Georgia: Bakuriani to Zugdidi

Candles at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral - Mtskheta, Georgia

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Read more: Tbilisi, Georgia: A Scavenger Hunt

Zugdidi's Tower - Svaneti, Georgia

Not quite 900 years old...but rather nine years old. The tower still captures the spirit of Svaneti. The brothers who built it - Koba and Kakha - are a good source of information on Svaneti. Stop by, climb the tower, check out the pigeons in the roof, and have a chat. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/06/a-surprising-feast-in-zu...

Sapara Monastery - Alkatsikhe, Georgia

Sapara monastery is nestled into the hills, completely surrounded by forest. It's one of the most peaceful places we visited in Georgia. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/4/

Woman with Plastic Flowers - Bakuriani, Georgia

The van in the background of the photo shuttled construction workers up and down the slopes of Bakuriani all day. On its last pass, it stopped, a door opened, and the driver handed Audrey a bouquet of red plastic flowers and drove off. Who said macho Georgian men don't have a soft spot? www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/2/

Lobio (Georgian beans) - Zugdidi, Georgia

Just what our bodies were craving. We couldn't find it at restaurants so we asked the women from the Zugdidi market and they found a secret source for us. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/06/a-surprising-feast-in-zu...

Friendly Vendors - Zugdidi, Georgia

Leila, the one in the middle, was our host at the market. She managed to find lobio and put together a feast for us in minutes. Astonishing hospitality! Read more about Georgian Food and our Surprising feast in Zugdidi.

Lobio (Bean Soup) - Mtskheta, Georgia

A popular restaurant outside of Mtskheta served up ceramic mugs full of our favorite Georgian bean dish - lobio. Here, it's complemented by mchadi (cornmeal bread that weighs as much as a brick). Like all Georgian feasts, this was only one of the numerous courses; we could barely move afterward. Read more about Georgian Food and our visit to Georgia.

Old Man - Mtskheta, Georgia

Read more: Tbilisi, Georgia: A Scavenger Hunt

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral - Mtskheta, Georgia

One of the most amazing churches we've ever seen, not because of the artwork and design, but because of the feeling inside. It's not a museum, but an alive church. Read more about Tbilisi and our visit to Georgia.

Adidas Graffiti - Bakuriani, Georgia

Bakuriani, Georgia - a small skiing village and one-time Olympic game host hopeful sports Adidas, in a rusted, Soviet hangover style. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/2/

Jvari Overlooking Mtskheta - Mtskheta, Georgia

Jvari Overlooking Mtskheta in Georgia. Read more: Tbilisi, Georgia: A Scavenger Hunt

Grazing Cow - Bakuriani, Georgia

A happy cow in the hills above Bakuriani "makes bag." His friendly owner asked if we wanted to help him milk the cows. As tempted as we were, we kindly declined. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/2/

Vardzia Caves and Churches - Vardzia

Thousands of caves and tunnels make up the 1000-year old monastic complex at Vardzia. It's still possible to crawl through some of the tunnels near the church (note: ask the priest to turn on the lights - it makes it MUCH easier.) Similar to Cappadocia in central Turkey, but without the moon landscape. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/4/

Akhaltsikhe Mosque - Georgia

Part of the walled old town of Akhaltsikhe is home to a mosque and historical museum. A policeman walked around with us while we were there, acting as an impromptu guide. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/4/

Soviet Car - Vardzia, Georgia

This old Soviet car was perched on a cliff in Vardzia. We're not sure how it got there...or where it's going. Read more about Georgia. © www.uncorneredmarket.com

Cheese Vendor at Market - Zugdidi, Georgia

More cheese piles at the Zugdidi main market. Read more about Georgian Food and our Surprising feast in Zugdidi.

Olympics Logo - Bakuriani, Georgia

During Soviet times, Bakuriani was apparently a hip and happening ski town, so much so that it was an Olympic host bidder. More recently, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Bakuriani has fallen into a state of disrepair. It is now being rebuilt, even bigger, even better. Construction sites are everywhere and trucks from Turkey loaded with construction materials rule the roads. Read about Georgian sights and our visit to Georgia.

Girl Lighting Candles at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral - Mtskheta, Georgia

Georgian churches are active and alive. In Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, candles are lit in front of images of different saints. ..We lit our candles in front of Saint Nicholas, as we were told he helped protect travelers from danger. Read more about Tbilisi and our visit to Georgia.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral - Mtskheta, Georgia

*The* Georgian Church. The fortified church dates back to the 11th century (building on a 6th century church), but the origins of the church date back even more. Legend has it that Elias brought back Christ's cloak from his crucifixion to his sister in Mtshketa. Upon seeing the cloak, she was overcome with emotion and died and a giant cedar tree grew from her heart. This was where the church was built centuries later when Georgia converted to Christianity. Read more: Tbilisi, Georgia: A Scavenger Hunt

Wildflower Fields - Alkatsikhe, Georgia

Large fields of wildflowers separate farmlands and mark the drive up to Sapara monastery from Akhaltsikhe. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/4/

Cheese Vendors at Market - Zugdidi, Georgia

Cheese as far as the eye can see. Piles and piles of fresh and smoked cheese at the Zugdidi main market. Wallace (of Wallace and Gromit fame) would be in heaven here! Read more about Georgian Food and our Surprising feast in Zugdidi.

Bony Fish - Akhaltsikhe, Georgia

We're not quite sure what type of fish this was, but its skeletal structure was asymmetric and yielded what seemed like 1000s of tiny bones that forked at the end. During our meal, Audrey and Dan had the chance to brush up on the Heimlich maneuver. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/4/

Dan with Honey Vendors - Zugdidi, Georgia

Dan is surrounded by the instant feast presented to us at the market in Zugdidi - lobio (Georgian beans), vegetables, bread, cheese, followed by yogurt mixed with honey and turkish coffee. Such a surprise. Such a treat. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/06/a-surprising-feast-in-zu...

Donkey on the Road - Alkatsikhe, Georgia

Dan got a kick out of the donkeys on the road to Vardzia...and the driver got a kick out of Dan. www.uncorneredmarket.com/2007/08/georgian-site-round-up/4/

Khertvisi Castle - Akhaltsikhe, Georgia

This castle just appears out of nowhere on the road from Akhaltsikhe to Vardzia. © UncorneredMarket.com