Our trip finishes in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, the hometown of our lovely guide and friend Mary.
The walk across the border was again uneventful and we were met by our good friend George, who we were all happy to see!
Founded in the 5th century, Tbilisi is home to 1.3 million people and because of its location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia and its proximity to the lucrative Silk Road, throughout history, Tbilisi has been a point of contention among various global powers.
Our first night in town was full of fun and hilarity.
We had an extensive tour through the city with Mary.
And were lucky enough to see a “city” caravanserai, which obviously have been converted into snazzy cafes, galleries and museums. This was also our final connection to the Silk Road for this trip.
We found some cute street art, that had been painted onto electrical boxes all over the city.
Tbilisi also had a strong wine attitude that matched well with Toni and my points of view on the topic.
The central area of the old town is situated around sulphur mineral baths. King Erekle’s bath has been operating since the 18th century. At first, it was the private bath of the famous King Erekle II, but now it is open to everyone. Currently, King Erekle’s bath is the best rehabilitated bath in Tbilisi. As we had a free afternoon, we undertook a dip in the mineral baths. The water was hot and good! It also stripped my toe nails of their shellac, so imagine what it could have done to any jewellery!
We had a lovely final dinner with our guide Mary, she has looked after us so well over the last 3 weeks!
Tomorrow I jump on a plane to head to Istanbul to join my mate Kylie from London, for a week of exploring around the city and generally catching up!
