Mestia, first attempt

The region of Svaneti is known for it's centuries-old stone watch towers perched on dramatic mountainsides and scenic river valleys.

First morning, cautiously optimistic.

We wanted something rustic. We chose a guesthouse that had it's charms and proceeded with great enthusiasm. When the pipes in our bathroom burst upon arrival, we didn't even bat an eyelash. When the blankets on our beds were damp, we just warmed them on the electric radiators and snuggled in. No lamps? No biggie. No hooks, closets or hangers? No problem. No insulation on the walls or windows? We're Northerners!

But when, after two nights, the power had been off more than it had been on, we felt it was time to rethink our situation. No power meant not only no lights (& internet!), but also no hot water, and no heat. For a family spending days out in the snow this was not a sustainable condition for a week's time.

The girls made a Svan snowman with our hosts.

Our gracious novice hosts, still in their first year.

We plan to return in summer, when loss of power is less dire.

In the end we relocated to another guesthouse in town equipped with a reliable generator. Word to the wise: this is a thing in Mestia.

But with that said, we had a sweet and lovely time with these hardworking Georgians--and that's not an adjective I use lightly. All of our food was prepared from scratch from animals found onsite and other strictly local resources. Meals featured fresh milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt, homebaked bread and other baked goods, as well as hot soups, stews, and wintery salads.

We could not have eaten better. We lacked only for more space in our bellies.