In a former life I organized and led a team of American high school boys on a basketball exchange program to the Soviet Union. We spent two weeks in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (now an independent country). The city was lovely, the people very friendly, and I used to go for walks on my own whenever I could. I was heartbroken to hear a good part of Tbilisi was destroyed during the war, and I know Russia wants in again, but here are a few photos I took on one of my walks, starting with one of the most unusual--and prettiest--public planters I've ever seen.
I got lots of attention on my walks. You really didn't see women out alone at all (not sure what it's like now.) This guy followed me for blocks, trying to get me to stop for coffee; I finally got rid of him by agreeing to take his photo.
I always did stop for coffee on my walks, sometimes at a peaceful, quiet spot like this; usually, I'd go right in front of the hotel to a little place that has Turkish coffee, which is a bit like espresso except cooked on the stove and with sugar in it.
This is some sort of public weighing station. Never quite figured it out, but it seemed to attract a crowd. Perhaps people didn't have scales at home?
Here are two views of the 3,000-year old city of Mtskheta (we didn't use to pronounce the 't,' if that helps), at the confluence of the Rivers Mtkvari and Aragvi. This was the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Iberia in what is presently Georgia, and is located less than 20 miles from the present-day capital of Tbilisi. I like the way the water suddenly turns green in the second photo.
In a former life I organized and led a team of American high school boys on a basketball exchange program to the Soviet Union. We spent two weeks in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (now an independent country). The city was lovely, the people very friendly, and I used to go for walks on my own whenever I could. I was heartbroken to hear a good part of Tbilisi was destroyed during the war, and I know Russia wants in again, but here are a few photos I took on one of my walks, starting with one of the most unusual--and prettiest--public planters I've ever seen.
I got lots of attention on my walks. You really didn't see women out alone at all (not sure what it's like now.) This guy followed me for blocks, trying to get me to stop for coffee; I finally got rid of him by agreeing to take his photo.
I always did stop for coffee on my walks, sometimes at a peaceful, quiet spot like this; usually, I'd go right in front of the hotel to a little place that has Turkish coffee, which is a bit like espresso except cooked on the stove and with sugar in it. 
This is some sort of public weighing station. Never quite figured it out, but it seemed to attract a crowd. Perhaps people didn't have scales at home?
