Gergeti Trinity Church

This is Mount Kazbegi, but see that tiny monastery on the left? That's Gergeti, before it snowed.

 We started out with a stay at our old favorite, Rooms Hotel, so we could begin our ascent the next morning, fresh.

Gergeti Trinity Church is located on a mountaintop in the same range as Kazbegi, but at 2170 meters, it is nearly 3000 meters lower. There are dozens of local taxi drivers clambering for customers, but we thought we'd duke it out with our 4WD.

Turns out it was a little too icy, bumpy, narrow, steep, and all the things you'd expect from a remote dirt mountain road in winter. So we parked the car and headed up on foot. The passing taxi drivers told us the kids would never make it. They told us they'd be back for us in 20 minutes.

They didn't know who they were talking to.

The girls were so tough and optimistic, I couldn't have been more proud. They were singing songs and alternately racing up the mountain. After trekking through the steep snowy forest, we came out of the trees and had a spectacular view of Kazbegi.

Our friend R. joined us on the trek, often carrying our little guy on his shoulders when he got weary.

At long last we reached a clearing where the monastery was in view. It was a great moment. It was also very windy, but after the steep ascent we laughed in the face of the wind.

When we arrived at the monastery grounds we felt like celebrating (and maybe gloating a little at the incredulous taxi drivers).

It was a powerful experience to climb up the mountain to the monastery on foot, like the pilgrims of old. You get a much greater feel for their scope, grandeur, and massiveness. It's no wonder that mountains in the ancient world were associated with temples and God.  We spent time inside the church lighting candles and singing hymns in Georgian. It felt warm and ancient.

The little guy was so spent he fell asleep in my arms. So we took the taxi after all, for the trip down.