Pretty, in a Broken Sort of Way

Back to Tbilisi, Georgia. On the blog I mean. Not physically… (If only we could go somewhere! Sigh…)

The first thing that struck me on arriving in Tbilisi, is not the monuments, or a landmark, or scenery. It’s not the friendly people (whom I would learn about only after staying), nor the food. It’s the crumbling old buildings, which must have once been the houses of well-to-do residents, aristocrats, and what have you. You could see the old elegance, finely ornamented but faded in time. You could see buildings at different levels of deterioration or renovation rejuvenation, some on the verge of collapse, while others restored back to opulent splendour.

At least that was the impression I got when arriving by Armenian cab at our booked room which was a small apartment in the old part of town. Don’t know what I’m talking about? I’ll let the pictures speak for itself!


This quirky clock tower outside Tbilisi’s Marionette Theatre is to me, the epitome of old Tbilisi. Crookedly stacked as if on the verge of falling down, but beautiful and elegant at the same time, to me, it portrays the playfulness and youth of a city in the process of rejuvenation


It’s pretty isn’t it? In a broken sorta way? Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia


And this is the courtyard of the building (right) that housed our little apartment, with creaky wooden stairs that go straight up two stories high at one shot. If you look closely, high on the right side, you'll see a little boy waving ...(Justin) 


Old and weathered, outside our little apartment (no, not that faded yellow door in front, our apartment is to the left of this pic)


But neat, tidy and spotlessly clean inside the apartment. These are the beds, upstairs for mommy and papa, downstairs for the kids. There’s a mini living room (from where the photo’s taken), a mini kitchen with everything you need, washing machine and a bathroom / toilet – Neat! No complaints at all – Maia’s Apartment 15 Lermontovi Street


Inside the ancient Anchiskhati Basilica, the oldest surviving church in Tbilisi (according to Lonely Planet), built in the 6th century


The old and the new – Anchiskhati Basilica on the right, and the new Presidential Palace straight up ahead, across the river


Whew, it’s hot! (Tbilisi was experiencing a 40C heat wave during our visit in the summer of 2018). Having a rest at the entrance arch of the Anchiskhati Basilica


A building that has been nicely rejuvenated! Opposite the Marionette Theatre


Another of many old churches, this one is the Metekhi Church, overlooking the Mtkvari River


Crumbling balcony… One of the many old crumbling buildings in the Avlabari part of town, between the Sameba Cathedral (the main cathedral in Tbilisi), and Europe Square. ...Who in their right mind would park his car underneath that thing you call a balcony?? Oh never mind, it's shadier?


The toilet of the Sameba Cathedral is surprisingly rustic… I bet there must be other toilets around, the cathedral is after all, the main church of Tbilisi and Georgia

That’s all for now. Meanwhile, I hope the nearby war that’s started recently between Georgia’s neighbours Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) disputed region will not escalate further. I hope the ceasefire that they worked out yesterday prevails… What’s the point of fighting, when we can all live in harmony and prosper…