Kharkov Calling: Old Town Tbilisi

Ani met us and we took a taxi downtown to Rustaveli boulevard:

People protesting their displacement from Abkhazia (the Russians moved the border 300 meters). They were lined up in front of the old parliament building

I know you are surprised to learn that St George is the patron saint of Georgia...

Fruit stand in the old town

Er...no. Not unless the funds transfer hits before we leave town. The striped one folded and hanging on the left had a price tag of over 5000 lari (over 3000 USD)

The patriarch was giving service, so people were lined up around this small church in the old town. The service was being broadcast on loudspeakers, along with some of the amazing, a cappella men's choral singing.

one of the narrow old streets that had been refurbed- now lined with bars, houkas, hotels and restaurants.

View of the old town from the bridge over the city

Proof we were there

So, the domes indicate hot springs (tbili) for which
the city is named. It was traditional for brides to be
brought to the baths by mothers-in-law before the wedding.

Entrance to Sulphur bath No 5

Tops of the dome baths

Mosque tucked in the old town next to the baths

Waterfall above the creek above the baths. Yeah- okay we look exactly the same as in the last one. I declare this our "travel pose".

Phew! Sulphur-ic creek feeding into the baths

Okay...so, we hired a taxi driver to carry us up to the fort above the city (Ani did not recommend walking). He got lost several times over, but 30-45 minutes later, we made it. This is the view from the top.