Day 24 16 May Tbilisi to Gudauri ski resort

Photo above - the town of Mtskheta and the confluence of rivers Kura and Aragvi.

Short walk in Tbilisi 

Today we are driving North up into the ski resort of Gudauri. Before breakfast I went for a quick walk around the local streets now that the rain has stopped and the sun is out. The old town is built up a steep hill and provides some nice views over the city, clearly showing the mix of shiny new buildings and centuries old churches etc Nice hotels sit right next to narrow streets with soviet era housing and street wiring!

Visit to the town of Mtskheta

At 9am, we left Tbilisi to drive a few miles west to the town of Mtskheta,considered the spiritual heart of Georgia, and the former capital. The traffic was quite heavy getting out of the city. The road was a continual stream of car dealerships, apartment blocks, shopping malls etc, until they finally dropped away to be replaced with trees and wooded slopes as we followed the river valley. After about 50 minutes, we turned off the main highway, to go up into the surrounding lush green wooded hills to visit the 6th-century hilltop Jvari Monastery. There are great views of Mtskheta town and the confluence of two rivers below, the Kura and Aragvi. 

Next we went down into the town and visited Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. The 11th-century basilica contains the grave of Sidonia, who was said to have been buried holding Christ's robe. The streets immediately around the church are full of market stalls selling souvenirs. Found a nice place next to the very full and fast flowing river to have lunch

Yet more wine tasting!

Afterward, we headed further west along the wide fertile river valley. We stopped in the town of Kaspi to visit another traditional winery and sample some of the Georgian bio-wines that are produced there. Tasted a white, an amber, a red, two different strength cha chas, and a limoncello!

Country within a country 

We then turned north towards the Russian border to head up into the mountains. We followed a road nicknamed the military highway, that runs parallel, and at times only a km or so away from, the border with South Ossetia. This a land locked country with partial diplomatic recognition, specifically from Russia, but claimed by Georgia, within whose borders it lies. It is considered to be occupied by Russia. The region immediately to the north over the Russian border is called Northern Ossetia. Officially called the Republic of Ossetia, it has it's own flag, president and prime minister. The official languages are Ossetian and Russian, and the official currency is the Russian Ruble. The current status of the area originates from 1991 when it became independent from the then Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, but there have been three periods of armed conflict since between Ossetia (with Russian involvement) and Georgia, the last one in 2008.

Up in to the high Caucasus 

We stopped for a quick break at Zhinvali Reservoir to admire the view. Then we continued on to Ananuri, where we stopped to look another Georgian Orthodox church. We then set off on the final leg of our journey today. As we got higher the valley sides closed in. We were continuing to follow a river up the valley. Snow capped mountains started coming into view.

At 7.00pm we arrived in Gudauri (2196m) which is just a few km from the Russian border. This small town was started by some Swiss people, and it does look very much like a Swiss or Austrian alpine town.

Tomorrow, we plan to do a hike through the alpine meadows and trails around the town we are staying in.