Christmas Day

This year, in addition to the usual store-bought gifts we gave and received, the girls made several homemade presents for our little guy. It was, like, the cutest thing ever . . . and the saddest: a couple hour's work destroyed in a matter of minutes.

And, as we are snow seekers and Tbilisi is bereft, we went in search of snow. We left on Christmas afternoon for Bakuriani, the opening weekend of ski season. We had a wonderful Christmas feast at a new restaurant, complete with festive fruit sculpture, and no exertion on my part.

The next day we set out to ski as a family, including the little guy. These attempts yield varying levels of success and are always exhausting.

Sighnaghi in winter

Celebrating 12 years of marriage (a few weeks late), we slipped away for a brief visit to a city with fresher air and a higher altitude. The last time we visited Sighnaghi was in spring and a great patchwork valley stretched out before us. This time, with the lofty Caucasus Mountains hailing us from a distance, we were on a remote city island, hovering over a cloudy sea.

Notwithstanding the magnificent panoramas, my favorite part of Sighnaghi is Bodbe Monastery, the resting place of St. Nino. Of all the holy places in Georgia, this is to me the most sacred, peaceful, and mystical. 

They are currently constructing a new cathedral onsite in the traditional Georgian Orthodox style. Though still unfinished, it was beautiful to behold the detailed masonry in its variety of stone colors and exquisite detail, as yet unravaged by time and the elements.

The interior is much further from completion, but I liked the look and feel of the exposed brick walls with the icons on temporary display. The morning sunlight burst through the window openings in powerful rays.

A little Lada, for scale.

Awaiting a new home.

Island in the clouds.

Tredje gången gilt

Our third and final Santa Lucia celebration in Georgia with the Swedish Embassy. This time I joined the procession and choir. Here you can spot me making an exit.