Podziękowania!

Podziękowania zawsze czytam, bo wiem jakie to ważne dla autora wyrazić głęboką wdzięczność tym osobom, które wspierały w trakcie procesu pisania :) Ważne też, by odbiorcy podziękowań wiedzieli, że autor ich docenił ;) iż dobrym słowem, gestem przyczynili się do sukcesu! Umocnili mnie w przekonaniu, że warto pisać!

Na początku, dziękuję moim czterem genialnym współpodróżniczkom: Justynie, Karolci, Klaudii i Kasi, dzięki którym ten wyjazd mnie tak zainspirował i był właśnie taki jaki był! Jestem pełna dumy, że tak zgodnie, w wyśmienitych nastrojach, wspólnie spędziłyśmy te 11 dni.

Justynie i Klaudii, że mnie namówiły na wyjazd! Za utwierdzenie, że spisywanie przygód to genialny pomysł, szczególnie jeśli to lubię i mam z tego radość!

Karolinie - legendarnej Michelle, za motywację w pisaniu, dopominaniu się o kolejne treści (Justyna też :), konsultację oraz przede wszystkim za bycie moim "proof reader'em", za sprawdzanie wersji roboczych i cenne wskazówki, gdy czytając po raz e-nty, nie wyłapywałam już błędów interpunkcyjnych, stylistycznych czy literówek :)

Kochanej rodzince; rodzicom, bratu, Ani ;) najukochańszej siostrze Asi za zrozumienie, utwierdzanie, wsparcie, zawsze pierwsze komentarze, pochwały i cenne rady :)

Przyjaciołom; Sofii, Sylwii, Angeli, Ani S, Izie, Bartkowi, Marcie, Jackowie, Justynce, Tomkowi, za pochwały i dobre słowo! Kolegom i koleżankom z poprzedniej firmy RRD :), kuzynce Natalii - chyba zawsze jako pierwsza klikała "Lubię to"- czytała i chwaliła :), Wioli, żartownisiowi Piotrkowi, który całkiem poważnie! wyraził podziw i zafascynowanie treścią bloga, podobnie Kuba Ł ;), Remikowi, który mimo, iż nie mógł zrozumieć, że tak długo można pisać posta, po naszym slajdowisku w Artefakcie, na moje pytanie czy się podobało, powiedział, że 2 godziny zleciały mu nawet nie wiedział kiedy, co jest wielkim komplementem z jego strony :)

Dziękuję Wszystkim, którzy czytali od początku i chwalili, że blog fajny, że dobrze się czyta, że super, że go prowadzę. To dawało niezłego kopa! 

I to już koniec bloga, choć w sumie to wyszła bardziej e-opowieść, e-książka? :)
Może niedługo będzie na naszych półkach ? :)
Jak to powtarzam: "Dobra książka/ e-książka :) jest jak prawdziwy przyjaciel, zawsze można do niej wrócić"

W zamian podaruję Wam:

te kwiatki Kaukazu...

te róże z Tbilisi...

i ten uśmiech!!! :)
z całego mego serca!!! :*

DZIĘKUJĘ !!!

Day 11. Way back to Kutaisi - Goodbye Georgia

Sunday 31.05.2016

Souvenir from Mestia: A clay jug and horns for wine.

 Mountains, rocks and waterfalls over the road...

and the sharp turns among rocky mountains...

In early spring when snow melts, the water reaches the trees...

 (Yes, yes, after winter the water reaches the trees and
the driving wheel in this Mitsubishi Delica is on the right side :)

Beehives at the road on the way Mestia - Zugdidi.

fot. Justyna Kochańska

(more on: www.justynakochanska.wordpress.com )

And we:)

(Faded jeans always "in" ;)

In Zugdidi, where Gaga took us to a large, street market, we were at about 2 p. m. There were plenty of stores with cheese, fruit and homemade products. We walked together, but in one moment I stayed behind looking at something and they disappeared. I got lost in the marketplace. Then, we all met at the car park. (I did remember the way, uf) Each of us bought bakery products chachapuri and two kilograms of sulguni cheese. The price was about 2,5 EUR per kg. Cheap and delicious! 

It is allowed to transport such cheese in the luggage, but you should pack it really well (in plastic bags), so that fresh "juice" from the cheese does not damp your clothes in the bag!

Market in Zugdidi.
fot. Justyna Kochańska

 fot. Justyna Kochańska

fot. Justyna Kochańska

Kutaisi again!

We arrived at 5 p.m. We dropped the ladies at the bus station as they wanted to catch the bus - marshutka - to Tbilisi (we told them not to worry: there was no timetable, the bus would leave as all the seats got full. We got off at the central square with the fountain (Kolkha Fountain). Let me recall, the price for this ride was 300 GEL (120 EUR), 7-passengers, which gives 17 EUR per person. Quickly, comfortably and in good company!

More information: Guesthouse Kaldani Mestia Svaneti

Saying goodbye to Gaga, we were standing in the same place - in Kutaisi, where we started our trip eleven days ago... We got sad that it was the end.

- "Hey girls! We still have afternoon, evening and night ahead!" - One of us said optimistically. And the other added - memorable words:

- "Exactly! We have plenty of time before departure, so many things can still happen!" Hahaha

We all were in great moods, laughing and joking that we can still have some adventures!

In order to move easier around the city, we had decided to leave the backpacks at our hostess Laila and to pick them in the evening before going to a restaurant for a long dinner. It was very close from the square to Laila's hostel. (Kutaisi Hostel Centre, Jibladze Street 3) Uf! So good to have a place to leave the backpacks!

Laila was very pleased to see us and she willingly agreed to store our luggage. (When we were leaving Kutaisi the first day, we did not have this idea)

Then, we went for a walk along small streets on the way to the Bagrati cathedral, but we did not climb the hill to see the cathedral. We left it for the next time.

We wanted to find a store with large selection of Georgian wines and to buy a few souvenirs there.

(the limit for transport of alcohol is five litters per person, so pretty enough) Very soon we came across a small supermarket with a big shop window full of bottles. Perfect!

I think I have already mentioned that Georgian wines are probably the best in the world! Definitely, one of the best and the tastiest! According to the guidebook, the word "wine" itself, derives from Georgian language! 

This store had a wide range of wines with the price from 7 to 15 GEL. So, you could buy a good wine already for 3 EUR, an excellent one for 6 EUR! There were also artistic bottles of wine; beautiful, colourful, made of clay (with the wine inside! for 15-25 GEL (6-10 EUR). Great for a gift!

An artistic, clay bottle of wine. Great gift!

- "One bottle of this wine please" - Claudia chose and ordered a bottle of wine.

After a while, as the waitress took the order and was about to leave, Kate said - as if she had forgotten something:

- "... And five wine glasses, please."
Hahahah "Kateeeee! Did you think she would bring only one wine glass?" Hahahah, Really good that you said it! You never know" - we were joking.
- "So maybe we should order like in this joke: One spaghetti and five forks, please. - I added.
"Our full order would be: One bottle of wine and five wine glasses and one spaghetti and five forks, please. " Heheh 

Anyway, we ordered various dishes: Justina and I took stew meat, Michelle - still opposing the flour dishes - ordered some salad, Kasia - traditionally, Georgian chinkhali and Klaudia took some meat dish too. Of course, everything was very tasty and filling. While eating and drinking we were recalling the entire trip, appreciating the weather, the people we met and each other - how nicely and cheerfully we survived these eleven days together.

- "Well, we could get to know each other better"

- "Yeaaah, for example, I learnt that Claudia collects the city maps, I did not know you from this side" heheh 

Kate: "I am impressed by Claudia's good space orientation."

Michelle: " And I am impressed by Maggie's  l a c k  of  space orientation." hehehe

Laughing at myself I added: "Well, sometimes it happens."

We ordered another bottle of wine. As we say in Poland: "One bottle for us is nothing!" and Claudia poured equally half of the glass to everyone. After a while (a longer while!) she poured the remaining wine, singing cheerfully a song invented on the spot, with the melody of psalm. 

- "All our glaaaassseeesss will be full of wiiiiiinneeeeeee!"
And it started... - we were making up the lyrics to the melody and repeating the chorus: "All our glaaaassseeesss.... (...)  (so much fun!)

After a while the waitress came to us with a bottle of wine and started to open it. We were surprised: "Eeee???!!!"
- "We haven't ordered the third bottle y e t... " - and explained that just started the second one.
- "It is a gift from the gentleman from that table" - She smiled and pointed with her hand.
What?!?!?! We were shocked! Three tables ahead, there were two men eating, drinking and talking, and the one sitting sideways to us nodded his head.
We responded together: " Madloba / Spasiba!" (Thank you!)
Still in shock.... Hehehe, We couldn't believe our happiness - "Welcome adventure!"
"It's soo kind of him! Very kind gesture!" - we commented.
Claudia continued to sing: "Okay, so: All our glaaassseeesss ARE NOW full of wiiiiinnnneeeee!"
Creative Michelle followed:
-"We have another bottle of winee,
which was given by the man sitting in that liiinee.
We will drink this bottle, yet not shyly
So we might board the plane too smiley."

Hahahha "Stop, I can't anymore !!! "
I didn't remember when I had laughed so much before, my face, my belly were hurting and my eyes were crying. If the laughter prolongs life - as they say - that evening, we definitely prolonged our life by many, many years.

In the meantime, I was taking some notes in my little notebook. When I was writing, the waiter came over and set the plates on the table!
Again, we made big eyes and muttered: "Whaaaat ?! Why?!?!"
The waiter: "Rubiani from this gentleman"
"OOOOOOO nooo! Sooo nice!!! Girls! ready?"
- "Mabloba !!!"
The man smiled and continued conversation with his companion.
The waiter brought a large plate with round dish, similar to chachapuri.
And we were so full! - "I will not fit it, it's too much!" - "But we should try a least little bit, hm? We shouldn't leave it untouched, hm?" - we were discussing what to do.
"But I'm full!" - "Someone has to eat at least a piece!" - "Come on Michelle, for mom, for dad, and for the generous man" - we pretended feeding eachother.

Soon, as I was sitting facing the bar, I saw the waiter preparing five cups of ice cream on a tray...
- "Ooooh noooo ..." - I didn't finish and the waiter was already walking towards us and the girls noticed him too.
- "Dessert for you, from this gentleman."
Michelle as if in panic: "Oooo noo, what shall we do now?! In such situation?!?! How shall we behave ?! Let's open a savoir vivre guidebook!" 

Justina: "Google Michelle, Google!" 

I said: " Maybe, we could say thank you once again, this time standing up?" 

We turned, stood up to say thank you, but the gentleman waved his hand to sit down. He stood up and walked over to us.

He was about 50 years old and was from Russia, but for six years he used to live in Warsaw. That is why he was very fond of Poles and Poland.

He spoke to us in Russian, but slowly, so we could understand something. At the end of his short story, he raised a toast to the Polish- Russian friendship, he greeted us and went back to his table.

- "Wooow! What a nice gesture! "

We were very impressed. A true gentleman!

- "The scene like from the movie!" Heheh " Never happened to me! Nobody ever did something like this; buying me wine, dinner or dessert from the other table!" Heheh

Claudia: "I already had such situation..." and she told us her interesting story.

- "But you need to admit, this - now - also made a great impression on you?"

- "Yeaaah, sure! Great gesture! And look, a Russian man"

- "It seems that the Poles and the Russians like each other, but the 'politics'  n o t" - Justina summed up quite seriously.

The three young men sitting next to our table kept watching us and seemed also very surprised when this Russian man approached us. They tried already before to talk to us by asking where we were from, but they were probably too shy to keep up the conversation.

Claudia noticed it and said: "And those three are still looking at us, so surprised! They could buy wine or ice cream for us, so they could pick-up the Polish girls, hehe and now... phi! Heheh, let them learn from the mature Russian man" 

And so, in wonderful moods we left the restaurant after midnight, probably as the last ones.


- " We are going now to the airport,
     And this is our last transport.
     That's how we finish our Georgian dream,
     When at the end the man bought us ice -cream!"
A happy taxi! :)
The driver laughed and Michelle, who was sitting at the front, explained to him in Russian the reason of our great joy. They kept talking but our singing interfered 'a bit' their conversation. When we arrived, the man asked Michelle for ... a kiss! :) Hehe, She felt embarrassed and we were laughing.
-"Oooo maaaan, at the very end Michelle has broken the driver's heart!" :) - we were joking.
-"Good that she hasn't broken the window!" :D hahaha
-"Come on Michelle, go on! Give him a kiss! KISS for Georgian CHRIS" :D Heheh

"Goodbye beloved Georgia!!! and... SEE YOU next time!" ;)

POLAND, Warsaw, Chopin Airport.

And this moment came... the time to say goodbye. Michele with Kate were staying in Warsaw, we were going further by PolskiBus to Krakow, having another five hours drive ahead!
As if from a dream we were coming back to reality...
- "I cannot believe this is the end ..."
- "Mmmmm but always there is the end...
- "And I cannot believe it was so amazing! In every respect, till the very end!"
- "Yeaaah" - we all agreed.
- "Girls, a big hug and THANKS for everything!!! It was a pure pleasure!"

***

Still in the restaurant Justina said very wise words:
"Personally, I like returns, then it is real fun to share your experience with your family, with other people after you come back.
For me the journey consists of three stages: preparation, trip itself - sightseeing and return. All are exciting in their own way. Look, so many things have happened, so many sensations, emotions, adventures. Now, it's fun to tell about it."
- "You are absolutely right Justina!" - I commented - "Good we're coming back, because I am literally 'overwhelmed' by these sensations. I am sinking! Help! help! Hehe, I have to transfer it! Transfer to the paper - I mean to the keyboard and tell everyone!

And I did it! Eleven unforgettable days, described for the whole year! In Polish and English, so that everyone could read it.

So, this is the End of the story about our great adventure in Georgia!

THANK YOU!!! 
to everyone for reading and waiting patiently for the next Day!

I told you! I would not stop till I tell you everything!
That's already everything! 

Will you miss it? You can read it again from the beginning :)

Dzień 11. Powrót do Kutaisi - pożegnanie Gruzji

Niedziela 31.05.2015

Pamiątka z Mestii: Gliniany dzbanek i rogi na wino.

Droga z Mestii do Kutaisi jest dość nowa, bo ma zaledwie kilka lat. Wcześniej była to droga ziemna, kamienista, teraz jest tam asfalt, co bardzo ułatwia życie mieszkańcom Mestii i lokalnych wiosek. Kiedyś czas przejazdu był bardzo długi i nie sposób było objechać trasę Kutaisi - Mestia - Kutaisi jednego dnia, teraz są to 4 godziny w jedną stronę. Przejazd ten jest bez wątpienia kolejną atrakcją Gruzji i jak mówił Gaga, swego czasu był jednym z najniebezpieczniejszych. Jest to bowiem bardzo kręta droga wśród wysokich, skalistych gór, ale za to piękne widoki: gęste lasy iglaste na wzniesieniach, rwąca rzeka - Patara Enguri - ciągnąca się przez połowę trasy, małe, biedne wioski przy drodze. W pewnym miejscu przejeżdża się obok wielkiej tamy, gdzie zbiornik wody staje się naprawdę ogromny, a w jego tafli malowniczo odbijają się otaczające go góry i drzewa. Gaga opowiadał nam, że w planach była budowa kolejnej tamy i zalanie okolicznej wioski, czemu sprzeciwiali się mieszkańcy i ekolodzy. Ciekawe jak ten spór zostanie rozwiązany.

 

Góry, skały, wodospady tuż nad drogą.. 

 oraz kręta droga u podnóża skalistych gór...

 Wczesną wiosną, gdy są roztopy woda sięga drzew...

(Jak "ładnie" widać, gdzie po zimie sięga woda...

i że kierownica w tym Mitsubishi Delica - po prawej stronie ;)

Przydrożne ule na trasie Mestia- Zugdidi.

fot. Justyna Kochańska

(więcej na: justynakochanska.wordpress.com )

I my :)

(Nie ma jak wytarte dżinsy :)

Targ w Zugdidi.
 fot. Justyna Kochańska

 fot. Justyna Kochańska

fot. Justyna Kochańska

Podczas jazdy także robiłam drobne notatki na kolanie i skupiona w pewnym momencie powiedziałam do dziewczyn:
- "Dajcie mi wody. Tyle piszę, że mi już zaschło w gardle." - a one wszystkie w śmiech, powtarzając moją 'zabawną'? wypowiedź i akcentując odpowiednie słowa: "Tyle PISZESZ, że już Ci ZASCHŁO w GARDLE?" Hahah Ja zrozumiawszy swoją gafę, śmiałam się chyba najgłośniej (co ma pisanie do pragnienia?! - heheh też jest na "P"?) Po naszym ataku śmiechu wytłumaczyłyśmy pani Renacie i pani Wincencie, że spisywałam nasze przygody, ciekawostki oraz żarciki aby mieć niezbite dowody i materiały do planowanego bloga - opowieści.

Kutaisi jeszcze raz!
Dojechaliśmy około godziny piątej popołudniu. Panie wysadziliśmy na dworcu, bo miały złapać busa do Tbilisi (mówiłyśmy by się nie martwiły, gdyż nie ma rozkładu jazdy, bus odjedzie jak się zapełni) Nas Gaga podwiózł do centrum, na plac z fontanną (Kolkha Fountain). Przypomnę, cena przejazdu 300 GEL (480zł) auto 7-osobowe, wychodzi 43 GEL / 68 zł na osobę, szybko, wygodnie i w miłym towarzystwie!
Informacje: Guesthouse Kaldani Mestia Svaneti

Pożegnawszy się z Gagą, stojąc z plecakami w tym samym miejscu - w Kutaisi, gdzie zaczęłyśmy naszą wyprawę, wzdychałyśmy, że to już koniec...
- "Hej dziewczyny! przed nami jeszcze niemal całe popołudnie, wieczór i noc!" - optymistycznie oznajmiła jedna.  Na to kolejna dodała - pamiętne słowa:
- "No właśnie! Do odlotu mamy mnóstwo czasu, tyle się jeszcze może wydarzyć!" Hahaha
Wszystkie byłyśmy w promiennych humorach, śmiejąc się i potwierdzając, że "jeszcze możemy mieć jakieś przygody!"

   

Aby swobodnie poruszać się po mieście, ustaliłyśmy już wcześniej, że plecaki zaniesiemy do naszej serdecznej gospodyni Laili, a odbierzemy je wieczorem, gdy już udamy się do jakiejś knajpy na długą kolację. Z placu do Laili było bardzo blisko (Kutaisi Hostel Center, ul. Jibladze 3). Uf! Jaka wygoda móc zostawić plecaki!
Laila bardzo się ucieszyła jak nas zobaczyła i chętnie pozwoliła zostawić bagaże. (wyjeżdżając z Kutaisi pierwszego dnia nie miałyśmy tego jeszcze w planie)

Pomysł na prezent: artystyczna, gliniana butelka z winem.

.


"Żegnaj ukochana Gruzjo!!! i ... DO ZOBACZENIA!!!" :)

Na lotnisku w Kutaisi są materace, gdzie można się położyć, lecz jak przybyłyśmy, wszystkie były już zajęte. Miałyśmy jeszcze sporo czasu, więc rozłożyłyśmy się na podłodze w rogu i padnięte, zasnęłyśmy jak dzieci.

Następnie odprawa i lot do Polski, 3 godziny - przespane!
A, przy oddawaniu bagażu Klaudia zauważyła, że jakiś chłopak przed nami miał identyczny plecak jak ona.
- "Ooo jaaaa... Klaudia zaznacz sobie! Jeszcze tego brakuje, byś w Warszawie zabrała NIE swój plecak!!!" Hehhe - "mądrze" doradziłam  -  "Tego już by było za dużo!" 

POLSKA! Warszawa, Okęcie:

I "nadejszła" ta chwila... czas pożegnania, Karolcia z Kasią zostawały w Warszawie, my we trzy ruszałyśmy dalej Polskim Busem do Krakowa i kolejne 5h drogi przed nami!
Wyrwane jakby ze snu wracałyśmy do rzeczywistości...
- "Nie mogę uwierzyć, że to już koniec..."
- "Mmmmm zawsze kiedyś nadchodzi ten koniec...
- "A ja nie mogę uwierzyć, że było tak niesamowicie! pod każdym względem i do samego końca!"
- "Ooo racja" - wzdychałyśmy wszystkie!

- " Dziewczyny, wielki uścisk i DZIĘKI za wszystko!!!!"

***

Jeszcze w restauracji Dżasta powiedziała bardzo mądre słowa:

"Ja tam lubię powroty, fajnie jest potem podzielić się wrażeniami z rodziną, z innymi osobami.

Dla mnie podróż składa się z trzech etapów: przygotowanie, sama podróż - zwiedzanie i powrót. Wszystkie są na swój sposób ekscytujące. Patrzcie, tyle się wydarzyło, tyle wrażeń, emocji, że fajnie jest to teraz dalej opowiedzieć."

- "Święta racja Dżasta! - pochwaliłam - "Dobrze, że wracamy, bo ja już dosłownie "kipię" z tych wrażeń, normalnie mi się ulewa, muszę je dalej przelać! Hehe, Przelać na klawiaturę i wszystkim opowiedzieć! Tak jak zaplanowałam przed wyjazdem."

I przelałam, jedenaście niezapomnianych dni opisanych w ciągu całego roku! Po polsku i po angielsku, tak by każdy mógł przeczytać!

To więc już koniec mej opowieści o naszej wielkiej przygodzie w Gruzji!

DZIĘKUJĘ!!!
że czytaliście i cierpliwie czekaliście na kolejny Dzień!

A pisałam, że nie spocznę dopóki Wam wszystkiego nie opowiem!? :)
To już wszystko ;)

Będzie Wam tego brakować? :) Możecie przeczytać opowieść od początku jeszcze raz! :)

Day 10. Village Ushguli and trekking to the glacier.

Saturday 30.05. 2015

Giga - to make it easier to remember his name, he added, "as Gigabyte". We liked him straight away. He was 26 years old but looked a bit older. He was well built and had a short haircut, which made him a bit more mature. Previously he was training boxing and won many awards and titles in Georgia. He came from Mestia and loved the mountains. He studied in Tbilisi, however, he decided to return to his home village and to start tourism business. He has his guest house and organizes tours in Svanetia (Kaldani Guest House Mestia). Giga had a big knowledge - also about Poland and he had great sense of humor. The trip was very interesting and funny!

The road to Ushguli is minimum two hour driving. Until certain point there is asphalt on the road and then just mountain off-road. The first stop was at the stone tower called "The tower of love". Giga told us a story that happened in the seventeenth century and has been passed from generation to generation.

There were two families; Margrelani and Kurdiani family living in two villages separated by the mountains. A young girl named Kala coming from Kurdiani family and a young man - Dipar from Margrelani were very much in love. They were meeting on the big rock at the river bank. Both families, being aware of Kala's and Dipar's love, agreed to their marriage and wanted to organize a wedding. That time there was a tradition that a man who wanted to take a girl for a wife had to hunt a wild animal with horns and give them to his beloved as a proof of bravery and courage. In this way he also ensured that he would support the family.

Before the wedding Dipar went hunting but he did not come back. The girl was still caming to their meeting point and waiting for him. Feeling great pain and despair, Kala did not want to leave this place, believing that her beloved might return. She asked the family to built her a tower where she could live and wait for her lover till the end of her life. She did not want to commit suicide, because she believed that if she had done it, she would have gone to hell and they both would never be able to meet.

Therefore Kala's parents, seeing the great suffering of their beloved daughter, built a stone tower on the rock where the lovers used to meet. They provided the girl with food through the upper small window in the tower. After many years Kala died of great longing for her love. The tower stands there till today.

This story moved both families so much that they decided to keep the memory of  the lovers by passing it to the next generations.

What a beautiful and sad story. Giga stressed that it is entirely true story and that rock, on which the tower was built, is both the witness and the monument to this great love of Kala and Dipar.

Then we stopped at the side of the mountain to enjoy breathtaking views and to take some pictures. Around us: green pastures, rocks, a herd of cows and horses grazing on the edge of the hill.

"These horses will not fall down from this mountain?" ;) 

"I guess no" ;)

We, on the way to Ushguli.

Ushguli 

Arriving at the place we saw a tiny village among the mountains, with numerous characteristic towers - the same like in Mestia, and with small, poor houses surrounded by old, wooden fences.

- "People really LIVE HERE ?!" - We were surprised.

- "In Ushguli there are approximately 100 families, people live on what they grow and breed. They also do carving, leather products and there is even a school, a shop and a bar" - Giga explained.

Magic place. As if the time had stopped tens years ago. 

Arriving to the village...

 The most beautiful picture of this trip.

Fot. Justyna Kochańska

Memorable picture of our band ;) 

One of the most amazing views. The start of our hiking trail. 

Fot. Justyna Kochańska

Let's start!

 Claudia and Burek.

Grzegorz, Ola and Burek.

 Mountain streams and stones...

green pastures...

and snow...

and flowers ;)

We go bravely :)

Burek was looking after us all the time :)

Fot. Justyna Kochańska

 Stop! Break! Sooo beautiful here...

Another break. After 3 hours, the attitude 2800 m.

(Here I write. 

Hungry Michelle: Oh, what DO you bite?

I DO NOT bite - I write ;)

There ahread! The glacier! Eternal ice-land!

 Souvenir 1 - group photo with the glacier and Burek :)

Souvenir 2 - Single photo.

Jump over the stream!

I will lie few more minutes...

 Going down...

to the village.

In Ushguli, Giga was waiting for us at the bar. (We were exactly 6.5 h away!). Perfect place! So good to sit down and drink a cold beer! We sat on the terrace and Giga brought a carafe of homemade chacha from the bar owner and he gave everyone to try. "I don't take NO for answer!" ;) Everyone had to drink (apart from little Ola) A toast to the beautiful, successful trip, to the hosts and the guests!

'Ugh sooo strong!"- " It's 70% !!! after all."

The bar owner Beso Nijaradze is a carpenter and creates brilliant sculptures, which can be purchased in Mestia or there at the shop next to the bar. (I bought an interesting wine bottle holder with a sculpture of bunch of grapes - a bottle almost hangs in the air. The price 20 GEL, in Mestia GEL.

Giga asked Beso to show us his latest work. It was a huge chair, like a throne, with the coat of arms, armrests in the form of Svanetian towers and the history of Nijaradze family engraved on the back. It was a family heirloom, a gift for his son who was 6 years old. As he grows up, he will pass the chair to his son.

Amazing! A lot of details, ornaments and precision. Engraving Georgian writing itself - this is real art! Beso was carving the chair only out of two pieces of wood, all done by himself, for six months. Real masterpiece! 

He told us also that he carved a similar throne for our  President - the late Lech Kaczynski - as the gift and it had been sent to Poland. What a wonderful gift!

Sitting on the throne was really emotional. Great admiration and pride. It was real work of art, a beautiful family heirloom, hard work of one man, out of love for his son,  a chair like an old exhibit in a museum... and I could sit on it.

WOW!

Beso Nijaradze and his brilliant work of art, the throne - family heirloom.

Fot. Justyna Kochańska

On the way to the car, we saw young boys galloping on the horses!

They approached one of the houses calling their friend to come out. What an unusual view.

Klaudia added: "So lovely, our kids sit at the computers, or if they go out they shout: 

Let's ride a bike! And here in Ushguli the kids shout: Let's ride a horse! (?)" 

For the locals a horse is still the best mean of transport (after a car), the work force on the field, children's entertainment and for tourists one of the biggest attraction of the village.

Fot. Justyna Kochańska

Beautiful, Svanetian horses...

Fot. Justyna Kochańska