Rygsækrejsen 2015-2016: Goodbye Turkey

onsdag den 1. april 2015

Goodbye Turkey - Hello Georgia

Leaving more than 1500 km of Turkish road, great scenery, colorful mosques, kebabs and tasty orange and pomegranate juices behind us it was time to say goodbye to Turkey and hello Georgia.

We started with a nice breakfast surrounded by sunshine and hills and off we went again in the truck for a few hours. We had a nice coastal drive. Bob and Eion were a bit surprised by the boarder coming up so fast so lunch had to wait until after boarder crossing - a joker which can take anywhere from half an hour to several hours - depending on the mood of the guards at the border. We were lucky this time, no problems getting through and we met our Georgian guide Zaza who is going to guide us around all through Georgia.

The afternoon in Batumi was free to explore, so Mikkel and I took and easy walk around the city. Enjoying an ice cream in the sunshine overlooking the Black Sea and looking at the many interesting buildings - old communist buildings side by side with new high rises, casinos and apartment buildings with tv-screens and ferry wheels on the side! Some of the new bizarre buildings are empty though, a great idea from the last president which the new one didn't want to use.

In the evening our Georgian guide Zaza had organised a trip to a nearby restaurant with local food and music. Malene was sceptical - would it be just like the touristed place in Goreme! But no, it was fantastic. The amount of the food was overwhelming, which is a Georgian tradition, and the amount of food never tried before was quite high as well. There was indeed local music with all the locals on the dance floor most of the time so of course we had to join in. Three birthdays were celebrated so huges cakes were brought to the tables We didn't get to taste the local fire water Cha Cha this evening. We still have that ahead of us.

Entering Georgia - or at least Batumi - definitely meant new things for the eyes, ears and mouth, a new culture and different religion. No more women in Niqab, high heels and Gucci glasses, no more only old men sitting outside in the towns with their tea, and no more calling for prayer from the mosques. Also a city where Mercedes, BMW's and Audis are the cars to drive,

So far Georgia is incredibly interesting. How to describe the food other than loads of it and tastes in all directions - bread with cheese, inside, mushrooms with cheese, chicken in garlic, meat in spice tomato sauce, aubergines with walnuts, grilled veggies and lots of fresh lettuce and herbs. Last evening the dress code for the women were dresses, lots of make up and lots of glittering accessories. The letters are non-recognisable. Outside the old communist look meets the new modern world. In Georgia Malene is also not the only blonde.