Vardzia → Shekvetili
Day 5
It was quite early and sunny when we set off from Vardzia. We had hoped that it was also going to be quite early and sunny when we arrived at our final destination for that day. However, that was kind of naive as we needed to get to - drum roll, please - Shekvetili. If you try to find a road from Vardzia to Shekvetili on the map, you will probably be told to go round to Borjomi which takes around 6 hours. You could also go to Batumi and then take the road along the coast to Shekvetili. But that does not sound like us (meaning Telchac), does it? We (please read HE) decided to take the road through Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park to Sairme, Baghdati and Chokhatauri ("The views are going to be amazing!"). Only 100 km (slightly under 2 hours) on the tarmac road from a total of 280 km (over 6 hours). That was the way we decided to go, totally responsible and adult decision, right? :D
During our first days in Georgia, we had already learned that map predictions were only (wishful thinking) predictions, the reality was always a few hours more than estimated. Now you know how this was supposed to go, let's see how it really went.
This was precisely the case of "it's not the destination, it's the journey". Of course, it all took longer but that was not the problem at all as we were prepared for that - snacks and water bottles were inevitable.
Definitely, the most interesting part was the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. It started from the moment we took the SH14 road. It had already rained for maybe half an hour but nothing that bad, we even made a little break (yes, the purpose was to take a leak :D). Then the road, as well as the rain, started getting worse and worse. What was once a tarmac road with holes was now a muddy forest road (with holes). What was once a slight drizzle, was now a full-on downpour. Hand in hand with these we entered the part where the aerial view of the road was an exact imitation of a bowel. One 180 degrees turn followed by another. There we met two cars - both with Georgian plates and full of Georgians, neither an SUV, neither a 4x4 - one was actually an old BMW. How they got to the other side of the hill has remained a mystery - we had a lot on our plate in Toyota Prado :D. It took some time and some stomach-strength to get out of the forest. We knew the views wouldn't have been that good as it was cloudy and raining but either way, we were looking forward to getting to the other side. Me, watching the map and literally counting down the kilometers till we were on a more normal road, Telchac bravely steering left and right.
Our victory was close. We finally got out of the forest. We were up, almost up in the clouds. We saw some workers with heavy machines eyeing us curiously - we put it down to the rain and muddy road and no other tourists taking this particular road. And then, we were stopped by a Georgian guy who told us we could not go any farther and that we should have returned back to where we came from, wherever that was. This was not an option. It took us several hours to get there, we had a hotel booked in Shekvetili and we needed to continue moving north. We did not know what to do, I was starting to get desperate (that's how I get :D, Telchac is, thank God, more cool-headed in these situations). We tried to explain and they tried to explain but lack of common language resulted in us almost ignoring their warnings and getting into the car. That was what probably made them talk to us again gesticulating and explaining that we just had to wait and if we waited a bit, we could continue. Ok, fine with us, we decided to give it a few minutes. In a couple of minutes, there was a huge explosion. Right in front of us, near the road where we would have been. And then we understood, they needed to blow up a part of the hill so they could build something, that's why we needed to wait. Lucky we waited, huh? :D
After that, the guy came to us and told us we could continue, he even tried to give us directions :).
So after a very long and roller-coaster-like (both emotionally and because of the state of the road :D) ride, we were finally on a gravel road (not a muddy one) and we were able to enjoy the views (which were amazing even if it was cloudy). The last four hours were pretty uneventful compared to all that had happened in the national park :D. The biggest excitement was Telchac getting us ice-cream in some village :D. We got to Shekvetili at around seven and were over the moon when we got to our room.
After a well-deserved glass of wine, we even gathered our last energy and went to the beach for a little swim. As it was almost dark and a bit stormy (and it made hotel staff a bit nervous), we then went to the pool and then we even tried every slide they had in their little indoor water park. It's a nice touch both for children and adult guests - parents can relax while children play, and we - the crazy, wild creatures - can race on the slides. Don't mind us, the guard (!!!) was going down the slides standing - some example to the kids, he was! :D
In-room dinner (another delicious meal) and an in-bed glass of wine and we were ready to sleep this extremely long and exciting and funny day off.
Day 6
Next morning, we finally had a few hours to relax so we made most of it. If we could, we would have stayed here for another day or two, but our "holy itinerary" was haunting us, along with all the places we wanted to visit. So, at noon, give or take a few hours, we got into the car (again) and set off to another amazing place (again). Five hours later, we arrived in Mestia.
Btw does this trip seem to embody the "every day is an adventure" motto? It certainly does to me! And there were more adventures to go through. But more about that in two weeks. :D C U then!
It was quite early and sunny when we set off from Vardzia. We had hoped that it was also going to be quite early and sunny when we arrived at our final destination for that day. However, that was kind of naive as we needed to get to - drum roll, please - Shekvetili. If you try to find a road from Vardzia to Shekvetili on the map, you will probably be told to go round to Borjomi which takes around 6 hours. You could also go to Batumi and then take the road along the coast to Shekvetili. But that does not sound like us (meaning Telchac), does it? We (please read HE) decided to take the road through Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park to Sairme, Baghdati and Chokhatauri ("The views are going to be amazing!"). Only 100 km (slightly under 2 hours) on the tarmac road from a total of 280 km (over 6 hours). That was the way we decided to go, totally responsible and adult decision, right? :D
 |
| Amazing view over the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park |
During our first days in Georgia, we had already learned that map predictions were only (wishful thinking) predictions, the reality was always a few hours more than estimated. Now you know how this was supposed to go, let's see how it really went.
This was precisely the case of "it's not the destination, it's the journey". Of course, it all took longer but that was not the problem at all as we were prepared for that - snacks and water bottles were inevitable.
Definitely, the most interesting part was the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. It started from the moment we took the SH14 road. It had already rained for maybe half an hour but nothing that bad, we even made a little break (yes, the purpose was to take a leak :D). Then the road, as well as the rain, started getting worse and worse. What was once a tarmac road with holes was now a muddy forest road (with holes). What was once a slight drizzle, was now a full-on downpour. Hand in hand with these we entered the part where the aerial view of the road was an exact imitation of a bowel. One 180 degrees turn followed by another. There we met two cars - both with Georgian plates and full of Georgians, neither an SUV, neither a 4x4 - one was actually an old BMW. How they got to the other side of the hill has remained a mystery - we had a lot on our plate in Toyota Prado :D. It took some time and some stomach-strength to get out of the forest. We knew the views wouldn't have been that good as it was cloudy and raining but either way, we were looking forward to getting to the other side. Me, watching the map and literally counting down the kilometers till we were on a more normal road, Telchac bravely steering left and right.
 |
| Shepherds' village somewhere in the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park |
Our victory was close. We finally got out of the forest. We were up, almost up in the clouds. We saw some workers with heavy machines eyeing us curiously - we put it down to the rain and muddy road and no other tourists taking this particular road. And then, we were stopped by a Georgian guy who told us we could not go any farther and that we should have returned back to where we came from, wherever that was. This was not an option. It took us several hours to get there, we had a hotel booked in Shekvetili and we needed to continue moving north. We did not know what to do, I was starting to get desperate (that's how I get :D, Telchac is, thank God, more cool-headed in these situations). We tried to explain and they tried to explain but lack of common language resulted in us almost ignoring their warnings and getting into the car. That was what probably made them talk to us again gesticulating and explaining that we just had to wait and if we waited a bit, we could continue. Ok, fine with us, we decided to give it a few minutes. In a couple of minutes, there was a huge explosion. Right in front of us, near the road where we would have been. And then we understood, they needed to blow up a part of the hill so they could build something, that's why we needed to wait. Lucky we waited, huh? :D
After that, the guy came to us and told us we could continue, he even tried to give us directions :).
 |
| Road "blockade" near Sairme |
So after a very long and roller-coaster-like (both emotionally and because of the state of the road :D) ride, we were finally on a gravel road (not a muddy one) and we were able to enjoy the views (which were amazing even if it was cloudy). The last four hours were pretty uneventful compared to all that had happened in the national park :D. The biggest excitement was Telchac getting us ice-cream in some village :D. We got to Shekvetili at around seven and were over the moon when we got to our room.
 |
| Storm over the Black Sea is approaching |
After a well-deserved glass of wine, we even gathered our last energy and went to the beach for a little swim. As it was almost dark and a bit stormy (and it made hotel staff a bit nervous), we then went to the pool and then we even tried every slide they had in their little indoor water park. It's a nice touch both for children and adult guests - parents can relax while children play, and we - the crazy, wild creatures - can race on the slides. Don't mind us, the guard (!!!) was going down the slides standing - some example to the kids, he was! :D
In-room dinner (another delicious meal) and an in-bed glass of wine and we were ready to sleep this extremely long and exciting and funny day off.
 |
| Enguri Dam |
 |
| On the road to Mestia |
Day 6
Next morning, we finally had a few hours to relax so we made most of it. If we could, we would have stayed here for another day or two, but our "holy itinerary" was haunting us, along with all the places we wanted to visit. So, at noon, give or take a few hours, we got into the car (again) and set off to another amazing place (again). Five hours later, we arrived in Mestia.
 |
| Sunset in Mestia |
Btw does this trip seem to embody the "every day is an adventure" motto? It certainly does to me! And there were more adventures to go through. But more about that in two weeks. :D C U then!