A perfect trip on a budget
By: Jean-Paul Courville
The Republic of Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is a former Soviet republic and home to the Caucasus Mountains and Black Sea beaches. There are many wonders here with the winter months being one of the best kept secrets for snow boarding and skiing. I visited the capital of Tbilisi, the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church, Stepantsminda (also know as Kazbeki) and hiking in the Caucasus Mountains at the base of Mt Kazbek.
Local cuisine highlights: Khinkali and Khachapuri
Tbilisi
I drove three hours from Tbilisi to Stepantsminda (Kazbeki) via the old military highway. The route was lovely, providing nice open views, historic churches, with an older rustic feel as I followed water rapids along the mountains. The Gergeti Trinity Church was magical as I followed it with a full day of hiking to the Gergeti Glacier at the base of Mt Kazbek.
Driving to Kabeki and visiting the Gergeti Trinity Church.
Gergeti Trinity Church
Hiking to the Gergeti Glacier and the base of Mt Kazbek.
Hiking
The Republic of Georgia is impressive, very cheap, offering beautiful varieties in landscape and a proud culture and tasty cuisine. The winter atmosphere along with Georgian wine and cheese this is their most proud advertisement.
Bonus: I attended a military school in 2010 where the region used for battle simulations was in the Caucasus Mountains. One of my fellow students, a much older Soldier had the opportunity to give us his plan...his major contribution and response was "We have to go in there and get those Caucasians!"
I'll drink to that
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