Because of the hoopla that our not so creative/hurried first blog title
caused, we have moved on to a bigger, more extravagant one. Enjoy:
Portal to the other side, to see the true status of our travels....
www.hoboingtheworld.blogspot.com
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
And We're Off
Well here it is, it has officially begun, World-Wind Tour 2012-2013 is on. You could say it began in Amsterdam, where Katie and I reunited, or when we touched down in our first country of destination Georgia.
Who knew, Georgians - easily the most attractive nationality in the world. A fine welcoming if I do say so myself. In Tbilisi we stayed with an RPCV (former peace corps volunteer), who kindly let us in at 1am when we arrived unannounced. Turns out he had just gotten home too after his accordion gig at a local bar. After perusing the streets of Tbilisi and climbing some very steep hills, he took us out for a traditional Georgian dinner, complete with singing and dancing. The men's dance included balancing over-sized bottles on their heads. We capped off the night back at our host's apartment with a private concert - that's right this kid is actually a double-threat - both playing the accordion and singing. Nothing like a little Me and Bobby McGee with the sweet sweet tunes of an accordion to end the night.
We then continued our journey north, actually to the very north. Kazbegi is the last town before hitting the Russian border and Chechnya. It is home to the highest peak in Georgia, and while we did not climb it, it did look very pretty. Instead we opted to hike up to an adorable little 14th century church sitting high up on top of a different mountain, looking over the town. Our two-man team actually expanded for this venture, back in Tbilisi we made a friend! Choouk, a South Korean, decided he liked us, so we all three hunkered down in little room in a local's home and hiked together the next day. We all became so chummy that he actually invited us to stay with him at his home, little does he know that he was talking to two hobos who will in fact always take up an offer for a free place to stay - especially when said host has also promised to feed us.
Bee-lining straight south, we stopped off in Akhaltsikhe to visit a city that was entirely carved into a mountain side with caves and tunnels, as well as home to a functioning monastery. Akhaltsikhe actually means "new castle," though the castle itself is not very new, dating back from the 12th century, it is visible from nearly every spot in town. My personal favorite part of our visit however was who we lovingly referred to as the Morojnea Man - that is the ice cream man that stood by his jankity ice-cream machine all day long next to the door of our soviet style, somewhat dilapidated hotel. He greeted and chatted with us every time we entered, exited, or walked anywhere near the hotel. An older gentleman, but very patient with our sad excuse for Russian-ish mumblings. It is good he has not followed us, because turns out the deadliest combination is a warm charm and 10 cent ice-cream cones.
Who knew, Georgians - easily the most attractive nationality in the world. A fine welcoming if I do say so myself. In Tbilisi we stayed with an RPCV (former peace corps volunteer), who kindly let us in at 1am when we arrived unannounced. Turns out he had just gotten home too after his accordion gig at a local bar. After perusing the streets of Tbilisi and climbing some very steep hills, he took us out for a traditional Georgian dinner, complete with singing and dancing. The men's dance included balancing over-sized bottles on their heads. We capped off the night back at our host's apartment with a private concert - that's right this kid is actually a double-threat - both playing the accordion and singing. Nothing like a little Me and Bobby McGee with the sweet sweet tunes of an accordion to end the night.
We then continued our journey north, actually to the very north. Kazbegi is the last town before hitting the Russian border and Chechnya. It is home to the highest peak in Georgia, and while we did not climb it, it did look very pretty. Instead we opted to hike up to an adorable little 14th century church sitting high up on top of a different mountain, looking over the town. Our two-man team actually expanded for this venture, back in Tbilisi we made a friend! Choouk, a South Korean, decided he liked us, so we all three hunkered down in little room in a local's home and hiked together the next day. We all became so chummy that he actually invited us to stay with him at his home, little does he know that he was talking to two hobos who will in fact always take up an offer for a free place to stay - especially when said host has also promised to feed us.
Bee-lining straight south, we stopped off in Akhaltsikhe to visit a city that was entirely carved into a mountain side with caves and tunnels, as well as home to a functioning monastery. Akhaltsikhe actually means "new castle," though the castle itself is not very new, dating back from the 12th century, it is visible from nearly every spot in town. My personal favorite part of our visit however was who we lovingly referred to as the Morojnea Man - that is the ice cream man that stood by his jankity ice-cream machine all day long next to the door of our soviet style, somewhat dilapidated hotel. He greeted and chatted with us every time we entered, exited, or walked anywhere near the hotel. An older gentleman, but very patient with our sad excuse for Russian-ish mumblings. It is good he has not followed us, because turns out the deadliest combination is a warm charm and 10 cent ice-cream cones.
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