16. TBILISI - WHAT A SURPRISE!!

We have breakfast on Monday, our layover day in Tbilisi. Robert asks at the front desk concerning how to walk to a large statue of a woman with a sword on a hill to the right of our hotel. I looked at it during breakfast at Robert's suggestion. I called it The "Mother-In Law" of the city. It is actually called the "Mother of Tbilisi so I was close.

The desk clerk tells us to walk right from the hotel and go a few blocks and turn into a street walking toward the back of that section of the city. It doesn't take long for us to realize that we are in one of the oldest sections of the city. It hasn't changed, and the speculators and entrepreneurs haven't touched it yet.

We see a very old church along the way. We stop and go in. The church is still being used and it dates from the 4th century. It is beautiful to see. I lit a candle for my family and all of you who are following my blog. I was touched being in this church. As we turned and started walking toward the back of the area, we continue to pass other churches. We stopped at another. Services with a clergy and a small choir singing are taking place. People are coming and going. Some praying only briefly and leaving. Others are moving about to different areas of the church stopping to pray at each. Continuing to walk, we are the only people in the street. We come to a Jewish synagogue. Two older men were near the entrance. One spoke English. We asked and were invited inside. We talked of Jewish history in the area and the country of Georgia.

Now walking a steep deserted, narrow street, we come to a steep flight of stairs made of stone at times, and brick and cement layers at times. The stairs crisscross the hill to make the ascent. We finally make it to the base of the statue. From the top of the hill we have a beautiful view of the city before us. We can study the old area of the city we just walked through. After a brief rest, we retrace our steps back into the streets taking a different path back. We had walked a good distance during the day, but it was certainly worth the time and effort.

A wonderful surprise, and a wonderful day in the city of Tbilisi.


Match the Captions to the Photos:

-Chosen People.
-Right Candle.
-Strong Stuff!
-No No Its The End Of My Sword!
-4th Century.
-"Joe Pesce" Apartments.
-Sharden ("The Blind")
-24/7