Foto: The mountain village Ushguli (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Georgia - From Mestia we continue driving to Ushguli. Mestia is located at an altitude of 1,400 meters. Ushguli at 2,200 meters. This makes Ushguli the highest continuously inhabited mountain village in Europe. We do wonder if this is not higher in the Alps. The road leading there is bad. Due to recent rainfall over the past few days, the road has certainly not improved. The first part is still paved, but the last twenty-five kilometers are unpaved. The road is full of potholes filled with rainwater. We drive over it at a very slow pace. Unbelievable that this is the only route to Ushguli. The other mountain pass is still closed due to snow. Streams flow across the road, and puddles stretch across its width. It is a real challenge to climb higher and higher into the mountains. When we are almost at Ushguli, after nearly three hours of driving, we see a camper with a Dutch license plate parked. When we stop, we are immediately asked: "Are you from Hiero to Tokyo?" Marleen and Roderick are traveling with an old Mercedes bus and have previously been in contact with us via the internet. They call their camper Circumbendibus. Last week they also met some friends of ours in Batumi who had heard about our trip. It’s a small world. They camp in their camper just outside Ushguli. In the village there was no flat piece of ground. We stay overnight in a guesthouse in Ushguli. Just like in Mestia, most houses have old watchtowers. The village looks poor and has something medieval about it. Yet it is a beautiful environment among the mountain peaks. Due to the rainfall, the streets have turned into muddy paths. No wonder the residents travel by horse. In the evening, during dinner, it turns out there is no electricity. No lights and no hot water. There is nothing else to do but go to bed early. But after such an intensive ride, that is not unpleasant.
Freedom Square in Tbilisi
Georgia - Today is Independence Day in Georgia. For the 25th time, it is celebrated that Georgia became independent from Russia. On the famous Rustaveli Avenue, many stalls and stages are set up. There is entertainment everywhere. We order a sandwich at one of ...
The Ancient Capital Mtskheta
Georgia - We drive to the old capital, Mtskheta. Before visiting the cathedral in the town, we drive to the church on the hill opposite Mtskheta. This church sits on the other bank of the river. The Jvari Church contains a large wooden cross, symbolizing the wooden ...
The Bodbe Monastery
Georgia - After about a two-hour drive, we reach Bodbe Monastery, one of Georgia’s most important religious sites. This active convent is particularly known as the burial place of Saint Nino, who played a crucial role in converting Georgia to Christianity in ...
The Cave City of Vardzia
Georgia - The cave city of Vardzia is a rock monastery on the slopes of the Erusheli River. It was founded by Queen Tamar in 1185 as protection against the Mongols and consisted of over six thousand apartments across thirteen levels. The only access to the complex ...
The Modern Resort Town of Batumi
Georgia - The weather clears, and the sun even breaks through. On the boulevard, most of the beach tents are being dismantled and cleared away—the season is over. Behind the boulevard stand tall apartment blocks and skyscrapers of unusual shapes, giving the skyline ...
The monastery of David Gareja
Georgia - We drive out of Sagarejo, heading for the David Gareja monastery. The monastery is carved into the rocks and lies exactly in the mountainous area on the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan. We had heard the road there would be bad. Expecting the worst, ...
The Stalin Museum in Gori
Georgia - We drive on to Gori, a city world-famous as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. He was born here in 1878 in a modest wooden house, still standing next to the museum later built in his honor. Visiting a museum dedicated to a man responsible for the oppression ...
Tsminda Sameba Church Kazbegi
Georgia - Just after two o’clock we approach Stepantsminda. Along the roadside are numerous trucks, kilometers long. The trucks have been waiting here for the border crossing with Russia. Further along the route, there is no place to park. The police let a few ...