Tbilisi

Day 19 0 km (6490 km total)

 

Today was a planned rest day, in part as I knew yesterday would be a long rough one and also to give some time to get the bikes & other things ready for the next major leg of the journey into Russia & 'the Stan's'

The journey so far ...

 

It had also been a meeting point for the three of us who had come via different routes from the UK but were all heading for the same pre-arranged China crossing. So Alan, who I rode with for a few days between Croatia & Turkey had also planned to stop here, in fact he got here a day ahead of me & Russ.

After a full breakfast cooked for us by the lovely Tamara, our hostess and manager of the Red Fox appartments, Alan packed up his bike to leave. He is planning to cross the Caspian sea by ferry, whereas Russ & I will travel around the northern side through Russia & Kazakhstan. All being well we will meet up again somewhere in Uzbekistan.

Russ & I then set to giving some TLC to our bikes. Both had suffered damage to the chain oilers as a result of flying rocks and/ or just the constant bumping along. Quick repairs & a few other adjustments made, we spent some time catching up on blog's and then headed out for a bIt of sightseeing.

Tbilisi is home to almost a quater of Georgia's 4+ million population and has had a long & varied histroy since its foundation in the 5th century. Sitting as it does in close proximity to the east west trad routes it has been influenced and ruled bay various rival empires over the years. This is reflected in its architectire & sights.

There is a very nice walk just by our lodgings, through the botanical gardens & pass some old sulphur bath houses.

 

The walk continues up a small canyon like valley

With buildings rather close to the edge ...

And a pretty waterfall at the end.

Russ asked me to take a photo of him by the waterfall, but my camera had other ideas ...

Oh, go on then ...!

Tried to get an artistic close up of the water but was photo-bombed again ;-)

Fun over, the walk back revealed a spiral staircase up the side of the cliff

With a nice view from the top

... and leading to pretty local streets in the old town

 

 

I then headed across the river to See the old Church there

 

From there I could see Narikala fortress on the opposite bank, so walked back across and up the incredibly steep cobbled roads to it. The fortress was originally built in the 4th century.

 

Revealing a nice view back to the church I had just left

 

at the top there is a large monument 'Kartvlis Deda' which was erected in 1958 to celebrate 1500 years of the city's institution.

With more excellent views

Round the rear of the fortress you can see how difficult this would have been to attack

 

 

 

In the distance there is another fine church - Cathedral Sameba

And a good view of the river Mtkvari valley that passes through central Tbilisi

Nice walk back down, theough the old town

And back to the Red Fox

Off to Kazbegi in the mountains close to the Russian border tomorrow - thunderstorms forecast :-(