Blogs from Tbilisi District, Georgia, Asia
Natan Halat trip to Mtskheta, Ananuri, Gori, Tbilisi.
Published: April 16th 2012Asia » Georgia » Tbilisi District » Tbilisi
March 24th 2012
Recently I was reading about Armenian churches here in Tbilisi. It seems they are at the center of a huge controversy as most have either fallen into various states of disrepair and ruin or have been appropriated by the Georgian Orthodox Church. There are only two functioning churches left. It's been hard to find non-biased information as it seems Armenian sites give the Armenian version and Georgian sites the Georgian version, but what is undeniable is that several of these places of worship have been subject to looting, vandalism, and arson. No matter who claims what for whom, it's a shame to see cultural and architectural treasures being treated in such a way due to petty political and nationalist conflicts. As I learn more I will update this post but for now here are some photos ... read more
February 11th 2012
Sitting in the taxi from the airport into the city along the tragically-named George W. Bush Blvd., my very first impression was that Tbilisi is like just about anywhere else in the former Soviet Union. The same suburban apartment blocks, the same yellow marshrutkas, drivers smoking and talking on the phone with one hand on the wheel, etc. made me think I hadn't really left Kiev. However, once I arrived in the center I immediately thought Tbilisi was remiscent of a larger version of Sarajevo with more churches. Like the Bosnian capital, Tbilisi sits in a small valley, has a river running down its middle, old Islamic-style Asiatic houses clinging to the steep streets of the old town, and while European feels much more Middle Eastern. So what to make of this post-Soviet, European, Middle Eastern ... read more
December 23rd 2011
I get myself up pretty early on Monday and manage to get the Metro by myself for the first time, so I’m feeling pretty smug. I take a marshrutka to Zugdidi but, as usual, things happen that are outside my control and beyond my comprehension. At Senaki I’m told to get off the marshrutka and to get on another one, where we sit and wait for a while. I once again realise that if a Georgian guy wants your phone number there’s really nothing you can do about it. Saying no makes no difference. Saying you’re married makes no difference. If that guy wants your number, he’s going to get it. Eventually we drive to Zugdidi and by the time we get there it’s just me and two guys on the bus. We arrive just in ... read more
December 18th 2011
For those of you who don’t know (and that group included me until last Saturday morning) Richie Dixon was the coach of the Georgian National Rugby team, until the end of the last world cup. Apparently Georgia has a very good side. That is, in its entirety, my knowledge of the game of rugby. But I’ll start at the beginning. I’m kind of hoping to get out of school early on Friday but it doesn’t happen. The reason I want to get out early is cos I know that, if I do, I’ll be able to hitch to Tbilisi with Ally or Ara and it will save me 15 lari but they both get out hours before me so I’m on my own. I wait for ages with Eka and Maia outside the school, hoping ... read more
December 15th 2011
Tuesday’s a fairly standard day at school. We go to drink coffee after my first lesson and I’m fed cakes and pears in syrup and apple jam. I’m feeling quite ill by the end of it. I’m actually slightly concerned about my last couple of weeks at home cos I can see the quantities of food and opportunities to eat increasing on a daily basis. Things also seem to be getting more and more lax at school as the holidays approach. We sit in the kitchen for about ten minutes into the next lesson. The general attitude seems to be that someone else will be taking care of it. I’m supposed to give the sixth graders their extra lesson after school but only two of them turn up so Eka and I decide it’s probably not ... read more
December 12th 2011
I take my weekend bag with me to school on Friday, even though I still have no clear idea what I’m doing or where I’m going. I figure if nothing comes up I can always take it home again! Between classes I type up the test for the sixth grade that I wrote the night before. Given how drunk I was when I wrote it I’m relieved to see it all makes sense. We go to drink coffee before my last class and Maia has brought in a jar of roasted peanuts mixed with honey. It’s delicious and I could have eaten it all day. One of the other teachers is sick so Eka and I agree that I will supervise the sixth grade test while she covers the other class. We’re about half way through ... read more
December 11th 2011
Our week of orientation is coming to a close, we are both exhasted yet excited to begin our time in Gerogia outside the four walls of this Hotel. I don't know whether we have decribed the hotel before, it is a huge ex soviet hotel with very dim lights and resembles something from a horror flick. .Mikaela and I got the news two days ago that we have been placed with a host family together meaning that we will not have to rent an appartment which was a relief to us as we wanted to see Georgian culture from the inside. We have been placed in a small village named Shilda near the region centre of Kvaveli in the Kakheti region in East Gerogia. Our region is known as the wine capital of Georgia. Our family ... read more
