It's wonderful to be back in Tbilisi, after 3 weeks in Germany over Christmas and New Year. My kids learned lots of new German words and phrases and used the Indoor-playgrounds for Kids in Berlin extensively. I had many nice moments and ideas with my German friends, one opened a bar, the others divorced or are in new relationships. We had Goose and Duck and Hungarian Salami, Christmas trees and Santa Claus and the over-regulations of public driving, like 30 km/hour on roads you could safe go by 120.
10 km from the airport I saw the first car crash (on an empty wide street at night [Sanapiro]) and today in 1 hour two other medium heavy crashes. Where in Berlin are 150 traffic signs on 100 meters here you have (if necessary) 1 or 2 on one kilometer in Tbilisi.
It's the clean cold air, the fresh tasty water from our facet in Avchala (better than Evian actually), the bright views to the monster-clouds above the mountains and the strong fat pig-meat roasted with onions enjoyed with huge glasses of black wine, the friendship and welcome of your closest Georgians, who makes a perfect start in a new 2007 in Sakartvelo.
When I jump in the car and hear the deep sound of the bright Diesel engine, switch the lights on and speed up to Jvari monastery for a short ride, I feel the power for the adventures ahead.
Gaumardschoss !
10.01.2007
07.01.2007
Svaneti: Cows blocking the way
06.01.2007
rain of fire
...this is what Tbilisi looked like at the New Years Parties,
thanks to vshioshvili, more photos here
05.01.2007
Orchids in Georgia, Caucasus, Orchideen in Georgien
Dactylorhiza urvilleana
Orchids we found in Georgia on our tour "Flora im Kaukasus" June 2006
· Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hartm.
· Corallorhiza trifida Chatel.
· Dactylorhiza euxina (Nevski) H. Baumann & Kuenkele
· Dactylorhiza romana (Sebastiani) Soó ssp. georgica (Klinge) Renz & Taubenheim
[syn. Dactylorhiza flavescens (C. Koch) Holub]
· Dactylorhiza spec.
· Dactylorhiza urvilleana (Steud.) H. Baumann & Kuenkele
· Dactylorhiza -Hybride · Goodyera repens (L.) R. Br.
· Gymnadenia conopsea (L.) R. Br.
· Neottia nidus-avis (L.) Rich.
· Orchis mascula (L.) L.
· Orchis maxima C. Koch
· Orchis purpurea Huds. ssp. caucasica (Regel) B. Baumann & H. Baumann
[syn. Orchis caucasica (Regel) Soó]
· Platanthera bifolia (L.) Rich.
· Platanthera chlorantha (Custer) Rchb.
· Traunsteinera sphaerica (M.B.) Schltr.
Identification: HDoz. Dr. habil. Helga Dietrich, Jena
Our next journey "Flora im Kaukasus 2007" is planned 23th June-8th July 2007, Details here: http://www.kaukasus-reisen.de/flora-im-kaukasus.htm
04.01.2007
Karten, Landkarten, Wanderkarten,maps,Caucasus,Kaukasus,Georgien etc.
http://tinyurl.com/yahd92
Auf der Übersichtskarte kann man sich die nötigen Kartenausschnitte raussuchen:
Der eine Ordner mit den Karten für Ostgeorgien, der andere für Westgeorgien.
Khatia
Khatia just finished her Master of European Law in Saarbrücken and has an internship at the Georgian Embassy in Berlin right now. In a couple of weeks she will return to Tbilisi and will bei my most beautiful neighbour again ! To the left her brother Irakli.
01.01.2007
30.12.2006
Gaumardschoss 2007
Many happy hours, moments of friendship, love, Gaumardschoss and delicious Georgian wines I wish you for 2007 with this nice photo of my father and the artist Otari Arisheli
I am sure 2007 will be a great year for all you dear readers of this tiny blog.
Photo: Ralph Hälbig
23.12.2006
Horse Thief, print 2006
Horse Thief, 2006
Digital Print on paper, 2nd/10, 69 x 41cm
Hans Heiner Buhr
EUR 300.00
21.12.2006
An extented article on the Tsova-Tushs, Batsbs by Roland Topchishvili
"One of the reasons of close economic and cultural relations was the tradition of fraternizing existing in the Caucasian mountains. Tsova-Tushs (Batsbis) and Tushs generally, were often fraternizing not only with other Georgian mountaineers, but also with Kists (Chechens) and Didos (Daghestans).
The appropriate rituals were always followed this tradition. The future blood brothers were dropping silver coin scrapes into a bowl full of milk, than they drank the milk and after that they were considered as, so called - “oath and silver eaten”.
Another form of fraternizing was, when in the same wooden bowl the two men were dripping blood from their cut fingers. There was the other form fraternizing as well. If the candidates’ mothers were alive, they were going to them together and touching mothers’ (each other’s) breasts with their teeth. This ritual was held in the presence of the whole family and the neighbors. The sense of collectivity was characteristic to the mentality of the mountain dwellers. The blood brothers often changed their horses and armament. It was not obligatory, though. "
Roland Topchishvili
A very recommended reading:
http://www.nplg.gov.ge/ic/DGL/work/Englisurebi/Roland_Toplishvili/The_Tsova_Tushs.htm
Viktor Mazurovsky: Caucasian scout
Viktor Vinkentevich Mazurovsky 1859-1923
Виктор Мазуровски
Caucasian scout, 35x22 cm, Oil on board mounted on Canvas, signed, in perfect Condition
For sale: EUR 4.000
Other paintings by Mazurovsky
http://tinyurl.com/y68abw (on Artnet)
http://www.100megsfree4.com/rusgeneral/cossak2.jpg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Fireofmoscow.jpg
http://www.pravoslavieto.com/history/19/1877_Rusko_Turska_vojna_IKONI_na_bojnoto_pole.htm
19.12.2006
Early winter silence in Kakheti
On the road near Kvareli
in the foreground a small graveyard
empty roads and poetry
Saperavi wineyards near Akhalsopeli
15.12.2006
A glimpse of difficulties learning Georgian
everybody knows such beautiful but simple words like "Khatchapuri" aka Cheesebread.
But do you know this nice verb "ბრდგვნა" ? It means "destroy", "slash", "frazzle".
Now try to speak: "b-r-d-g-v-n-a" or the form "we destroy" with 7 consonants before the vowel "v-b-r-d-g-w-n-i-t"
Nice word ! "ვბრდგვნით"
To type Georgian letters this is a very useful tool: The Translit Online Converter
http://ncnever.free.fr/translit/
But do you know this nice verb "ბრდგვნა" ? It means "destroy", "slash", "frazzle".
Now try to speak: "b-r-d-g-v-n-a" or the form "we destroy" with 7 consonants before the vowel "v-b-r-d-g-w-n-i-t"
Nice word ! "ვბრდგვნით"
To type Georgian letters this is a very useful tool: The Translit Online Converter
http://ncnever.free.fr/translit/
Aka Morchiladze und sein Bestseller "Santa Esperanza"
In Georgien ist Aka Morchiladze seit vielen Jahren ein Bestseller und sein vom Pendo- Verlag in München verlegtes Buch wurde nun Anfang Dezember über Sonia Zekri und die Süddeutsche Zeitung beim deutschen Feuilleton entdeckt. "Santa Esperanza" ist eines der ungewöhnlichsten Bücher der Saison in Inhalt und Form. Eine fiktive Chronik eines ausgedachten Inselstaates im Schwarzen Meer, fabuliert phantastisch-reale Bürgerkriegserlebnisse aus Morchiladzes georgischer Heimat der Jahre nach der Unabhängigkeit ab 1991. Die 850 Seiten verteilt auf 36 farbige Hefte mit je 24 Seiten zusammengefasst in einer tragbaren Filztasche lassen sich in verschiedenen Reihenfolgen lesen. Ein "Muss" für alle Georgienfans zur Lektüre unter dem Weihnachtsbaum.
Ein etwas älteres und schön langes Interview mit Aka Morchiladze auf Englisch von Marina Vashakmadze hier
Ebenfalls auf Englisch eine Zusammenfassung des Buches bei Taktaka
Eine deutsche Zusammenfassung des Buches auf buecher.de
und hier ein Link zum Buch bei Amazon: Santa Esperanza
Ein etwas älteres und schön langes Interview mit Aka Morchiladze auf Englisch von Marina Vashakmadze hier
Ebenfalls auf Englisch eine Zusammenfassung des Buches bei Taktaka
Eine deutsche Zusammenfassung des Buches auf buecher.de
und hier ein Link zum Buch bei Amazon: Santa Esperanza
14.12.2006
Art Villa Garikula and a wonderful vision by Joe Kagle
"IMAGINE. The year is 2020. ART VILLA has been in existence for twenty years as a new center for contemporary art. Karaman Kutateladze, the founder of this special place, stands on the porch of the renovated home of past royalty, looking out over the picturesque, quiet, and beautiful valley of Garikula. The image is calming but there is always an inner excitement when a new workshop of artists and students is starting. He knows with pride that it was his visionary insight that led some artists and social activists to re-establish Georgia’s rightful place in the history of art by creating Art Villa Garikula."
Read the full text by Joe Kagle here
Links to the Art Villa Garikula
http://www.garikula.org
http://www.heinerbuhr.de/wind-vom-kaukasus2.htm
Read the full text by Joe Kagle here
Links to the Art Villa Garikula
http://www.garikula.org
http://www.heinerbuhr.de/wind-vom-kaukasus2.htm
13.12.2006
2007 with GERMANIA from Berlin Tegel to Tbilisi
Starting 13th May till 21st October 2007 GERMANIA http://www.gexx.de will operate an additional flight from Berlin Tegel to Tbilisi every Sunday evening. Retour from Tbilisi to Berlin on Monday morning.
Cologne/Bonn - Tbilisi can be booked for every Thursday/ every Friday morning (back from Tbilisi to Cologne) from 29th March till 25th October 2007
Website: http://www.gexx.de
GERMANIA
bietet ab 13.Mai bis zum 21.Oktober 2007 einen zusätzlichen Flug nach Georgien an und zwar erfreulicherweise ab Berlin-Tegel. Abflug nach Tiflis/Tbilissi jeden Sonntagabend und Rückflug nach Berlin jeden Montagmorgen.
Ab 29.März bis zum 25.Oktober 2007 fliegt Germania weiterhin ab Köln/Bonn am Donnerstagabend nach Tbilissi/Tiflis und am Freitagmorgen zurück nach Köln/ Bonn.
Detaillierte Informationen und Preise auf http://www.gexx.de
Cologne/Bonn - Tbilisi can be booked for every Thursday/ every Friday morning (back from Tbilisi to Cologne) from 29th March till 25th October 2007
Website: http://www.gexx.de
GERMANIA
bietet ab 13.Mai bis zum 21.Oktober 2007 einen zusätzlichen Flug nach Georgien an und zwar erfreulicherweise ab Berlin-Tegel. Abflug nach Tiflis/Tbilissi jeden Sonntagabend und Rückflug nach Berlin jeden Montagmorgen.
Ab 29.März bis zum 25.Oktober 2007 fliegt Germania weiterhin ab Köln/Bonn am Donnerstagabend nach Tbilissi/Tiflis und am Freitagmorgen zurück nach Köln/ Bonn.
Detaillierte Informationen und Preise auf http://www.gexx.de
Silver and Beer
Holy brewed Khevsurian beer in silver cups, made specially for the Atengenoba celebrations every last weekend in July. See some more images from Khevsureti on http://khevsureti.blogspot.com
11.12.2006
Yesterday
I met Levan, the smart Blogger from We Georgians at http://taktaka.blogspot.com and had a couple of delicious fresh brewed beer with him at Kaiser Bräu Tbilisi
Levan and his friend Lego are young aspiring lawyers. Both spent part of their studies abroad in Germany, but decided to return to Georgia, as it seems easier here to start a professional career now.
There I met Avto Sharvashidze a former pupil of mine in Rustavi's 17th school some long 10 years ago, who is very successful at the Design company pixel.ge
Florian Mühlfried on a day-stop in Tbilisi on his ethnological studies in Tusheti and Shiraki gave me the hottest news from the Tushetian shepherders and we had long discussions about the most practical footware in the mountains (Meindl Trekking Boots versus 5-Lari Rubber Galoschi with wool stockings) (Galoschi won:) plans to introduce to the mounteneers at New Year Eve the famous hot strong drink GROG. We think they will like it at cold winter days as a old rule is:
„Rum muss sein,
Zucker kann sein,
Wasser kann sein, muss aber nicht.“ Wikipedia.de
Something like:
Rum has to be,
Sugar may needed,
Water may needed, but not necessarily.
Rapho posted on his georgien.blogspot.com a nice Khevsurian Folksong performed by Dato. Thanks to Avidil and Geostar
Levan and his friend Lego are young aspiring lawyers. Both spent part of their studies abroad in Germany, but decided to return to Georgia, as it seems easier here to start a professional career now.
There I met Avto Sharvashidze a former pupil of mine in Rustavi's 17th school some long 10 years ago, who is very successful at the Design company pixel.ge
Florian Mühlfried on a day-stop in Tbilisi on his ethnological studies in Tusheti and Shiraki gave me the hottest news from the Tushetian shepherders and we had long discussions about the most practical footware in the mountains (Meindl Trekking Boots versus 5-Lari Rubber Galoschi with wool stockings) (Galoschi won:) plans to introduce to the mounteneers at New Year Eve the famous hot strong drink GROG. We think they will like it at cold winter days as a old rule is:
„Rum muss sein,
Zucker kann sein,
Wasser kann sein, muss aber nicht.“ Wikipedia.de
Something like:
Rum has to be,
Sugar may needed,
Water may needed, but not necessarily.
Rapho posted on his georgien.blogspot.com a nice Khevsurian Folksong performed by Dato. Thanks to Avidil and Geostar
06.12.2006
The new Georgian passport
I had the chance to see a new Georgian passport and found it just wonderful, like a little history book of Georgia. It is to sad that, the passports will son be filled with all the different foreign visa and the imprinted images will be covered.
Don't wonder Georgians, when next time at the border control the check of your passport takes a little longer...
Nice article by Robert Parsons on BBC
on Georgia's vineyard Kakheti, this beautiful valley of the river Alazani. I bet Mr. Parsons made great wine as this years grapes had been superb.
Link to the article
Here are two more images from Kakheti
Link to the article
Here are two more images from Kakheti
05.12.2006
Cattle drive Tusheti 2007
03.12.2006
In the Jungle and above the Clouds
Both photos are made in Eastern Georgia, the first in the forest of the National Park Lagodekhi, the second from the Abano-pass and the view over the Alazani Valley, Kakheti
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