The Village, part 1

Before the Bolshevik Revolution more than half of Georgians still lived in villages, essentially living off the land; but under Communism the smaller less economically viable villages were systematically snuffed out and new industries were developed resulting in a massive migration into the cities. Whereas in America almost everyone you meet is originally from somewhere else, in Tbilisi everyone you meet hails from a village.

The traditions surrounding village culture are strong; on major holidays families return to their home villages where they visit the graves of their kindred dead and stay at the local family-owned property. We were invited on one such pilgrimage in honor of a buried father's birthday.

Sweeping countryside vista as seen from cemetery.

Tradition dictates a table be set up for a graveside feast. DT actually built a permanent table for just such a purpose.

A supra spread: potato pieroshki, choti bread, roasted eggplants wrapped with walnut paste, tomato cucumber salad, Russian-style potato salad, Georgian cheese, and ground beef patties, with (what else?) Georgian mineral water.

Little guy loves the peirogis.

Hosts for the day.

Little guy paid his respects to DT's father.

Beeswax candles honor the dead.

Boiled chesnuts to crack open. Yum.

After the feast we leisurely made our way to the cars and on to DT's village house.