Gudauri

A Federal Holiday presented the opportunity for a day-trip sans children (whose French school adheres to a different calendar). We decided to drive north, leaving spring behind, to check out the ski slopes of Gudauri.

Along the way we passed the confluence of the White and Black Aragvi Rivers. They run light and dark year round due to minerals accumulated in the mountain snow's runoff. We followed the river's course for most of the trip, which took us on a winding path through rugged, rocky terrain.

As we approached Gudauri, we left the river below and ascended a narrow road with a series of sharp switchbacks that carried us ever higher. Up top, we scouted out the ski slopes to ascertain if an end-of-the season run should be scheduled, but the snow was wet and heavy. We decided instead to return next winter.

We drove above town a little higher along a road that caters mostly to trucks shipping goods; this mountain pass offers one of only two peaceable possible routes from Russia to Armenia and Azerbaijan. The concrete tunnel was built to shield the roads from regularly occurring avalanches.

In town we stopped for lunch at a cozy little place that lost power partway through. They seem accustomed to that sort of thing here though, so lunch was still served in a timely manner.

The scenery was dazzling, but to be honest, I couldn't stand the heights. The winding roads, flimsy guardrails, manic drivers, and dizzying drops had me white-knuckled the entire drive. Luckily I wasn't driving. This was our last trip we took with our hired driver, we're now learning to commandeer our own vehicle here in Georgia.