Reisen in Georgien und darüber hinaus im Südkaukasus: Eintauchen in das Abenteuer, die Geschichte und die Kultur des faszinierenden Reiselandes Sakartwelo, Georgien mit Menschen, die das Land leben, lieben und schätzen.

20.03.2006

Georgian Artist Otar Chkhartishvili died


Otari

My friend and a good georgian artist Otar Chkhartishvili, born 5th of July 1938 in Kobuleti, Georgia died today. Known formerly as a master of "Anti-Soviet Pop Art" he painted in the last 3 or 4 years almost exclusivly still-lifes of pomegranates and landscapes of the surrounding hills of his home town Rustavi. He was a power of influence both to artists in Rustavi and Tbilisi and with his clear mind a strong judge of any work of art. Otari was a honest man with a strong backbone, withstanding any ancounters by KGB in the 70s and 80s. Over a couple of years he was prohibited of any public show and saved himself and his family by making illustrations for children books. We are very sad to hear that Otari is gone much to early to another world. The funeral will be held at Saturday 25th of March in Rustavi.


Last supper


Don't be afraid, say the truth


No titel

otar8
No titel


Port


Head


Head



See some more of Otari Chkhartishvilis works here:
http://www.kaukasus-kaleidoscope.com/otari/opage_01.htm

In 1998 we sometimes went together outside of Rustavi to paint landscapes in open air. Otari in front.


Here is a portrait I made of Otari also in 1998

Georgian Airways: Frankfurt-Tbilisi Spring/Summer 2006

Georgian Airways will fly as I am told by phone from their Tbilisi Office:

Every Tuesday and Saturday
from Frankfurt 23.05 pm to Tbilisi arrival at 05.15 am
from Tbilisi 19.15 pm to Frankfurt arrival at 21.45 pm
Website: http://www.airzena.com

Georgian Airways fliegt in der Sommersaison 2006
ab Frankfurt 23.05 Uhr Ankunft in Tiflis um 05.15 Uhr
ab Tiflis 19.15 Uhr Ankunft Frankfurt um 21.45 Uhr
Webseite: http://www.airzena.com
oder Buchung bei Easterntravel http://www.eastern-travel.de/

Flüge nach Tiflis mit Germania 2006

Mit dem neuen Flugplan ab Ende März/ Anfang April treten einige Änderungen in Kraft, wie mir Germanias Hotline telefonisch übermittelte. Alle Angaben ohne Gewähr.
Abflug ab Köln/Bonn nach Tiflis Donnerstag 22.45
Abflug ab Tiflis nach Köln/Bonn Freitag 06.15
Preis pro Strecke EUR 280.00
Hin-und Rückflug EUR 430.00
Buchungen für die kommende Saison ab etwa 30.März unter 01805/ 737100 oder unter http://www.gexx.de

From April 2006 Aircompany Germania will fly from

Cologne/Bonn Airport to Tbilisi every Thursday 22.45 pm and from
Tbilisi to Cologne/Bonn every Friday at 06.15 am
Prices are approximatly EUR 280 One way and EUR 430 Retour
Bookings: Germania Hotline +49 1805/ 737100 or at http://www.gexx.de

16.03.2006

Julias incredible interesting photos from Noratus, Armenia



Julia
made some awesome photos from Noratus at lake Sevan in Armenia and other very interesting photos from Russia, Georgia and Armenia. See Julias work on http://kunstkamera.livejournal.com

Thanks to Ralph from georgien.blogspot.com for finding Julias work.

15.03.2006

Sonntagsbrunch im Café Goethe Tiflis,Tbilissi

Sonntagsbrunch im Cafe Goethe, Zandukeli-Str. 16

zum Preis von nur 18,-- pro Person (Kinder bis zu 14 Jahren 8,--/Kinder unter 6 Jahren frei

Das Angebot umfasst: Kaffee - Tee - Obstsäfte - Mineralwasser - Brotsortiment - Butter - Margarine - Marmeladen - Honig - gekochte Eier - Rührei mit Schinken - Spiegelei - Aufschnittplatte - Käseplatte - Heringssalat - Kartoffelsalat - Bratkartoffel - Bratwürstchen - Karottensalat - Gurkensalat - Tomatensalat - vegetarische Kartoffel-Gemüseplätzchen - Müsli - Obstsalat - Joghurt - Kuchen

>>> extras : gebeizter Lachs - kleines Filesteak - Blini mit rotem Kaviar - Sekt

an jedem Samstag und Sonntag bieten wir Ihnen ein besonderes

>>> Kindermenu: Frankfurter Würstchen mit Kartoffelbrei - Kinderteller Käpt`n Seebär (Kartoffelbrei mit Hackfleisch) - Zwei Kartoffelpuffer mit Apfelkompott - Fischstäbchen mit Kartoffelsalat

Geniessen Sie den Sonntagmorgen in einem der schönsten Innenhöfe von Tbilissi.

Rainer Kaufmann
und sein Team

Restaurant Zandukeli 40
Cafe Goethe
Zandukeli 16

14.03.2006

Caucasian languages audio and video recording library

schnee16
Khevsurs: Lamara, Nino and Berdo

Listen to the dialects of the Khevsurs, Laz, Tsova-Tushs, Udi and Abkhaz and see them speaking and singing on video. Authors: Prof. Tariel Sikharulidze & Dr. Tariel (Tato) Sikharulidze

http://projet-unesco.ifrance.com/

Take a virtual tour into the ancient Ani

Here:
http://www.virtualani.freeserve.co.uk/

Ani by Alexander Bainbridge







Ani, known to Romans as Abnicum, is a ruined capital of medieval Armenia, now situated in the Turkish province of Kars, immediately south of the Turko-Armenian frontier, at an altitude of 4390 ft.. Its name came from the ancient Urartian fertility goddess Anahid. It is located near the Arpaçay Brook (a branch of the Araks River ("Aras" in Turkish) that constitutes the border between Armenia and Turkey, but is within Turkish borders. Wikipedia

See a huge panorama photo of the whole site of Ani by Alexander Bainbridge here

13.03.2006

Slogans for the Caucasus

sewansee
Lake Sevan, Armenia

"You Like Armenia. Armenia Likes You."

Lets have some fun creating good slogans for the Caucasus: We all know that the Caucasus and its states need a good marketing. We want to build a valuable and positive image for all the Caucasus countries, still too often considered as "dangerous"and "wild" and "lawless". Two years ago I invented for own purposes "Georgien- der Balkon Europas"- "Georgia- the balcony of Europe" and I know, that branding is a quite difficult and complex issue, but lets just start here to figure out some good slogans, you may use on your website or next newsletter or play with the tool yourself.

Life Should Taste As Good As Caucasus.

Goodbuzzin' Cooltalkin' Highwalkin' Fastlivin' Evergivin' Coolfizzin' Baku.

Mum's Gone to Caucasus.

You're in good hands in Georgia.

Georgia Saves Your Soul.

Vorsprung durch Tbilissi.

Get Fun. Get Tbilisi.

There's Always a Room For You in Tbilisi.

See the Face You Love Light Up With Tbilisi.

If You make it in Tbilisi, You can make it everywhere.

It's Just For Me And My Tbilisi.

Honeymoon in Tbilisi.

All You Need is the Caucasus and a Dream.

Thanks to the Advertizing Slogan Generator

If you have some great slogans, post in the comments.

10.03.2006

Providing information on power outages in advance

Wouldn't it be great if Telasi (or any other responsible power supplier) would provide planned or scheduled power outages for the different areas of Georgia and Tbilisi on a special website in advance. They could anounce there, what crashes happened and when the supply will be probably recovered. They could send this infos as SMS too, it would save our nervous systems and save a lot of technical devices like computers too...

09.03.2006

Dance the Ajaruli


Kindergarden Lisi, Saburtalo, starring Nini and Hansi

08.03.2006

What do you think Tbilisi needs ?

The progress in Georgia these days is very fast, but for certain things I am waiting for years. Postmodern and historic Tbilisi misses some nice features of a metropolitan city. So here is the beginning of a small wishlist. Your wishes are kindly appreciated in the comments.

- More Supermarkets: Ok, there is one big Goodwill Supermarket, very good, where are the others ? In other areas of Tbilisi, other companies ? A Lidl or Aldi would be also nice here.

- Spare parts: To order common spare parts for your car is sometimes a very expensive and long enduring experience. Why is there no wider spare parts logistics for the Caucasus, including Azerbaidshan and Armenia ?

- Metro: Tourists are still waiting for a translation of Metro Stations signs into f.e. English.

- Free Wifi in entire Tbilisi would be cool, maybe we need to ask Google ?

- DIY-Stores, in Berlin are as many as in Tbilisi Gas Stations

- IKEA, or bigger stores with a varity of furniture

- Some professional Art Galleries/Dealers to promote Georgian artists inside and outside the country

Ok, I'll leave some wishes for you too ;-)

Photography by Alex B.


The GeorgianMilitary Highway near Sno

Alex sent me over some beautiful imgages from his journey to the Georgian Mountains in November 2005. He is studying photojournalism and documentary photography in London and obiviously got also infected by the grandiose themes in the Caucasus. He also sent me an interesting link to a language archive of the Khevsurian dialect of the Georgian language spoken by the Khevsurs in the villages around the Khevsurian Aragvi Bassin.
Alex, I wish you many more visits to the Caucasus and more intriguing photos like these


The day of Giorgioba


Details at Zminda Sameba


View to Kuro Range and Kazbegi

All photos by Alex B.

05.03.2006

Gastatelier am Goethe-Institut Tiflis/ Tbilissi

Toll ! Das Goethe-Institut stellt Künstlern, Autoren, Dichtern etc. für ihre Projekte ein Atelier von ca. 40 Quadratmetern plus Apartment mit Bad und Miniküche für mindestens zwei Wochen bis maximal zwei Monate kostenlos zur Verfügung. In begründeten Fällen kann ein Reisekostenzuschuss bis maximal 500 € vom Institut übernommen werden. Weitere Informationen hier

03.03.2006

Dagestan in photos by Gusen Halilullaev


Village Tindi. Photo by Gusen Halilullaev. Link

This blogs name is "Kaukasus", but it mainly covered topics on Georgia, as I am living in Tbilisi. Thats why, I am very happy today getting the contact to the author of an impressive Dagestanian website: Gusen Halilullaev from Makhachkala. Gusen collected comprehensive materials on www.tsumada.ru on the Tsumada Region in Dagestan with a photo gallery of almost 4000 images by Gusen and other photographers.


Winter in Tindi. View to the Minaret. Photo by Magomed Zakaryaev. Link

Some infos on Dagestan from wikipedia:

Dagestan is the largest republic of Russia in the northern Caucasus, both in area 50,300 km² and population 2,576,531 (2002).

The word Daghestan or Daghstan means "country of mountains", it is derived from the Turkic word "dagh" meaning mountain and Persian suffix meaning "land of". The spelling Dagestan is a transliteration of the Russian name and is rather modern.

The republic is situated in the North Caucasus mountains. It is the southernmost part of Russia.Dagestan has about 400 km of coast line on the Caspian Sea. Most of the Republic is mountainous, with the Greater Caucasus Mountains covering the south. The highest point is the Bazardyuzi peak at 4,466 m.

The people of Dagestan include over a dozen sizeable groups, including:

Location of Dagestan in Russia, image by Wikipedia

What a beautiful country, what a rich history !

A new georgian&german girl

was born in Tbilisi on 1st of March- our daughter Saskia Annelore Buhr. Weight 3000 gr, height 50cm. She is a pretty little girl. We named her after Saskia van Uylenburg, Rembrandts wife and we wish her a life full of adventures and beauty.

02.03.2006

Investing in Georgia



Today takes place the Forum Invest in Georgia at the Hilton New York Hotel, wich will attract new american investments in Georgias oil and gas sector, transportation, agribusiness, wine industry, in the financial sector and in tourism infrastructure. More information on http://www.investingeorgia.org/en/

This website of the Georgian National Investment and Export Promoting Agency counts 10 important reasons in a nice flash animation on its frontpage, why investments in Georgias Economy have a very good perspective:

1. A strategic location bridging Europe and Asia
2. European Union neighboring country
3. Access to CIS Markets
4. Democratic and liberal policy
5. Competitive Export regime
6. Liberal and simplified Tax code
7. Qualified,motivated and cheap workforce
8. Very attractive operating and living costs
9. High potential of agricultural sector
10. Logistical, transport and communications infrastructure

Bazaar in Telavi, the regional capital of Kakheti in Eastern Georgia


Vodka and wine


Fish


Honey and candles


Vegetables


Fruits


Meat


Fruits again

28.02.2006

Pictures Early Spring in Tbilisi 2006


Restaurant "Old House-Zveli Ssakhli"



View from Narikala Fortress



View from Narikala Fortress



View to Metekhi Church and to the sculpture of King Vakhtang Gorgassali



Cafe-Restaurant Sanssouci



Cafe-Restaurant Sanssouci



Exchange rates



Kostava St.



Rustaveli Pr.



Bazaar



Outside Tbilisi at Monastery Shiomgvime

Tbilisi Super Nightlife Clubbing with Lado Burduli


bigger size


Every Saturday in March 2006 at Beatles Club, 25 Kostava Street usually 8 pm to midnight or later
04.03.
Alternative and Post-Punk Shooba Dooba Jazz (Tbilisi) and Telescope (Tbilisi)
11.03
Post-Punk and Britpop Radio of Vietnam (Tbilisi) & String (Tbilisi)
18.03
Rock (Female singer) and Folk Punk (Female singer) Georgian Version (Kutaisi) & Vialka (France)
25.03
Alternative Rock and Hard Rock Stress (Tbilisi) & Labirinth (Samtredia)

Tickets: 10/20 Lari more info from Lado: caucasusart [] yahoo.com

Lado's websites
http://caucasus.art.ge
http://lado.art.ge
http://ladofest.art.ge

tel: +995 32 98 27 79
mob: +995 77 79 30 76

22.02.2006

Abenteuertouren in Georgien 2006



Trekking, Wandern, Reiten, Bergsteigen, Viehtrieb, Bergwelt, Natur, postmoderne Lebensgefühle in Tbilissi und Zeitreisen in die Kulturen der einsamsten Bergregionen des georgischen Kaukasus:

Abenteuer Chewsuretien
Abenteuer-Treckingreise durch die kaukasische Bergwelt von Chewsuretien in Georgien Mehr

Abenteuer Tuschetien
Eine Abenteuertour in das abgelegene wildromantische Tuschetien Mehr

Über den Wolken des Kaukasus
Hochgebirgstrekking von Tuschetien über den Adsuntapass nach Chewsuretien, von Omalo/Shenako nach Schatili in Georgien Mehr

Viehtrieb Tuschetien 2006
Ein Abenteuer mit den Herden der tuschetischen Hirten auf dem Treck von Tuschetien nach Kachetien Mehr

Abenteuertrekking durch den Nationalpark Lagodechi
Trekking zu Fuß und zu Pferd durch die Berge und Wälder des Nationalparks Lagodechi Mehr


19.02.2006

Flüge nach Georgien

hier eine nicht vollständige Auswahl von Flugverbindungen nach Georgien:

Georgian Airways
http://www.airzena.com/main.php#results
von Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Prag, Moskau, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Kiew, Athen, Wien
Deutschland:
Eastern Travel
Berliner Straße 275
65205 Wiesbaden
FRANKFURT
Tel.: 06 11 974 26 80
974 26 86
Fax: 06 11 974 26 84
Email: eastern-travel@t-online.de

Germania
http://www.gexx.de
Tel: 01805 737100
ab Köln/Bonn

Lufthansa
http://www.lufthansa.com
http://www.lufthansa.de
ab München
Tel: +49 (0)180-5 8384267

Aeroflot
http://www.aeroflot.de
Deutschlanddirektion
Wilhelm-Leuschnerstr. 41
60329 Frankfurt
Tel.: 069-27300630
Fax: 069-27300640

15.02.2006

New Internet Source on Biodiversity of Georgia, Caucasus


Photo: David Tarkhnishvili

Mr. David Tarkhnishvili and his team are working on an important database of Georgian Biodiversity compiling
lists of species of animals and plants following the hierarchical order reflecting recent taxonomy/phylogenetic system. Currently there are around 870 images in the database. The site also provides information and images of the main natural habitats in Georgia like Arid and semi-arid Mediterranean-like landscapes, Subalpine, alpine landscapes and mountain steppe and others.

The project is situated at the temporary location http://altar.freehostia.com/BDB.php
and is searching for support on finding a hosting with enough webspace to provide all relevant information and images.


Photographic images of individual species of Georgian Fauna and Flora which are not yet included in the Database are kindly welcome.

Contact:
David Tarkhnishvili
http://www.wildlife.ge
t@gol.ge

13.02.2006

News from Georgian Artists

The young Georgian Artist Andro Wekua, who lives now mainly in Zürich, Switzerland has a show at Gladstone Gallery Chelsea New York. See his works at the Gallery's Website here.
David Arobelidze and Otar Arisheli show some newer and older paintings on their blogs: http://davidarobelidze.blogspot.com/ and http://arisheli.blogspot.com/


David Arobelidze: "Who is more" 1999


Otar Arisheli: "Sumer" 1998

The paintings and drawings of Murtazi Shvelidze can be found at http://artpension.blogspot.com/


Murtazi Shvelidze, 2003

The master of the so-called "Anti-soviet pop art" Otari Chkhartishvili shows works at Kaukasus-Kaleidoscope here


Otar Chkhartishvili, 1957

A set of Pop Art by Hans Heiner Buhr from Tbilisi at Flickr here.


Tusheti, 2005


New Butterflies Book in Georgia

We have a pleasure to inform you that a new Catalogue on Endemic, Relic and other Rare Species of Butterflies of Georgia was recently published.
The book was prepared and issued by The Georgian National Museum. The Author is Mrs. Eteri Didmanidze, Doctor of Biological Sciences and the Editor is Mr. Arnold Gegechkori Professor, State Prize Laureate, Doctor of Biological Sciences.
The present book is a first attempt to publish the colored book-album of Butterflies, preserved in the National Museum. In this book you will find a number of original drawings of the exhibits presented in museum collections. Retail price of this colorful album is 15 GEL.

Persons interested in purchasing this book please contact:
Eteri Didmanidze
Cell: +995 77 50 94 88
Valeri Petrov
Cell: +995 99 49 07 46

via www.cenn.org

12.02.2006

Clouds of the Caucasus

Georgia 2006 end of July till end of September:
Trekking from Tusheti to Khevsureti, from the villages Omalo/Shenako across the Adsunta-Pass to the Khevsurian fortress Shatili.
A great route through the exiting regions of the Greater Caucasus Range in Tusheti and Khevsureti
8-days
Number of participants 1-6



See the program and more photos at Kaukasus-Reisen

09.02.2006

Gogita tames a young horse





Tusheti, Girevi 2005

07.02.2006

London Lecture: Revolution through Rose-coloured Glasses



The SOAS Central Asia and Caucasus Society and
The Centre of Contemporary Central Asia & the Caucasus present:

Revolution through Rose-coloured Glasses: Law and Institutions in Georgia

Georgia is at the same time exemplary of the difficulties plaguing
post-Soviet reconstruction and a case unto itself -- a story of
extremes, from civil war to the first "NGO government" in post-Soviet
space. Chris Waters and Scott Newton, two legal specialists of the
region, discuss what's changed and what hasn't since the Rose Revolution.

Thursday, 16th February 2006
17.30-19.00
Room: G52 / Main SOAS Building
Everyone welcome

School of Oriental and African Studies
Thornhaugh Street
Russell Square
London WC1H 0XG

About the speakers:

Christopher Waters is Senior Lecturer in Law and Deputy-Director of the
Centre for Euro-Asian Studies at the University of Reading. He has
extensive experience working on higher education and law reform in
Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. He has written two books on the law
and politics of the region, Counsel in the Caucasus: Professionalization
and law in Georgia and The State of Law in the South Caucasus.

Scott Newton is Lecturer in the Laws of Central Asia, Chair of the
Centre for Contemporary Central Asia and the Caucasus, and Deputy Chair
of the Center for Law and Conflict at SOAS. He served two years as
legal reform adviser to the Minister of Justice of Kazakhstan. He has
written extensively on post-Soviet law, human rights, transition and
lgeal-institutional reform, Soviet legal history, and conflict and self
determination. He spent most of the last academic year in Tbilisi,
Georgia lecturing and researching.

Über den Wolken des Kaukasus


Am Abano-Pass: Das Tor nach Tuschetien


Hochgebirgstrekking von Tuschetien über den Adsunta-Pass nach Chewsuretien, von Omalo/Shenako nach Schatili in Georgien.
Eine anspruchsvolle Wandertour durch die ursprünglichen Regionen des Großen Kaukasus Tuschetien und Chewsuretien.

Ab 20.Juli bis 20.September 2006 nach Vereinbarung
8-Tage-Tour
Teilnehmerzahl 1- 6

Das komplette Reiseprogramm bei Kaukasus-Reisen


Chewsure und sein Pferd Foto: F.Abresch