DESTINATIONS ESCORTED TOURS |GEORGIA
agents ASK THE Kirsty Overson, Althams Travel, Burnley “I loved the warm hospitality of the
Georgian people and the exquisite food and drink. With its breathtaking scenery, I’d recommend Georgia to people who enjoy adventure and photography.”
ABOVE AND LEFT: Gergity Trinity Church; Alaverdi Monastery PICTURES: Shutterstock
Liz Murphy, Discover Travel, Dungarvan “Exploring the cave town of Vardzia was
a highlight: more than 3,000 dwellings with bakeries, secret tunnels and churches, and amazing views from the top. For any wine
lovers, a visit to the Kakheti region is a must – you can even get wine ice cream.”
Seyyare Beyzade, Diplomat Travel, London
“Spring is a wonderful time to visit, as wild flowers grow naturally along the high roads. It was wonderful to see the locals in
Tbilisi holding bunches that had clearly been freshly cut from the fields that morning.”
ALL THE ANSWERS At every turn, our Explore guide Giorgi is on hand to help. Endlessly patient and hugely passionate about his country, we feel we’ve made a new friend. We’re given beyond-the-guidebook information, with local culture explained, historic events set in context, and – crucially, in this extremely food-focused country – menus successfully negotiated. We chat about the influence of the Eastern Orthodox Church, LGBT rights, the education system and the current administration, and hear this Silk Route destination’s complicated history – conquered by Mongols, Ottomans, Byzantines, Persians and, finally, Russians, before seceding from the Soviet Union in 1991. In Gori, at the Stalin Museum,
Giorgi gives us the unedited life of one of Georgia’s most famous
44 8 AUGUST 2019
33The local brandy, chacha, appears at the breakfast buffet in every hotel
sons – in stark contrast to the hagiographic version of Josef on offer from the museum staff. And it’s from Giorgi that we pick up an essential Georgian life skill. The local brandy, chacha, can appear at any time of day, from late at night in one of Tbilisi’s bars to the breakfast buffet in every hotel. Its properties are considered medicinal, almost miraculous, so we learn to fill our shot glasses, raise them skywards and say ‘gaumarjos’. Here’s to you, Georgia.
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GEORGIAN FOODS TO TRY
E Khachapuri: These flatbreads stuffed with cheese are doughy, salty and delicious – the quintessential Georgian fast food.
E Khinkali: Eating these meaty dumplings is art. First nibble a hole in the top and slurp out the soupy broth before devouring the rest.
E Pkhali: In Georgia, walnut goes with everything. Spinach, beetroot and carrots are made into rough pates with garlic and walnuts.
E Churchkhela: Hanging up on roadside stalls, you could mistake these for sausages or even candles, but they are strings of nuts dipped in grape juice.
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