetings between people in the world, exchanging ideas and learning from each other. When we travel around here in Georgia, we talk to local people everywhere. What we reflect on is that we see the EU flag flying everywhere, that the Ukrainian flag is often painted on walls, and that the people we talk to hope for change, and want to get closer to Europe. If there are political problems, shouldn't people be able to meet across borders and exchange ideas? This is a difficult question of course, but we don't always see it as simple as boycotting most of the world because of the way countries are run. And of course, it's an anxious time right now, because of the elections.
29 October 2024 - 4:16
Frido says:
I meant that the country of Georgia supports the Russians, not you. Here I am reacting to the, in my opinion, clueless coverage. For example, the Swedish government has decided to end official cooperation with Georgia. The money tourists pour into the country does not necessarily go to cosy families, it can just as easily go to Russia. Maybe you can call it bad timing? I enjoy reading your blog, but I don't think you should steer stupid tourists to countries that support acts of war in Europe.
29 October 2024 - 5:51
Anna Nilsson Spets says:
What then supports a war? Sending stupid tourists there as you write? So you mean that one should only write about countries that are politically or religiously flawless? Incidentally, the influx of tourists to Georgia is not particularly large either.
Helena and Peter are not there to monitor the election and its (disastrous) consequences, others are.
My view is still strong that you cannot boycott every country that has something you think is wrong. People must be allowed to have their income.
Which countries do you refuse to go to ?
29 October 2024 - 13:08
Frido says:
No point in continuing to write here about Russia and the countries that support their warfare only being "wrong in my opinion".
Maybe one day you too will wake up to reality.
Thank you for me.
29 October 2024 - 16:09
Birgit Kilander says:
Nice to follow you, was in Georgia in September and would love to go there again and just as you say Tibilis is a cosy town you want to see more of. Was so fascinated by the old wooden houses with all the carpenter's joy, crooked and windy but there were still people living in them.
27 October 2024 - 16:36
Helena says:
Glad you were here too, Birgit! Agree, beautiful wooden houses, not least the fine carved balconies!
29 October 2024 - 4:40
Helena says:
Frido, I haven't had time to reply to you (it's been a busy day) and the thread is too long to click "reply". I'll write a new comment here instead. Regarding the outcome of the election and the Swedish government's decision to end cooperation with the authorities, this information came after we wrote this post. Our ambition is to return with some accounts of what we saw and experienced around the election.
29 October 2024 - 16:58