A walk in Tbilisi

As always Baby was up early in the morning and managed to shake Booboo off his sleep at around 09.00 am. We were greeted by a lovely snow fall. Our hearts were beating out of excitement that words would fail to explain. We were seeing a flurry for the first time ever.After dressing up we went out all set to explore Tbilisi....On the way for breakfast we met Milena (front office staff of Hotel Margi) and apparently Baby has been writing to her via mail. It was nice to see the person behind the mails.

After a super breakfast (Georgian sausages are so yummy) left the hotel and went to Rikhe the Gondola station. Had a tough time explaining the Gondola station to the Taxi driver. Lol! We were a little too early. So we walked around enjoying the view. Old Buildings of Dzveli were staring back at us. Booboo was enjoying with the new camcorder trying to capture every beautiful detail of this vintage city .

Tiny snow flakes were falling over us. It was lovely to feel the tingle of snow flakes falling on your face and then meting down to a tiny drops of water. The skies were gloomy but we were enjoying our first stroll in the Old city. We slowly walked towards the famous Bridge of peace. The beauty of it could be seen mostly in the night when it's lit up with millions of blue sparkling lights. Then we went in to a church. Our First Georgian Orthodox Church experience. It was not good at all. It looked very spooky and scary inside the church. Everything was dark with just the candles giving out a bit of light. And Friars looking so different with long beards and cloak like robes. We got so scared that we rushed out.

Later we took a Gondola ride to the Narikala Fortress. I Think it's a must that we put a note about the beggars in Tbilisi. Outside the Gondola station in a split second Booboo was having two birds on each shoulder and a monkey in hand and they were asking for 10 Lari each for the experience of holding a monkey. Bu ha ha ha... We managed to escape them somehow. The famous statue of the Mother of Georgia stands proudly on the hills of Narikala. The Narikala Monastery Complex had a small burial ground. When we said " May the dear departed souls rest in peace" we felt like they surely must be resting in peace in such a beautiful place. The atmosphere was so serene. And then we climbed half way up the stairs to the Ruins of the Narikala Monastery. And Once again the view of Tbilisi from the top would make you stand still for a while. The huge church bells which we have seen in the movies were there right in front of us.

We came down the hill by foot. The hilly roads paved with cobble stones will not fail to remind you of an old Irish village you have seen in movies. After a long walk we went in to one of the many vintage looking restaurants in Dzveli. Everything looks so old and classy. Had a cup of cappuccino which was very refreshing. And then we walked in to a Wine cellar and did our very first purchase of Georgian Wine. It was an assortment of mini bottles ranging from dry to semi sweet and sweet Wines which cost us just 20 Lari. Went back to the hotel and Booboo started off with the Kidzmarauli and Georgian cheese which was offered by Milena.

In the night we went back out to taste Georgian cuisine for the first time. Milena was very helpful and she directed us to Restaurant which serves the finest of Georgian dishes in Aghmashenebeli Avenue. First impression of Kachapuri was not great. But we had super awesome Kachapuri later in the trip. Khinkali was nice. A very different experience. Went back to the hotel and had a good nights rest.