The Guardian: “Mind-blowingly gorgeous Georgia”

The eclectic sights of Georgia, expressed in mixed cultural influences in its cities and picturesque locations throughout the countryside, are the attraction of the country for visitors, a new travel report for The Guardian says.

Narrating experiences of a trip to select urban and rural locations, Suzanne Moore points out the surprise appeal of the difficulty of defining the place between styles.

[Tbilisi is] a happening place which combines so many influences that every time you think you have a handle on it, there is something new to see.”

There are brutalist Soviet buildings next to Orthodox churches. We go down alleyways to find ancient communal courtyards with rickety wooden stairs that look like film sets. Then there are super-modern, strange empty buildings”, the author of the piece notes.

The report notes the well-designed venues for staying in the capital as well as the mountainous Stepantsminda location to the north, while also mentioning the “odd” phenomenon of the Joseph Stalin Museum in his hometown Gori.

Other impressions touch on the Georgian cuisine and wine, the sulphur baths in Tbilisi as well as the “mini Vegas” image of the seaside city Batumi.

“Why is Georgia so special? It’s not about gold taps and bellhops. It’s about warmth and hospitality, and feeling you can do what you like”, the piece concludes.

Read the full story here.