TBILISI - DAY 1

It's hard to believe that we have been here in Georgia for less than one day - and there is so much information that we have already absorbed. Let me share a few prefaces, and then some pictures:

• Georgia reminds me a lot of China...busy, repairs, lots of people in the streets, and dumplings.
• Somehow people can recognize visitors...we're stared at (and they also look Caucasian to me).
• Food is crucial to life here - as in China, Japan, and Germany.
• Not understanding a language is the same here as in China. One points, gestures, or uses any other way to communicate.

As it was in Germany, so shall it be here. I don't understand the "worm" writing, and I can't even pronounce the translation of the "worms."

We didn't get out until after lunch (slept until 11:15 am), but when we did, we saw streetside fruit and vegetable stands operated by "local" owners (often live in the same building as the store).

This chicken chicken sandwich was lunch. Now, it doesn't look bad at all - in fact, it was really tasty. But they asked if I would like it toasted, and I said, "Fine." They stuck the whole sandwich, lettuce and all into the warmer oven, toasting also the lettuce on the sandwich. It was still good!

CLICK HERE to count with Alba (counting the number of puzzle pieces).

Wouldn't you know it.....right after lunch we went walking and came across a little bitty shop where the man sold traditional Georgian bread. It is baked in this stone oven. Note that the man's bed is in the background (far right) and that he has some "tentative" loaves on the tray.

Of course, we had to buy a loaf (or piece as it might more correctly be called). It was VERY tasty, and cost only .08 lira - that's equal to our $ .55.

Driving in the early morning light at 3:30 am, we already saw many of these bronze statues. They are characteristic of an artistic society.

How typical to see this grandma selling fruit and vegetables right on a street corner. Notice the big basket of grapes on the left. Jon said that they grew some 300 different kinds of grapes in Georgia, making Georgia a wonderful wine making country (and trust me, the wine is good).

I commented that this might be a cage for a monkey or a dog. Jon said simply, "It's a garage."

When we took taxi's downtown tonight, we saw the old castle and fortress all lit up. How beautiful it was (I think Jon said about 1200 years old). Some day we'll get there.

We walked along the new pedestrian bridge crossing the big river. It's only several years old - controversial because it cost lots of dollars.

 CLICK HERE to see a video of the bridge and surrounding area at 9 pm.

The communication tower stands sentinal over the city of Tbilisi. My first thought was a reminder of Tokyo Tower in Japan.

It's hard to "read" this picture. This is the elevator that rises on the outside of the apartment in which Jon and Julissa live (5th floor). It was placed on the outside because when the Russians built this apartment about 40+ years ago, it was not a part of the original structure. Added just a few years later - it's significant because it only holds 4 people, and you have to press 3 to get to the fifth floor.

Julissa and Jon at the German restaurant in Old Town Tbilisi. They are wonderful hosts and guides.

Dumplings seem to be a part of every culture. This one is eaten special with the fork being stuck into the pasta top and then eaten from top down. It is juicy and filled with a meat mixture.

We ate a 9:30 pm dinner at a German restaurant. The food was simply great! German beer, cheese, sausages and kraut, and Cheryl had chocolate cake for dessert. CLICK HERE to see Cheryl enjoying the very rich cake.

Cheryl enjoyed this beautiful (and very rich) chocolate cake for dessert.

Need I explain? The upper name tag belongs to one named Jon Selle (just in case you ever wanted to write Selle in Georgian - if that happens to be your last name).

A sewer grate made entirely out of re-bar.

Let me assure you, this is not small town America (or even large city for that matter). The whole country of Georgia has 5,000,000 people of whom 1.5 million live in Tbilisi.