Batumi to Kutaisi

We had the morning to explore Batumi on our own. We went up with the cable car to a nice view point being able to see the whole city. From above you get the impression of a very mixed city; once again with the new buildings with modern architecture, nice park areas and beach restaurants in huge contrast to the old run down apartment buildings, the gravel roads with lots of holes in them and the smelly harbour and industrial area of the city. From the cable car the view of the hilly area with terraces surrounding the city is very much like an Asian landscape.

A couple of hours drive in the truck took us through more of the Georgian landscape. Hilly with snowcapped mountains in the distance. The houses are big but all look the same. Several places you see huge old buildings empty and falling apart they're left overs from being part of the Soviet Union and today no one finds a use for them or wants to maintain them. At the same time you have new impressive buildings and monuments (railway station building, gates, cable car) which seem out of place in a country where a third earns around 2$ a day. 

On the way we stopped at The Prometheus cave. Very impressive with the Stalakites and Stalagmites The cave is 30 km long but so far 1 km is open to the public

Spring is closer here the trees are getting green and some of the trees are flowering with white and bright purple colors.

We were supposed to do a homestay in Kutaisi today but apparently the family had so much success they now own a hotel where we're staying. They still made us a fantastic meal. Once again loads of food with more and more food being brought in all the time. Soup, chicken, been in spicy sauce, carrots with walnut spread, vegetables with fresh herbs, delicious ciabatta bread, stuffed peppers…. So far both Turkey and Gerogia has impressed with the use of fresh herbs like parsley, dill, chive and coriander which give a nice and fresh taste to the food. 

Batumi skyline

View from the Batumi cable car

Most of the houses look the same and with nice gardens

Prometheus Cave

A bit run down apartment building

No lack of food so far in Georgia