Saturday, April 13, 2019

4-13 Last day in Tbilisi

Today is our last day in Tbilisi.  We have seen most of the "must see" places.  So today we decided to wander the German section.  We walked from our airbnb taking photos.  I always love wall art - but this one is just weird.




This looks like a Soviet area apartment building.

We saw a lot of places like the one below - except this one is unusual as you have to crouch down to place your order.  I think the sign means snacks to go.  It is usually a bread product filled with different things.  They do love their cheese filled bread snacks here.




All roads lead down - or up if you go in the opposite direction.  Lots of steep hills here.

We walked down to the main drag and then crossed over the river on the Marjanrshvili Bridge and continued down Marjanrshvili street into the German section of Tbilisi.  Just before the bridge we passed this traffic circle with the sculpture below.  My imagination says that these figures represent human figures - what do you think?


I wanted to call this the "Lion Bridge" as there were two lions on either side of the bridge.


Now into the German section.  I'm thinking that a lot of the buildings were designed by German architects - because I didn't see any Germans.





We pressed on to the Russian Church.  I'm never sure what to do. In this area women have to cover their heads with scarves and sometimes you are handed a large scarf to use as a skirt.  All the churches we have gone into so far were mostly occupied by tourists.  But the one below was different.


There were no scarves available for use at the entrance - so I kept my cap on.  There was no service going on - but everyone else but us seem to be very pious people going there for worship.  I felt out of place.  There were 3-4 people stationed at the entrance obviously expecting donations.  So we donated and went in.  No one told us we could not take photos - but we were the only ones doing so.



On the way out - those same people seemed to be expecting more donations - but we just walked out.  Further on we stumbled upon this area of wild paintings and wondered what it was about.  I was trying to take photos of the building across the street when a small drama played out before me.  The people in the car seemed to be lost.  The man next to the car was trying to explain where to go but not getting his message across.  He kept mimicking that he would show them - they didn't seem to trust him - but finally he led them down the street and away so I could take closeups.





So many interesting paintings and other sites around this area.





And finally we discover why the area is so artistic!  This building is called Fabrika.  It is a center for cooperative art work spaces.  It is a hipster place - everyone seemed to be under 30 years old. 



We entered the front door - saw all the young people and what looked like a check in desk.  We debated whether this building contained a hostel.  We went out the other side to this common area with a lot of coffee/cafe places.  We needed a rest so bought drinks and sat down to relax.

On the way out we went out the side and saw a couple of mothers with very young children taking their children's pictures in front of this.

More paintings in the area.


We kept walking - Not sure what area we are in - but the buildings are still interesting.




This balcony was interesting - the balcony itself seems in disrepair.  But if you look at the wall behind it it looks in good repair.  with planters on the walls - it seems well cared for.


Now we have passed into the wine district. The Wine Gallery below had a fabulous chandelier inside.


As we were standing their taking photos - this guy in a fabulous car pulls up.

An on we go - this wonderfully blue building was in a private courtyard.

The painting below was next to a parking lot.  We haven't seen any paintings of Mexican/Spanish people.  And what is with the space ship!  The words are in German - Good Morning!

Down near the river again there was this statue - no idea who he is.

We then walked back up one block where this street had been blocked off to traffic for pedestrian traffic and lots of restaurants.  You could have Georgian Food, or Georgian/European food or Georgian/Middle Eastern, or (one place) Lebanese food. The street was called Salve - now I remember this word from Baku as our hotel password was "salve2019".  So now I am curious - what does "salve" mean.  As we walked down this street of restaurants, all the waiters tried to get us to come to their restaurant by saying "please come in, welcome, welcome".  I looked it up: the word, Salve means something like hello or good by - but it is a verb.  So basically it means welcome.


And one last street shot before we caught a taxi back to the airbnb. 

We have take a taxi several times during our stay here in Tbilisi - no trip has cost more than $1.70 one way.  Our most expensive meal (usually a late lunch around 2-3pm) has been less than $20 USD. 

1 comment:

  1. I am liking this even more now that you've mentioned the prices

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