At the end of the Georgian Military Highway, my stop was at Stepansminda (also called Kazbegi). At an altitude of 1,700 meters, the climate was much cooler than the hot weather in Tbilisi. Named after the Saint Stephan, who helped people in the area from avalanches by moving them further south, this is an area close to the Russian border (about 10KM). The town is famous for the Gergeti Triniti Church, an icon for Georgia. At an altitude of 2,100 meters, this church is a sight to behold and presents a panoramic view including that of Mount Kazbegi. The hike up to the church is definitely worth the experience of seeing the views. The next day, I hiked the Truso Valley. Situated next to the Terek River, the valley is a bit away from Stepansminda and
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