It took over 36 hours of traveling but I have finally made it to Tbilisi. The JFK to Warsaw flight was nice and comfortable because the nice ticketing agent granted my request for an exit row. Never less I did not sleep much on the flight. That was saved for my 13 hour layover in Poland. Poland's weather was torrential downpour and freezing cold so I decided that my time was better spent resting up for the next leg of the journey rather than battling the elements. I guess that I will just have to go back another time for a proper visit. The overnight flight from Warsaw to Tbilisi was quicker and I managed to sleep on part of it. We were finally arrived and checked into our hotel by around 5:00 am.
After a much needed nap Brian (my temporary roommate), Elizabeth and I chose to venture into the old city (our hotel is in a suburb). We were directed to just turn right and we would run into the oldest part of town. Somewhere all three of us missed something in the translation. After an hour of walking we were no where near the old town and moving in the wrong direction. Luckily two nice Georgians stopped us and asked us what we were looking for. When they heard how lost we were they told us sit down we will take you. The three of us piled into the back seat of a tiny European car and whizzed through the city. Elene (one of the Georgians) told us that we need to meet her cousin who had spent 13 years living in the United States. Without prior warning we were invited into their home where we were offered coffee, ice cream, beer, and to listen to a Backstreet Boys CD. It was truly an introduction to the open nature and hospitality of Georgian culture. They walked us Americans around the old city and pointed out the landmarks and the history behind them. When we finally parted they gave us their phone numbers with the instructions "if you ever need anything in Tbilisi give us a call".
I had a great first day and orientation training starts tomorrow. So for the next week I will be busy with Georgian teaching, language, and culture classes. I'm sure that there are only more adventures to come.
Glad you are safe and sound and that you had your first adventure. We appreciated the post as we were wondering where Carmen Santiago was!!
ReplyDeleteFound Tbilisi on GoogleMaps. That's a wild looking alphabet! Can you make all the sounds? What do the people look like?
ReplyDeleteAuntie Ann
I'm doing my best to learn all the sounds. Sometimes it sounds like I have a hair ball in my throat. Hopefully 3 hours of language class a day will cure that. As for the people they are pretty homogenous with black hair and darker Spanish like skin. My experiences so far have been that even though I look completely foreign they are still very nice to me.
DeleteHAHAH Oh my god you had coffee, beer, ice cream and listened to BACKSTREET BOYS?! I love these people!
ReplyDeleteHI Chris!Well, after last year of being in Paris on August 16, its not surprising you're in another foreign country! Hows the Black Sea?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a fabulous adventure,great way to
see the world!