Travel to Tbilisi and Eastern Georgia – Episode 703

Hear about travel to Tbilisi and the eastern part of the Republic of Georgia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Tommo & Megsy from FoodFunTravel.com who have settled in Georgia.

Tommo & Megsy were married in Tbilisi on their 2nd trip to the country and now have moved more permanently to the country where they now run tours.

Tommo says, “I would say that the main draw here is that firstly it is quite undiscovered. It is a little bit out of the way for most travelers but it has been getting a huge amount of press internationally recently, especially because of the food and the wine. It is the birthplace of wine according to the most recent archeological evidence.  They found pottery stained with wine from 8000 years ago as definitive evidence that people were making wine and drinking wine.”

Georgia is in the area where east meets west. It is bordered by Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. It is located between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea on the southern side of the Caucasus Mountains.

Tommo and Megsy give us a one-week itinerary that starts in Tbilisi and then heads east to the province of Kakheti and the Alazani Valley wine-growing region.

In Tbilisi, they recommend a visit to the ancient fortress of Narikala which has a commanding view of the city. They send us to a couple of ancient churches with the oldest (Anchiskhati Basilica) dating back to the 6th century. They also recommend a visit to the modern Bridge of Peace, the hot baths that attracted the people to this spot, and a marionette theater. They give us some suggestions for nightlife, lots of suggestions for their favorite Georgian dishes, and some local restaurant recommendations.

As we head east, many of the cities like Signagi offer spectacular views of the Caucasus Mountains. They recommend some beautiful old monasteries, the historic churches of Mtskheta (UNESCO), and even an old cave city.

But wine is what draws Tommo and Megsy in this direction so they talk about the unusual wine culture of Georgia including amber wine and qvevri (large earthenware vessels used for fermentation and storage). They recommend a few of their favorite house wineries.

Come and hear about Georgian history, dance, music, food, and wine… lots of wine. 

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This episode is sponsored by Skylight Frame which is an easy to use smart frame. Get it for mom for mother’s day and the whole family can keep it updated with new photos just by sending an email. Get $10 by going to skylightframe.com and using the code traveler.

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Show Notes

Food Fun Travel | Food Fun Travel Blog
Georgia (country)
Tbilisi
Kakheti
Signagi
Kareli
Telavi
Mtskheta
Uplistsikhe
Gori
Travel to Republic of Georgia (podcast)
Travel to the Republic of Georgia – Episode 221 – Amateur Traveler
Georgian scripts
Narikala
Metekhi
Bridge of Peace
Rezo Gabriadze Theatre
Anchiskhati Basilica
Rustaveli Avenue
Georgian National Opera Theater
Dry Bridge Market – Tbilisi, Georgia
Rustaveli (Tbilisi Metro)
Khinkali
Khachapuri
Badrijani
Pkhali
14 Traditional Georgian Foods You Must Try
Churchkhela
Shavi Lomi
Fabrika
Ghvinis Karkhana Wine Factory
Georgian House
Georgian House, Tbilisi – Reviews
Amo Rame Art Cafe
Point Hotel Tbilisi
Art-Cafe Home
Alazani
Nekresi Monastery
Lagodekhi Protected Areas
Vakho Oqruashvili wine cellar
20 Best Vineyards In Georgia (Europe) inc. Georgia Wineries Map
Republic of Georgia
Eat This Tours

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