April 8th – Cultural Day in Tbilisi
Julie and I decided to have a little couple’s day together. We started on Rustaveli Ave and then headed down towards the Mtkvari River where we came to the old city walls on Pushkin Ave. Next we went to Gabriadze Puppet Theatre and clock tower on Sahvteli road. Then we crossed over the river via the Peace Bridge and had a look around Rike Park.
We then took the gondola (2.5 GEL per person 1 way and 2 GEL for card) back across the river up to Narikala Castle which gives a fantastic overlook of the city. We walked over to the Mother Georgia statue and then back to the castle for a look around. Then we walked down to Akhudovi to see the Sulhphur Baths and enjoy a rooftop lunch.
Then we started to head back to the hotel via the busy Maidan Square and a welcome stop at the Maidan Bazaar where it is nice and quiet. We took a walk-through Old Town and finished off in the fascinating Dry Bridge Market area and through 9th April Park back to Shota Rustaveli Hotel.
I have to say I like Tbilisi a lot. There is a lot going on and it is a very diverse city. You have some of the old Soviet-era architecture, but then also get a feel for the far east and the gateway to Asia and the Silk Road. I also like the blend of old and new. The people are very friendly and it’s easy to get around. The food is inexpensive and there’s plenty to see. You definitely can spend a couple of days exploring and have a great time.
Old city wall on Pushkin Avenue
Gabriadze Puppet Theater and Clock Tower
Peace Bridge crossing the Mtkvari River
The bridge leads to the Rike Park. Beware touts selling boat rides on the river below, they can be persistent.
Rike Park
We took the gondola from Rike Park across the river and up to the Narikala Fortress
The backside of Narikala Fortress overlooks the botanic gardens
The Mother of Georgia statue can also be found at the top of the gondola to the Narikala Fortress
You have to take the path that goes down, to get to the main entrance to the Fortress, from the top of the gondola
Looking down to the sulfur bath area (the buildings with the domed roofs are the bathhouses). You can take the public (communal) baths or hire your own private room by the hour. I'd take the private option personally....
Narikala Fortress main gate
Sulfur baths
Sulfur baths, Old Town and the Narikala Fortress. You can see a lot of sites in one day, just by walking around. Tbilisi is awesome!
Awesome wine shop and cellar. I'm not a big wine drinker, but I did enjoy Georgian wine, especially the sweet wine. They are low alcohol, without much after taste. You can drink a few without any after-effects.
This was a sulfur bath, not a mosque, as it turned out.....
Locks of love, for sale, of course!
Nice little walkway close to the sulfur bath area.
The very busy Meidan Square area.
The nice and quiet (and cool, if it's hot outside), undergorund bazaar at Maiden.
Lots of cool things to see at Maiden Bazaar
On our way back, we passed through the nightclub area. This one looked pretty cool!
Meezove the street cleaner statue, a popular icon in Tbilisi
Cool artwork in one of the pedestrian underpasses in Tbilisi
The Dry Bridge Market area, so much to see here.
This part sold household brick-a-brack.
Lot's of old china for sale
They had a really cool art section from local painters. There was a cheesy section and then a section with really good stuff
Beautiful paintings of Ushguli and Mestia. Glad we got to visit those areas in person.....
These were my favorite peaces
The drinking horn section of the Dry Bridge market area was quite impressive!
You could fit in a lot of Georgian sweet wine in some of these horns..... you can't put them down until all the wine is gone!
I hope you enjoyed our tour of Tbilisi. We had an awesome time and loved walking the streets for a couple of days, there was a lot to see. 1 more day to go and then that's the end of our trip.....
- Matt