Georgia > From Batumi to Akhaltsikhe

I slept very well last night. I clearly needed it. I also feel much better. At eight o’clock, we are the first to arrive for breakfast. Other travelers soon follow. Today we don’t leave Batumi until eleven, which gives us time to walk through the city. After breakfast, we leave the hotel and turn left. In this area, many new and modern skyscrapers are being built. Construction is happening everywhere.

Georgia - Some of the modern buildings in the resort town of Batumi

The design of one tower seems even more remarkable than the next. We come across the “inverted bottle,” the building of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Through a small park and past a little pond, we return to the boulevard. Here, several amusement park rides are set up, but they all seem inactive for some time. Perhaps the rides only operate during the tourist season. We pass a temporary beach volleyball court; signs indicate that a tournament was held here last month. We return to the hotel well in time. Just before eleven, we check in at the lobby. The luggage is quickly loaded onto the bus. The bus blocks a lane on the busy street, so it can’t stop for long. Today we are driving a considerable distance eastward before turning south, which means a long ride in the bus. Along the way, we stop for a toilet break. Around half past one, we arrive at a gas station, where we have the opportunity to buy a sandwich. I get a simple chicken sandwich and order coffee. Further along the route, we pass the Ubisi monastery complex. The St. George’s Church within the monastery dates from the 9th century, but the frescoes inside were added in the 12th century.

Georgia - The monastery complex of Ubisi dating from the ninth century

The unique frescoes depict realistic figures. Above the altar, a scene of the Last Supper is visible. Another remarkable aspect is that we are the only visitors in this monastery. Until now, the holy sites have always been crowded. At the end of the afternoon, we arrive in Akhaltsikhe. We are staying in the former train station building. The railway line is no longer in use, and the large stately building now serves as a hotel. The hall looks grand in a Russian style, and the corridors are colossal. The rooms in the former station are fine. For the evening, we pass under the railway tunnel and find a table for eleven in a restaurant. We order various dishes and share them with each other. The food is excellent, and it is very enjoyable and convivial.