Day 19 - Sunday - A Nunnery - Beautiful Countryside

This is our last day before returning home! We spent most of the day driving back to Tblisi. And of course we stopped along the way for an amazing lunch at a nunnery with a lovely gift shop.

But first, here's the view from our hotel (just across from where the caves were):

Our hotel

Not too far from where we stayed was the remains of a market place for slaves, as this part of the country was in the path of the trading routes of the Silk Road. From the 16-19th centuries northern tribes would steal people, and Lords from western Georgia would sell peasants to foreigners passing through. 

We went through a little village where the pelicans nest on top of the light poles:

Phoka Nunnery of St. Nino: When St. Nino brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century, it is believed that she came here first. The nuns farm their own cows, make their own cheese, and an assortment of jams, candies, candles, and much more. We enjoyed a delicious lunch which included a pumpkin ginger soup, lake fish (the nunnery sits at the edge of the largest natural lake in Georgia), as well as other typical Georgian salads and breads, and of course cheese!

The landscape here is very barren - no trees and not even much for shrubbery. They plant grass on top of their houses for insulation.

Back in Tblisi, we were invited to our guide, Tato's, home for our farewell dinner, where his mother, Inge, prepared another feast for us! This was a special evening, to be sure!

Tato pouring Chacha shots (65% alcohol!)

Sandrine and Inge

Good-bye Georgia~!

Day 18 - Saturday - Continuing south...9th C. Old Town, and Caves which are still inhabited!

In two days we have driven the from near Russia to the north to near Turkey/Armenia in the south. The landscape has changed and yet it is still mountainous, and they are still cultivating grapes and producing wine here in the south as well. And of course the dogs and Dunkin' Donuts are ever-present too!

Looks almost like the American southwest

Terraced vineyards

We visited Rabati (which means Old Town) of Akhaltsikhe. This is a renovated 9th century town which had been conquered by the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century, and so it has medieval and early Christian and Islamic buildings as well as traditional Georgian houses.

Climbing the tower

St. George killing the dragon

First it was a church; then it was a mosque

Cave City~! Vardzia is a 12th century cave complex that was a monastic center. Over time, earthquakes have changed the layout of the 3,000 caves and corridors that existed since then. There is a monastic community of 5-6 monks that still live here and receive guests! This place is amazing!

Dining room with fire pit

 

The pipe coming down from the top is part of the sewer system

 

Natural spring water coming out of the wall is then pumped out to be used

A little chapel area

The house shaped structure is a burial vault inside the cave

Burial Vault

The cave for the Burial Vault

 They built this outside the church at a later time:

This is the part of the monastery that is still inhabited by monks:

A Priest

Tomorrow is our last day of our Georgian / Azarbaijan adventure. We will visit a nunnery where they make cheese on our way back to the capital, Tblisi.