My Journey to Tbilisi
The best souvenir is the one that you can taste. Aigerim Yestayeva is ready to share ideas from a tasty Tbilisi.
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Aigerim Yestayeva
Thu, 22 Jun 2023
My journey to Tbilisi
Georgia is one of the most popular destinations for our citizens. It is not surprising, this is a beautiful country where everyone can find a holiday to their liking and budget. There are the beaches in Batumi, the mountains in Svaneti, and the healing waters of Borjomi. Georgia is a great option for either a short weekend or a long vacation.
Let’s talk about Tbilisi, the heart and capital of Georgia. I must admit that I don’t remember places well, but the memory of Tbilisi is still fresh in my mind and perhaps it will inspire readers to visit there too.
Tbilisi embodies a mini-version of the country itself, there is a combination of stone-paved streets of the Old City and new-fangled buildings like the Pixel 34 business centre, monasteries, century-old buildings in Sololaki and the extravagant Bridge of Peace. In addition to Georgian, the languages are Russian (only spoken by the older generation) and English (favoured by the younger generation).
I would advise you to stay in the same area as I did, near Freedom Square. There is an abundance of restaurants and cafes, and the main sights of the city are within walking distance.
Maybe it is a well-worn cliché to advise visiting Mtatsminda in Tbilisi, but the funicular railway in Tbilisi is considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world, specifically the view from the observation deck of the upper station. A trip on the funicular line, which climbs a steep cliff, is fun for children and adults alike.
For children, I would recommend the attractions of Mtatsminda Park with its very unusual design.
My trip to Tbilisi took place in the Spring. If you are travelling in the same or an even colder season of the year, be prepared that the heating won’t be on in apartments. In order to keep warm, heaters or stoves are used.
There is not much choice of fruits in Spring, however, if one of the reasons for your trip to this country is a gastronomic tour, then you have still made the right choice. Any guide to Georgia confirms that the most delicious khinkali is cooked in Tbilisi. You can find a culinary calling card of the country - a light khachapuri with a very rich taste of salty cheese - at a store around any corner no matter the season. Therefore, all seasons are worth travelling to Georgia.
There is a Tsiskvili restaurant in the suburbs of Tbilisi, which is worth visiting not only for its delicious cuisine and a beautiful interior with a mill, garden and waterfall but more for the opportunity to experience authentic Georgian culture, in the form of national dances, costumes and antique objects, as in this photo.
Before departure, we visited the Deserter market, where we bought churchkhela, the freshest suluguni cheese and fragrant homemade tkemali sauce. I am sure that your loved ones will appreciate such edible "souvenirs".
On this delicious note, I would like to say goodbye and thank you for your attention to the story about my first and, I hope, not the last trip to Tbilisi with Air Astana.