Venturing Out: Sunshine in Tbilisi

Weather Update: Sunny, High 8°C

Elevation Above Sea Level : 380–770 metres (1,250–2,530 ft)

Day 3: Sunshine

Today, the sun finally shone, and Tbilisi looked vibrant compared to the drabness of the past two days. My day started at 9:30 am after a good 10 hours of sleep. I left the hostel at around 10:30 am and headed for Liberty or Freedom Square, hoping to find some brochures at the information centre. Unfortunately, it was closed for a break.

Early Lunch Disappointment

I decided to have an early lunch, choosing a place that seemed promising. However, the food turned out to be pre-packaged and defrosted, a stark contrast to the photo on the menu. What was supposed to be a towering pasta dish layered with cheese and meat ended up being a disappointing pasta and cheese dish with a sprinkling of meat on top.

Exploring Old Town

I then headed towards the old part of the city, walking along cobbled streets and pavements, admiring old Soviet buildings in need of repair or just abandoned. Here and there, quaint shops and eateries hinted at the bustling hub Tbilisi becomes during the summer.

The Cathedral of Sameba

My destination was the Cathedral across the river, which, despite appearing not too high up, required a steady half-hour climb. This stunning Orthodox church features a yellow stone exterior and a golden dome. At night, it's beautifully lit, adding another dimension to its grandeur. Sameba is the largest church in Georgia and one of the biggest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, perched on Elia Hill with a cascading staircase leading to the main door. The view from the top of the stairs was breathtaking.

Inside the Cathedral

The interior continued the theme of bold verticality, with soaring columns leading the eye upwards to the central dome. The walls were adorned with intricate icons and artifacts. I had planned to visit the castle, but it was closed for renovations, making a cable car ride up the mountain pointless.

Back to Old Town

Returning to Old Town, I walked through Meidani Square, a bustling place filled with cafes, restaurants, shops, and hotels. It dates back to the times when ancient travellers arrived with goods for sale or barter.

Fascination with History

I photographed more buildings, intrigued by the historical events of the Russian occupation and the time when Georgia became an independent country. Activities for tourists are abundant, a cable car ride, a balloon ride high above the streets of Tbilisi, river cruises and a ride on a two-horse wagon that offers a five-minute journey across the bridge—a typical tourist attraction.

Beer and Conversations

I stopped for a beer at around 2:30 pm in Meidani Square before heading back to the hostel to pack and prepare for tomorrow. I struck up a conversation with Paul, an American, and we planned to meet at Browns Bar tonight.

Browns Bar Experience

Browns Bar, nestled in the heart of Old Town at Jerusalem Square, felt like home. It's a short walk from Meidani Square and our hostel, the Cosy Koala Hostel. The bar offers a great vibe with live entertainment, quiz nights, great Pizzas, and Asian cuisine. It's a Guinness and Rugby pub, perfect for sports enthusiasts and expats. I arrived unbeknown to me it was happy hour, I ordered dinner with a bottle of wine, and was pleasantly surprised to receive a bottle of wine to go. Happy hour rules here, you buy one and get one free, it was such an unexpected treat.

Meeting New People

During my time at Browns Bar, I met some great people who made me feel welcome. As the time ticked towards 9:30 pm, I had to leave for an early start the next day. Paul turned up just as I was about to leave, but I couldn't stay longer.

Reflections on Travel

I hope you're enjoying my travels around the world. It's been three months, and I've barely scratched the surface.

Cheers to the adventures ahead and the stories yet to unfold! 🌏✨🏨🍺

Venturing out::

Weather Update: Sunny: High 8c

Elevation Above Sea Level: 380–770 metres (1,250–2,530 ft) 

Day 3: Sunshine i

It turns out that today the sun was shining and Tbilisi looked different than the drab look that has been hanging over the city for the first two days. My day started at 9.30 am because I had 10 hours of good sleep. I left the hostel at about 10.30 and headed for Liberty or Freedom Square, there is an information centre where I should be able to get some brochures of things to see and do in the area. Not being able to get out and about on my first two days left me with little time to explore very much, but to my dismay, they were closed for a break. I decided an early lunch was appropriate and what looked like a place where they serve nice food turned out to be pre-packaged, bought in and defrosted. The photo on the menu and what you got was different, the menu showed a tall tower of pasta layered with cheese and meat at least 4 layers high. What I got was a pasta cheese, pasta cheese with a sprinkling of meat on top, and it came in pre-packaged tin foil and an empty plate. The one thing I regretted was paying the Bill and not saying anything. I headed towards the old part of the city and walked along its cobbled streets and pavements gazing at some very old soviet buildings in need of repair or just abandoned, but here and there quaint shops and eateries everywhere you looked and this would be a hub for tourists in summer. I found my way down to the river where tourist boats were mulling up and down the river. The Cathedral I was aiming for was across the river even though it did not look that high up was a steady ½ hr climb to get there.

It was a stunning orthodox church offering a yellow stone exterior and golden dome, and at night time the building is lit up which gives it another dimension. The largest church in Georgia and one of the biggest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, Sameba is hard to miss – no matter where you’re standing, chances are you can spot its lustrous gold dome. To truly appreciate the scale of the facade and the building’s monumental footprint, you need to see it up close. The church is perched on Elia Hill, with a cascading staircase leading to the main door. From the top of the stairs, you get a fantastic view of not just the churchyard but also the city. I counted the steps and there were 16 steps in each block so if there is some significant about it then no one is on hand to tell you.

Inside, the bold verticality continues with soaring columns leading the eye skywards to the central dome. The walls are plastered with dozens of intricate icons and other artefacts. I had intended to go to the castle but I had been closed for a while due to renovations so to ride the cable car up the mountain seemed pointless.

I returned to Old Town and Meidani Square is the main square in Tbilisi’s Old City which I walked through earlier in the day, it was formerly known as Meidan Bazaar dating back to the times when ancient travellers arrived in Caravans laden with goods for sale or barter with. Today the Square is a bustling place filled with cafes, restaurants, shops, hotels, etc. and within easy access to most major landmarks in the Old City.

I photographed more of the building because they have a fascination with historical events of the Russian occupation and the time when Georgia became a country in its own right. For the tourists, there are multiple activities to do close by but a ride on a two-horse wagon gives tourists a five-minute ride across the bridge. but it is a tourist thing that tourists do. I stopped for a beer at about 2.30 in the Meidani Square that overlooked the area before heading back to the hostel to pack and get everything ready before bedtime. I've sprung up a conversation with a gentleman called Paul, from America and we plan to go to Browns Bar tonight and meet about 7 pm.

Browns Bar made me feel at home, it is nestled in the heart of the old town at Jerusalem Square a short walk from Meidani Square coming from the other side. and a short walk down the hill from our hostel the Cosy Kaola Hostel. Here you will get a great vibe from the place from the live entertainment and quiz nights to Fab pizzas and Asian Cuisine. If you are a sports enthusiast you're in the right place. This is a Guinness and Rugby pub and if you are an expat, this is home. Happy hour, I had dinner on Friday night waiting for Paul to show up. I ordered a bottle of wine and before I left they gave me a bottle of wine to take away because happy hour says if you buy 1 you get 1 free, during my time here I met some great people who made me feel welcome. Eventually, as time ticked on towards 9.30 pm it was time for me to leave then Paul turned up and I could not stay any longer because of my early start tomorrow.

I hope you are enjoying my travel around the world It has been 3 months and I've barely scratched the surface

Cheers to the adventures ahead and the stories yet to unfold!