Day 29 21 May To the Black Sea and a visit to Batumi

Photo above - Batumi on the Black Sea coast

As far west as we can go

Today, after breakfast we set off on a drive south west to the coast of the Black Sea, and the coastal town of Batumi, the so called summer capital of Georgia, and the second biggest city in the country with a population of over 187,000. Batumi is located just 12 miles from the southern Georgia border with Turkey.

At first we started in the wide flat east west valley, but soon turned south west and passed by the international airport of Kutaisi.After about an hour we started skirting the wooded foothills of the lesser Caucasus. About 35 miles out, we drove through a very large flat plain that looked like marshland with only tufty grasses and small bushes, and then suddenly we had a glimpse of the Black Sea. From here we turned south driving parallel with the coast which was a km or so away just out of sight beyond an area of forest. For the last few miles, the scenery became hilly and wooded again, with houses clinging to the slopes.

Arrival at the Black Sea

Just before noon we arrived in Batumi. A renovation and regeneration project carried out at the turn of the century has transformed the city's skyline, which is now a mix of modern skyscrapers which contrast with the 19th-century buildings, all set against a backdrop of the rolling mountains that surround the city.

Batumi

There is a real mixture of architecture old and new, some nice squares, and a relaxed seaside vibe. We started on the sea front where there are lots of locals offering boat trips, para gliding etc. we saw an amazing metal sculpture called Ali and Nuno, which represents two lovers from a well known novel, one Georgian and one Azerbaijani. The two figures move slowly in relation to one another, come together, appear to kiss, then move through each other, before separating again. Quite fascinating.

We walked around looking at some of the newer buildings including the Alphabet Tower which has a revolving restaurant at the top, a hotel with a Ferris wheel on the outside, and a lighthouse. Then we went into the cobbled streets of the old town and saw a mosque that is now a Christian church, a statue of the person who the myth of Jason is based on holding the golden fleece, piazzas and squares, and a structure that looked like an alien spaceship.

After lunch in a local cafe, and another walk around, we headed to the bus for the journey back to Kutaisi. Later we went into the old town for an evening meal.

Ferris wheel on the side of the building 

Golden fleece