Oct 6, 2008 - Day Trip to Gori

October 6, 2008 Monday – Tbilisi/Gori Today our group was scheduled for a Tbilisi city tour. ... Having taken this tour twice over the last two decades, I readily agreed to take an independent daytrip to Gori, the town where Stalin was born that is a short hour northwest of Tbilisi. ... Prior to two months ago, the primary reason for visiting Gori was to view one of the few remaining Stalin statues in the former Soviet Union and have a look at other Stalin memorabilia. ... However, in late August, 2008, Gori was one of the Georgian towns that was cluster bombed by Russia during an invasion of Georgia in an attempt to wrest away the Georgian province of South Ossetia with the goal of reuniting it with Putin’s new Russian Empire. ... The government is trying to give an apppearance of normalcy in areas like Gori that the Russians shelled but did not occupy. ...

Oct 5, 2008 - Yerevan to Tbilisi via Lake Sevan, Vanadzor, Sadakhio & Marneuli

October 5, 2008 – Sunday We departed at the crack of dawn for the drive through northern Armenia in route to Tbilisi, Georgia. ... The road between Yerevan and Tbilisi is lightly traveled and the few tourist facilities along the way close their doors by mid-September. ... The weather cleared and we enjoyed blue skies for the remaining 4 hours of our drive to Tbilisi. ... We arrived in Tbilisi by 4 PM and began our explorations of the city immediately at the Fine Art Museum. ... , the main mile long artery of the part of town built during Tbilisi’s prosperous 19th C. ...

Jul 24, 2008 - Tbilisi, Georgia

I am amazed how people appear out of no where to guide us on our way! "Here, let me hold that torch for you!" Aha, now I see the path! Too often I think I really have some control over these moments of serendipity-- Tbilisi is a city being restored, very nice. ... There they informed us the bus to Tbilisi was late(said it was traffic but. ... Now over 4 hours late we know our planned overnite in Tbilisi would be no problem since we'd spend it on the bus. ... We met a couple Czech fellows and a gal, Kate, from Tbilisi who spoke English. ... We lost an hour and thus arrived in Tbilisi at 5 am, dawn, a bit worse for wear. ...

Jan 17, 2008 - Tiflis

Conoci Tiflis un poco mas de lo que quise.Conoci Tiflis un poco mas de lo que quise....

Jan 15, 2008 - Gori ("Stalin-town")

Gori es "Stalin-town". ... Todo gira alrededor de Stalin.Gori es "Stalin-town". ... Todo gira alrededor de Stalin....

Jan 14, 2008 - Tiflis (Tbilisi) (GEORGIA)

Tome una marshrutka de vuelta a Tiflis, congelandome de la cintura para abajo como de costumbre.Tome una marshrutka de vuelta a Tiflis, congelandome de la cintura para abajo como de costumbre....

Jan 2, 2008 - Tiflis

Me quede en un "homestay" con una senhora, Nasi Gvetadze, que podria ser mi abuela.Me quede en un "homestay" con una senhora, Nasi Gvetadze, que podria ser mi abuela....

Dec 30, 2007 - Trabzon - Batumi - Kutaisi (GEORGIA)

Tome un bus rumbo a Baku (Azerbaijan) que me debia dejar en Batumi (Georgia). Ademas se veia bastante feo (se supone que es el resort town de los georgianos en el Mar Negro) pero en invierno se ve bastante deprimente), asi que decidi seguir no mas hasta la siguiente ciudad, que era Kutaisi! Felizmente llegamos no muy tarde, tipo 7pm. ... El problema es que no tenia plata local, era domingo, no sabia como llegar al hostal, y la gente solo hablaba georgiano o ruso (ademas el alfabeto es diferente, tipo garabatos!).Tome un bus rumbo a Baku (Azerbaijan) que me debia dejar en Batumi (Georgia). Ademas se veia bastante feo (se supone que es el resort town de los georgianos en el Mar Negro) pero en invierno se ve bastante deprimente), asi que decidi seguir no mas hasta la siguiente ciudad, que era Kutaisi! Felizmente llegamos no muy tarde, tipo 7pm. ... El problema es que no tenia plata local, era domingo, no sabia como llegar al hostal, y la gente solo hablaba georgiano o ruso (ademas el alfabeto es diferente, tipo garabatos!)....

Oct 27, 2007 - Oilfields and Mountains!

Azerbaijan and Baku are built on oil - it is everywhere.Azerbaijan and Baku are built on oil - it is everywhere....

Oct 11, 2007 - On the Road to Hayastan

Hi there - When I said my next stop was a mystery I wasn't kidding.Hi there - When I said my next stop was a mystery I wasn't kidding....

Sep 30, 2006 - Georgia..part 3 and finish... The high Caucasion mountians.

Last entry for Georgia and my trip into the Caucasus mts.Last entry for Georgia and my trip into the Caucasus mts....

Sep 26, 2006 - Georgia..continuing..part 2

Georgia land of some of the oldest standing christian churches.Georgia land of some of the oldest standing christian churches....