After the arid and unforgettable experience in Turkey, I quickly found myself inent environment—the lush wetlands of Georgia. a vastly differ
From Georgia to Russia
From Greece to Turkey
June 11, 2020
Exhibition- Barcelona
November 22, 2020PART 3
Journey to the unknown
It took me days to reach northwestern Georgia, along the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountains, after navigating unpaved, bumpy roads.
My backside hurt after driving all day for a relatively short distance, but I was very pleased to see what my 4×4 could do.
The Svaneti region, with its stone villages and churches serving as family shrines, welcomed us with its tower houses and lush green valleys
Snow-covered mountains, blooming flowers, and rivers ideal for setting up camp.
It made me feel as if I had arrived in the Shire, with only the hobbits missing.
You know, now that I consider it… were they, actually?
The scenery was breathtaking.
I spent quite some time in the capital city of Tbilisi. The nights there resembled those in Istanbul, and there was nothing unusual about them.
All the cities feel the same when you sleep in the car. Disruptive and noisy.
To avoid the busy nightlife, I decided to drive 20 km north of Tbilisi and spend a few nights inrmer capital, Mtskheta. the historic fo
Mtskheta is home to the Chamber of Wine, or Gvinis Palata, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nights in this small town suited my lifestyle much better. It felt as though time were moving backwards.
Tasteful khinkali and a glass of wine… basically Georgian meat-and-pork soup dumplings. Perfect.
I had to stay close to Tbilisi because I decided to get a Russian visa here. A story and a half, my friends, as well. I wouldn’t recommend this adventure to anyone. My best advice would be to try to get your visas in your home country.
The French embassy was easy to find, but finding the Russian embassy was a story of its own. It was marked on the map yet impossible to spot. I eventually tracked it down over the next few days, and it looked nothing like an embassy.
Behind the endless line of people, they stood… in trailers from the 60s—so-called Russian embassy.
I wanted to take a photo so badly, but, as elsewhere, a policeman stopped me.
“Then I realized that to live more fully, I had to overcome my fears. So I did it. I shed my fears and embraced my entire life.”
If I remember correctly, I took several photos with my GoPro, which I always keep tucked into my right pocket. However, I’m not sure whether they turned out well. I should definitely check on them one of these days.
To add even more fuel to this strange event, the scene inside the trailer was even better.
A lady agent with kilos of gold from a few generations ago, sitting in a ‘shelter’ that looked as if it might fall apart at any moment, made my day.
Everything was possible for £210. I ordered a double-entry visa, but I wasn’t sure whether the trailers would still be available a week later, when I needed to pick it up.
To escape the city’s noise, I decided to visit the coast of Batumi. Yes, I made the right choice. The weather was perfect, so I set up camp on the beach by the Black Sea.
It was time to do some laundry and organise everything I needed before I started a new chapter and headed towards Russia.
When I returned to Tbilisi, the trailers were still there, and fortunately, I obtained my visa. I was ready for some new adventures.
Since Armenia wasn’t accessible from the Turkish side due to political conflicts, and I was already in Georgia, I decided to take a week-long trip to see what life was like in another former Soviet republic.
Driving through the Armenian border took a long time and cost some money. In the end, I think nobody knew what we were signing or what we were paying for, but as always, it all turned out fine. Welcome to Armenia.
Armenia is recognised as one of the earliest Christian civilisations.
It is home to the world’s largest freshwater high-altitude lake, located 1900 metres above sea level. The lake is renowned for its beaches, including Lake Sevan.
By now, you’ve probably worked out which way my compass is pointing.
One stop in the capital city, Yerevan, then on to Lake Sevan.
“Some beautiful paths can only be found by getting lost.”
This enormous lake is more than a large body of water, and it draws locals from across the country.
Camping, barbecuing, and sampling Armenian brandy with locals was a unique and unforgettable experience. Sleeping to the sound of the waves was even more wonderful.
I had to return to Georgia and drive through the Caucasus Mountains to enter the Russian Republic. Well, my friends, that is something worth visiting again.
I couldn’t resist stopping every 15 minutes just. for photography
The weather changed suddenly, and the landscape was breathtaking.
It took me a long time to reach the border, where I found an endless queue of trucks waiting to cross. Once I arrived, I was faced with a mountain of paperwork required to enter the Republic of Russia with my mobile home.
Officers were very friendly, helpful, and cheerful when they saw my Slovenian passport. They referred to my country as a brotherhood.
Are we already in Russia? Here, my friends, is where I must close this chapter. It’s time to start a new one: the Great Republic of Russia.
How did you enjoy the journey so far? Are you up for some more?
Next stop: Russia
Destination: Mongolia
(For Slovenian readers – Indija Koromandija)