Oleg Timchenko: Nude

oleg-nude1, originally uploaded by grijsz.

Oli on Ceramic

View from Indurta with Irakli Papashvili

indurta3irakli, originally uploaded by grijsz.

Irakli has in his hands a loaf of his self made cheese of 7 or 8 kg. The view is from his shepherds camp site.

Ein Hoch auf Gott und Georgien

ein schöner Artikel über Georgien von Ute Müller im Spiegel
Link: http://www.spiegel.de/reise/fernweh/0,1518,473537,00.html

Bed and Breakfast in Dshuta, Kazbegi District

dshuta-juta-arabuli, originally uploaded by grijsz.

B&B Jago Arabuli in Dshuta. Jago opened a small B&B in his house. Perfect for 6 guests, shower, great view and hospitality. Dshuta is a famous entrance to Khevsureti via the Arkhoty Pass or via the Roshka Pass. From Kazbegi goes a road to Dshuta of 18 km. Recommended time for stays: End of May- End of October. For bookings contact me at info@kaukasus-reisen.de

Frühstück im Kaukasus

Zum Kennenlernen von Georgien, seinen beeindruckenden Landschaften, seinen wunderbaren Menschen und ihrer reichen Geschichte und Kultur



empfehle ich die Reise " Frühstück im Kaukasus"
mit den Etappen Tbilissi- Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)- David Garedschi- Weinregion Kachetien- Gori- Kutaissi- Schwarzes Meer, Batumi




mit Kaukasus-Reisen, weitere Informationen hier:

http://www.kaukasus-reisen.de/fruehstueckimkaukasus.htm

Impressions from Yerevan

abovyan-street, originally uploaded by grijsz.

It just feels like Paris, except Paris misses the wonderful view to the two Ararat's and Yerevan misses the relaxing presence of the Seine. Of course Yerevan has the bigger cars and Off-Roaders, there are as many Hummers as are VWs in Germany.

Yerevan is perfect for a week of shopping and culture. And of course the amazing cuisine, which combines Armenian, Persian, Syrian, Greek, Georgian and European cuisine with a perfect arrangement and quite decent prices. The beer is perfect, the wine, the coffee, Taxi prices are as 1 Euro for short distances in the city, 2 for longer ways.

The problem are the many beautiful girls and women strolling along the boulevards and cafes, as it is difficult to bear that beauty and charm, especially if you are married already.

The town is full of Jazz, even there is a Courbet in the Museum of Fine Arts, there is a good collection of fine Dutch and Russian paintings, and there is Parajanov and a couple of good earlier Saryans. This city has taste and pop and culture and a bright nightlife.

To reach Yerevan from Tbilisi by car you need to plan 6 hours, plus 1 hour at the border, as the Checkpoint is still very slow and seems like old fashioned Soviet style. The best route is Tbilisi-Sadakhlo-Vanadzor-Dilidshan-Sevan- Yerevan.

It is definitely a top destination and I go there in November again. Thank you Yerevan !

"According to Armenian tradition, the name of Yerevan is derived from an expression exclaimed by Noah in Armenian while looking in the direction of Yerevan, after the ark had landed on Mount Ararat and after the flood waters had receded: "Yerevants!" ("it appeared!").^[3] The more plausible theory on the origin of the name is that the city was named after the Armenian king, Yervand the Third (the Last), the last leader of the Orontid Dynasty and founder of the city of Yervandashat."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerevan

Collage by Sergei Parajanov

collage by parajanov, originally uploaded by grijsz.

I find it just wonderful !

Free download of former Soviet Military Maps of Georgia by Geoland

Free download of former Soviet Military Maps of Georgia 1:100.000 by Geoland

http://www.geoland.ge/products/free_maps/free_maps.html

Gastatelier / Gästehaus in der georgischen Weinprovinz Kachetien

http://www.kaukasus-reisen.de/gastatelier-ninigori.htm

Ruhiges Gastatelier / Gästehaus in der georgischen Weinprovinz Kachetien

An Künstler, Schriftsteller, Dichter, Journalisten, Natur- und Weinliebhaber wochenweise zu vermieten:

Entspannendes kachetisches Dorfleben, Berge, Wein, Reiten, melodische Landschaften und eine weltberühmte Gastfreundschaft - das ist Ninigori am Fuße des Kaukasus. Die kachetische Region Lagodechi ist auch für seinen Reichtum an Vögeln und Pflanzen bekannt.

Vielleicht suchen Sie Ruhe, Besinnung, Inspiration, neue Erlebnisse oder wollen einfach nur ungestört arbeiten ? Kommen Sie in unser Gastatelier nach Ninigori und tanken Sie auf.

Kachetien ist die gastfreundlichste Region Georgiens, sicher, gemütlich und landschaftlich reizvoll.

Weitere Informationen hier:

http://www.kaukasus-reisen.de/gastatelier-ninigori.htm

The Museum of S. Parajanov

objekt-parajanov, originally uploaded by grijsz.

in Yerevan will bring you very close to the mysterious world of Sergei Parajanov

here you find the website of the Museum:

http://moon.yerphi.am/~parm/conten_e.htm

and here a website dedicated to him

http://www.parajanov.com/

and here a long interview with the famous director by Ron Holloway

http://moon.yerphi.am/~parm/interv.htm

Family in the mountains

family in the mountains, originally uploaded by grijsz.

Museum of Fine Art Yerevan

Some new interesting articles at Georgia Today

first, a nice and profound introduction to the least well known National Park (Protected Area) Vashlovani in the South-East Steppe Region bordering Azerbaijan by Maka Lomadze
http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=3491

second, about how to wear the traditional Georgian "Chokha" by Ruso Strelkova
http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=3494

third, about a big, big loss for Tbilisi, the crack down of our flea market at Dry Bridge by Will Lasky
http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=3482

and fourth, about the Georgian Minority of the Dukhobor's, the Spirit Wrestlers, by
Hedvig Lohm & Ilia Ckhutishvili
http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=3488

Georgia Today: My favourite newspaper in Tbilisi !!

and

a wonderful "Snapshot of my Georgian Life" (in Tbilisi) by
Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya, just wonderful:
http://www.georgiatoday.ge/article_details.php?id=3489

A study after Modigliani by Shota Arabuli

kopie-modigliani-by-shota-arabuli, originally uploaded by grijsz.

A little jewel entered our walls...

Bad customer service at Georgian Railway

Imagine, you want to buy a ticket for the train to Batumi today, for the travel date 9th of September to Batumi... it's impossible, because tickets are sold only 5 days in advance (what for are the computers at the counters ??)

Imagine, you want to buy that ticket tomorrow for the 9th (that's possible because tomorrow you are the max. 5 days in advance) and a return ticket on 12th back to Tbilisi...
it's impossible, because the return ticket you can get only from 7th.

Imagine, you want to buy those tickets not for yourself, but for your friends in Telavi, that's impossible at all, because you need their passports for that (the name on the ticket should be identified by passport) or they just should come the hell themselves to Tbilisi and buy it on their own.

Seeing Old Tbilisi's history with Lika Karalashvili

tbilisi1, originally uploaded by grijsz.

Dear Guests of Tbilisi,

If you wish to look round the old historical city and walking along its streets to feel it's unique charm and learn about it's historical heritage: Contact us!

Our guides show you in a round walk the most interesting places; including stories about the foundation of Tbilisi and the adoption of Christianity in Georgia.

You can travel in the past of Tbilisi, see a heart of the city where Orthodox, Catholic and Georgian churches, mosque and synagogue are proudly side by side.

The classic round walk tour takes 3 hours and costs depending on the group size from 15 USD (5 plus participants) up to 24 USD (for a single participant)

Contact us for reserving tours everyday from 10.00 to 23.00

Lika Karalashvili

Address:3, Betlemi ascent

Phone: 98 38 75; 8 99 34 99 33

E-mail: visitoldtbilisi@yahoo.com

www: www.icomos.org.ge/Betlemi

More historic Tushetian photos documented by Alex JTB

On TRANSCAUCASUS here:

http://transcaucasian.blogspot.com/2007/08/more-old-photographs.html

4 crazy Mountainbikers, 1 Georgian and 3 Germans, crossing some of the highest passes in Khevsureti

nach-Roschka, originally uploaded by grijsz.

Sagrdzele Pass from Dshuta to Roshka, 3050 m. Photo: Rolf Hoffmann

quo-vadis-2opt, originally uploaded by grijsz.

In the Chaukhi Valley behind Dshuta. Photo: Rolf Hoffmann