Mtirala National Park

From Batumi, a winding and potentially dangerous but picturesque drive takes you to Mtirala National Park. The trails are gorgeous, well maintained, and the perfect level of difficulty for our multi-aged group.

The weather was hot and alternately sunny and cloudy, but we lucked out because there was no rain (Mtirala means "to cry", so you can imagine how things normally go).

We crossed many small streams along the way with lots of great places to get fresh cool water to drink (we didn't even mind the floaties). We lucked out in that it was peak season for the rhododendron. The trail culminated at this dramatic waterfall. We returned via an alternate route that took us to a neat contraption that crossed the river by man power. Our sweaty trek was rewarded at a quaint little inn that had lunch waiting for us upon our return.

Batumi hustle

Batumi train

The train ride to Batumi deserves a post. When we first arrived in Georgia they called it the "fast train", in comparison with the overnight "slow train". They have since discontinued the latter. But with speeds maxing out at 40 mph, "fast" is relative.

Sometimes the trains don't have a first class cabin, but when they do, it's worth the few extra lari. It means wider seats, more leg room, a better wifi signal and, of course, a free water bottle.

They just finished up construction on a new train station in Batumi. Size-wise it is a huge improvement on the former, but with the odd choice of blue-colored glass windows, they managed to make the construction look dated before it was even completed.

Batumi, with all its high-class luxury, is always fighting off a little tacky on the fringes.

Village supra

A visit to Georgia without a village supra would be a poor visit indeed.

We made sure my parents had that pleasure.

Our gracious hosts made everything just right.

After the first meal we took a walk around the village.

We saw the ancient church and graveyard

and puzzled over the pre-Christian symbols.

We also helped prep the summer garden, plant trees and collect worms.

Later on, we did it all over again.

Wonder of wonders

My parents always talked about visiting us in Georgia, but after my dad's heart attack last year I thought it was out of the realm of possibility. How wonderful that I was wrong! 

With three and a half years of experience site-seeing in Georgia, we were able to show them a pretty good time. My camera is still in the shop (since December), so here's a sampling of what my dad captured of their introduction to Tbilisi.