Georgia Republic - April 2010

These photos are from my April 2010 trip to the country of Georgia. I was lucky enough to have been invited by my friend Berika to visit his home town, Sachkhere, and have dinner with his family and friends. Along the way we stopped off in Gori to buy bread and visit the Stalin museum again, visit the home of Prince Ak'ak'i Tsereteli, who was a prominent Georgian poet and national liberation movement figure, and Mgvime Monastery.
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Close up of Stalin's rail car number.
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On our way to Sachkhere. On the other side of those mountains is Russia.
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Stopped off in Gori on our way to Berika's house. Last time I was here I did not see this box car. Turns out this was Stalin's personal rail car.
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The Caucasus'.
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This little guy came out to greet us. He would shake his tail in a friendly greeting while growling at the same time; he was quite entertaining.
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Berika's mother preparing to make Khachapuri cheese pie.
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A couple of Tom Turkey's.
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Berika's mother's grapevines.
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Khachapuri being made.
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Berika's mother's Khachapuri preparation table.
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Mgvime Monastery. It is a long walk from the bottom of the hill to the monastery but well worth the trip as the cave in which the monastery resides was so cool…
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Berika at the cave entrance.
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Monastery portal.
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Apple blossoms.
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Mgvime Monastery.
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Mgvime Monastery.
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Mgvime Monastery! There were a bunch of baptisms and a wedding going on during our visit.
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Mgvime Monastery. If I understood Berika correctly, this building is home to some nuns.
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Mgvime Monaster. The door had a very intricate design carved on it.
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Mgvime Monastery. The cross was very intricately done.