Georgian Adventures: Okatse Canyon
Georgian adventures continue at the Okatse Canyon near the village of Gordi in the country’s west.
“This area close to Kutaisi is famous for its deep canyons, forest lakes and other fascinating natural attractions,” said Euronews reporter Denis Loctier, trying out a new footpath with vertiginous views.
The 800 metre footpath is visited by 150,000 tourists a year and there are plans to boost the experience further by making its floor transparent!
“The thrill of walking over the canyon attracts many visitors,” Okatse Canyon Director Zaza Gagua told us.
“This is the only place in Georgia where you can really feel this, so it’s not often that people are so frightened that they turn back!”
And if you’re a true adrenaline junkie, you can test yourself by rappelling down Kinchkha, one of Georgia’s tallest waterfalls, with its refreshing cascade of clear mountain water.
source: Euronews.com
10 Reasons why you should visit Georgia
Cradle of Wine – It has been archaeologically proven that the roots of Georgian viticulture are between 9000 and 7000 BC.
A unique Alphabet – There are just 14 independent alphabets in the world and Georgian is one of them.
UNESCO heritage sites – Our current UNESCO heritage sites include the ancient capital city of Mtskheta, the massive cathedral complexes of Bagrati and Gelati, and the mountain region of Svaneti.
Europe’s highest settlement in Georgia – Ushguli is recognized as the highest settlement in Europe, set the altitudes between 2086 and 2200 meters above sea level.
First European civilization – Recent excavations of Dmanisi have revealed and extraordinary record of the earliest homonid dispersal beyond Africa (1,75 million years ago)
Flora and Fauna – Georgia is one of the most ecologically diverse countries in the world, with climatic zones ranging from subtropical to high alpine to semi- desert. Bears, lynxes and even leopards can be found in Georgia’s dense forests of Caucasian fir-the tallest trees in Europe.
Endless tourism possibilities – From adventure tourism to discovering the art of wine making, Georgia has something to delight every visitor.
Summer sea and winter ski resorts – In Georgia, you can swim in the sea as late as November. After that, why not head to the mountains, where there is guaranteed snow until late April, making Georgia a top destination for skiers and snowboarders.
Mountains and trekking – Access to peaks like Mount Shkhara (5201 Meters) and mount Ushba (4710 meters) and opportunities to stay with Svan families in villages make trekking in this region an outdoor and cultural adventure.
Rapid development – The New York Times ranked Georgia 6-th among 52 best countries for the tourism destination. Tbilisi has become one of the safest capitals in the Western World comparable to Lisbon or Vienna.
Georgian Adventures: Pedal power in Batumi
n this episode of Georgian adventures, we jump on one of the hire bikes in Batumi, the booming capital of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.
“Batumi is one of Georgia’s largest cities and its best known Black Sea resort,” said our reporter Denis Loctier as he peddled along the promenade.
“This coastline boulevard is Batumi’s most famous attraction!”
What originated in the late 19th century as a seaside boardwalk is now a lush seven-kilometre park promenade with dancing fountains, modern sculptures, beach bars and cafés. It is a great place for a leisurely stroll and, even better, for a scenic two-wheel ride.
Pedal-friendly whatever the weather, Batumi is stunning for bike-lovers when the sun shines!
“A bicycle is a very convenient way to see the main attractions of Batumi,” said local student and cycling enthusiast Maia Japaridze.
“It’s not a very big city. You could walk across it in a day and if you get a bike you can get around Batumi very quickly.”
The city is lined with bicycle lanes, offering picturesque views and a refreshing breeze to those who prefer their seaside vacation in the saddle!
Source: Euronews.com
Prometheus, Sataplia and Kumistavi: Aladdin’s caves in Georgia
Kumistavi caves near Kutaisi in western Georgia is the biggest and most amazing network of caverns in the country.
The little sister of this huge complex is Sataplia cave. Nearby, there are dinosaurs’ footprints!
But the main jewel is the Prometheus cave, with its breathtaking views of stalactites, stalagmites and underground rivers.
“We are in a spectacular spot here, at the heart of a labyrinth of caverns branching out for dozens of kilometres underground,” said ‘Postcards’ reporter Claudio Rosmino.
“Just think, some of these rocks have taken up to 60 million years to form!”
Today, visitors to the Prometheus Cave Centre can enjoy a magnificent 1.2 km walk, but those who discovered this place, in 1984, reached it through a very narrow passage.
“We were literally in the mud up to our ears! When we arrived in this huge hall, this amazing underground system, we were bursting with happiness,” remembered speleologist Amiran Jamrishvili.
“We could not wait to go out and share this with all the other speleologists!”
And no visit would be complete without a boat trip on an underground river in which the traveller can emerge from the magical cave – back into the outside world.
Source:Euronews.com
Bagrati Cathedral: a landmark of Georgian architecture
In this episode of ‘Postcards’, we discover Bagrati Cathedral, the symbol of the city of Kutaisi, nearly 250 kilometres west of Tbilisi.
It was built under the first Kingdom of Georgia, a period of political and economic strength for the country.
“The cathedral is one of the main tourist attractions of the city,” said ‘Postcards’ reporter Claudio Rosmino.
“It is named after King Bagrat III, who commissioned its construction in the early years of the 11th century. Since then, it has become a landmark of Georgian architecture.”
The cathedral suffered heavy damage throughout the centuries and was gradually renovated from 1952 to 2012.
“Bagrati Cathedral is in a 3,500-year-old city, one of the oldest in the world,” explained Sulkhan Kuprashvili, a professor of history from Kutaisi State University.
“The construction of this church started a golden age for Georgia. For centuries, Bagrati has remained a symbol of the country with its high standards of education and culture.”
Bagrati Cathedral is now of only limited use for services of worship.
Source: Euronews.com
Khinkali: Georgian dumplings like a work of art!
o holiday in Georgia is complete without trying khinkali, one of the most traditional dishes in the country.
With the help of a specialist chef, ‘Taste’ reporter Claudio Rosmino discovered its history, how to prepare it and the special technique to enjoy what is basically a big, tasty dumpling, filled with meat.
Khinkali was traditionally the food of shepherds in the mountains but then it became popular nationwide.
Usually, you eat it in specialised restaurants, like the one visited in Tbilisi by ‘Taste’.
Reporter Claudio met Malkhaz Tsikolia, the head of the kitchen at the ‘Tsiskvili restaurant’, and asked him about where khinkali comes from.
“Khinkali is a Georgian dish produced many years ago in the mountain regions,” the chef explained.
“It quickly became the favourite dish of the whole country and nowadays people from many other nations visit Georgia to taste real khinkali.”
So how is Khinkali cooked and what ingredients is it made of?
“First we make the dough,” said Malkhaz.
“Then we insert minced beef and pork and some spicies. You seal the dough with the meat inside. You put it in boiling water and in seven minutes it is ready.”
Khinkali is something of a work of art because of its fascinating shape. A delicate touch is required in its preparation. Not everyone has got it – as Claudio discovered when he tried!
There are several varieties of khinkali, with pork, beef or lamb, but there are also vegetarian versions with cheese or mushrooms.
While the cooking is quite fast, preparing the ingredients requires several distinct stages.
In the kitchen, everyone must be coordinated, like in an orchestra, in order to produce hundreds of these traditional Georgian dumplings per day.
And when it comes to eating, the challenge is not to spill any of the tasty juice. The aim is to have as little juice as possible fall onto the plate. And for that you really need to master a special method, which chef Malkhaz demonstrated for Euronews.
“First of all, you take a bite,” he said.
“Then you drink the juice – and it’s really very good!”
Source: Euronews.com
Tbilisi’s old town: a bridge between ancient and modern times
In Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi modernity and ancient history are separated by just a few meters. Walking through the city centre is an experience made of contrasts and beautiful discoveries in a town which has been at the crossroads of Europe and Asia for centuries.
The cohabitation between history and modernity is perhaps best illustrated by the Peace Bridge that connects the newer parts of the capital to the ancient ones.
According to legend, in the fifth century, King Vakhtang Gorgasalince founded the future capital of united Georgia during a horse hunt. Abanotubani is the place where the royal falcon fell, leading to the discovery of hot springs that nowadays are public bathhouses that use the sulphurous waters.
« It is exactly in this place that king Vaktang found his falcon boiled in a hot spring. He put his hand into the water and discovered it was warm and he said: ‘I will found a city here and we will name it Tbilisi, which means the warm city,» explains Vlasi Vatsadze a local tourist guide.
Much of the Old town was restored in 2009. The “New Life for Old Tbilisi” project has rehabilitated the historical district with its pastel-coloured houses and monuments.
Source: Euronews.com
Passenger traffic at Georgian airports increases 25%
Georgian airports have served 3,375,959 passengers during the last eight months, which is a 25 per cent increase in comparison to last year, an official statement of United Airports of Georgia says.
Tbilisi International Airport served 461,051 passengers in August: a 12 per cent increase y/y.
Growth in the first eight months of this year was 24 per cent higher than the same period last year.
Passenger traffic in Kutaisi International Airport increased by 44 per cent in August 2018 y/y.
Over the last eight months Kutaisi International Airport has served 382,325 passengers, which is a 35 per cent increase.
Batumi International Airport served 121, 298 in August 2018 which is 12 percent more than the same period for last year. As for the first eight months of this year, passenger traffic in Batumi International Airport increased by 24 per cent.
Georgia’s rural airports in Mestia and Ambrolauri together served 5 ,520 passengers in the first eight months of 2018.
Georgia 4th among world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations
Georgia has taken the fourth position as the world’s most fast-growing tourism destinations in the World Tourism Organisation’s (UNWTO) 2017 report.
The report reads that in 2017 the number of tourists particularly increased for trips to Egypt, Togo, Vietnam and Georgia.
For Egypt, the number of tourists increased by 55 per cent.
In Togo, by 46 per cent.
In Vietnam by 29 per cent.
In Georgia by 27.9 per cent.
Georgia stands above France, Spain, Turkey and other countries where the tourism field is especially well-developed in terms of pace of growth.
This is the first time that Georgia has taken a leading position as a quickly growing tourist country in the UNWTO report. In 2016 Georgia was the first in Europe as a tourism destination, now we are in the top five as the world’s fast growing tourism destinations, which is a great achievement,” head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze said.
The report reads that international tourist arrivals grew by seven per cent in 2017, the highest increase since 2010.
The UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
Euronews: Traditional Georgian Ballet is the Classics plus Folklore
Euronews correspondent Wolfgang Spindler went to Tbilisi to find out more about traditional Georgian ballet.
The Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet combines traditional Georgian dances, ballet, and elements of modern dance. With fast turns and acrobatic jumps, the dancers can easily captivate an entire audience, young and old. The ensemble has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious performance spaces.
The company began 70 years ago when Iliko Sukhishvili and Nino Ramishvili, a husband and wife team, created their own dance ensemble. Since then, they have survived the Stalinist terrors, the Cold War, and the collapse of the USSR to build international recognition. Today, it’s the grandchildren who are in charge. Iliko Sukhishvili the younger is the Artistic Director, and his sister Nino is the General Director and Costume Director.
The group’s repertoire includes dances from the various regions in Georgia, featuring traditional costumes from these same regions. Some dances from mountainous regions are reminiscent of fights, or agility and courage competitions.
You can see a performance of the Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet at Rike Park in Tbilisi every Saturday through August 25.
Source: Euronews.com