Tbilisi Day One

After a short rest (about four hours), we decided to go  out and have some brunch.  On the way, though, we saw some familiar things...recognize any of this?

We had traditional food for lunch:  Khachapuri (Georgian: ხაჭაპური) which is Georgian Cheese Bread  and Khinkali which is a type of Georgian Dumpling filled with pork sausage and spices. 

After lunch, we took a tour of Old Tbilisi.  Some highlights

This statue represents the founding of Tbilisi.  Rumor has it that a king was hunting with his favorite falcon when it disappeared.  When they finally found the falcon, it was boiled alive in the warm springs of Tbilisi and he found the springs healing and started a hunting lodge there.  It's likely not true, but a fun story.  You can see the falcon here.

These are the roofs of the hot springs.  People say they have curative powers and pay lots of money to go and bathe in them.  They are sulfur hot springs so they do smell a bit.

This is the stream that leads to the hot springs and baths.  It isn't that hot but it does smell.

After the Russians conquered Georgia in the early 1920's, they got rid of all of the mosques in town.  This is the only surviving mosque's minaret.  And for those of you who are familiar with the divisions between Sunni and Shia, this is one of the few mosques where they worship together because there is no other mosque anywhere around.  If you don't know about why these two groups don't get along, ask a parent or your social studies teacher!

The spring that feeds the hot baths.

Locks on a bridge.  In a custom that is common in Europe, when you get married, you write your name on a lock and place it on a bridge.  As long as the lock stays there, you will be happily married.  Yeah, I don't exactly get it either....

Georgians are famous for their hospitality or taking care of others.  This statue represents the patron of hospitality.  Note he has a ram's horn in his right hand.  Traditionally, the Georgian host will drink wine from this horn as he entertains.  Guests may also drink from horns as well.  I'm not sure who that interloper in the brown jacket is, but the guy in the back is our project host through the state department who keeps us in line.  See, even teachers have to follow someone's directions.

History buffs:  This church is at the site of the prison where Josef Stalin was imprisoned and met several of the people who would eventually help him rule Russia (he was imprisoned for bank robbery)

This is the statue of the person really credited with founding Tbilisi.  Can you find out his name and what it has to do with wolves?

We had a traditional Georgian feast for dinner.  The floor beneath my feet, however, was clear, so you could see down four stories to a little garden.  Kinda weird, no?

The final picture before I go to bed tonight.  

This was the main course of a five course meal at our traditional Georgian feast.  Sturgeon, beef, chicken and pork were all ready to be roasted.  Sure beats school food!