Tbilisi Discovery: Independence Day
Feeling fresh and rested, I left the hotel around 10 after a delicious breakfast that included khinkali, Georgia’s famous stuffed dumpling. I took the jammed metro to Rustaveli boulevard, ground-zero for the Independence Day festivities.Food! Balloons! Clowns! Folk-dancing! The best shows were on the folkdancing stages which attracted large crowds. The demands of tourism eventually pulled me towards the Old Town for a look at the famous sights. First up was the famously goofy clock tower. The cafes and boutiques lent the pedestrian streets a cosmopolitan flavor and I loved the particularly Georgian architecture that features lacy wood balconies. The central part of the Old Town was delightfully restored but wandering just a few streets away revealed a much poorer environment of crumbling buildings and cracked pavements. One of the major highlights was the Anchiskhati Basilica where a wedding was in progress with men dressed in traditional Georgian costume. Boots! Swords! And this fashionable guest dressed in a female version of Georgian dress. After strolling Shevli street I meandered over to Peace Bridge, one of Georgia’s celebrated ventures into modern design. From there, I was close to the cable car that glided up to Narikala Fortress. and a … Continue reading →