From Wikitravel

Georgia [1] is a country in Eastern Europe. It lies at the eastern end of the Black Sea, with Turkey and Armenia to the south, Azerbaijan to the east, and Russia to the north, over the Caucasus Mountains.

Contents 1 Understand 1.1 People 2 Regions 3 Major Cities 4 Other destinations 5 Get in 5.1 Passports, Visas, and other documents 5.2 By plane 5.3 By bus 5.4 By boat 6 Get around 6.1 Taxi 6.2 Minibus 6.3 City Bus 7 Talk 8 Buy 8.1 Costs 9 Eat 10 Drink 10.1 wine 10.2 beer 11 Sleep 12 Learn 13 Work 14 Stay safe 15 Stay healthy 16 Respect 17 Contact 18 Phone

Understand

Georgia is a land filled with magnificent history and unparallel natural beauty. Archaeologists found the oldest traces of wine production (7000-5000 BC) in Georgia. For those of us in the West, we unfortunately get precious little exposure to this stretch of land between the Black and Caspian seas. However, this is changing drastically.

Georgians are not Russians, Turks, Persians or have any ethnic connection with other people, However there are theories which link Georgians to Basque, Corsican and North Caucasian people. They are very proud of their own language, which is in its own language group, completely unrelated to Indo-European, Slavic languages, Semitic or any other languages. Georgians have been embroiled in struggles against world’s biggest empires (Scythian, Roman, Byzantine, Mongol, Persian, Ottoman, Russian, etc) for centuries. This little country was invaded thousand times and destroyed as much. However, Georgians have managed to preserved their cultural and traditional identity for 5,000 years. The countryside is covered with ancient towered fortifications, many of which house ancient churches (one of the oldest ones in Christendom) and monasteries.

Georgians gradually became a Christian nation in the first century and later officially Christianity became as a state religion in fourth century (one of the first Christian states in the world) with the evangelism of St Nino of Cabadocia. The Georgian cross is recognizable, for it was forged by St Nino with grape vines and her own hair. The grape and the vine thus hold important places in Georgian symbolism.

The conversion to Christianity meant that Georgians would have a historical cultural leaning to the West instead of the Muslims in the region (Turkey and Persia is South). Nonetheless, Georgian culture stands at the cross-roads of civilizations. Her culture and traditions are not linked to any other. They have completely independent civilization of their own.

During the Soviet era, Georgia was the Riviera of the USSR and set the highest standards for food and drink. Russians may love vodka, but the Georgian wines were favoured by the Soviet elite. The coastal areas of Georgia (Abkhazia and Adjaria) enjoy sub-tropical conditions and beautiful beaches (imagine pine trees and mountains covering the coast line). During Soviet era, Georgia flooded Russian markets with high quality tea, wine and fruits. Georgia, on the periphery of the Soviet Empire, also contributed greatly to the dissolution of the USSR with calls for independence (Georgians managed to dissolve many empires before). Georgia stood on one of the key routes of the Silk Road and now plays a role in geopolitics with oil pipelines stemming from Azerbaijan and bound for Turkey.

This proud nation is still in transition after the fall of the Soviet Union. The tense relations with Russia (and deepening friendship with the USA and the EU) has closed off the once indispensable Russian markets.

Imagine cities with narrow side streets filled with leaning houses, overstretched balconies, mangled and twisted stairways, majestic old churches, heavenly food and warm and welcoming people. All of this with a backdrop of magnificent snow peaked mountains, best beaches of the Black Sea.

People

The Georgians are among the most hospitable people on Earth, with strong traditions of chivalry and codes of personal honour.They believe that guests come from God. Friendship is prized highest among all the virtues. It is celebrated in the great national epic, The Knight in the Tiger's Skin, by Shota Rustaveli and which provides an insight into daily life, in which a person's worth is judged not by how much money he has in bank but how many friends he has. The Georgians are proud, passionate, and fiercely individualistic, yet deeply connected with each other through a shared sense of belonging to a greater Georgian family. Women are highly esteemed in society and are accorded a respect endowed with great courtliness. The statue of Mother of Georgia (kartlis deda) that stands in the hills above Tbilisi perhaps best symbolized the national character: in her left hand she holds a bowl of wine with which she greets her friends and in her right is a sword drawn against her enemies. Quote from the book by Roger Rosen.

Regions

Administrative divisions

• Abkhazia Autonomous Republic (apkhazetis avtonomiuri respublika)
• Ajaria Autonomous Republic (acharis avtonomiuri respublika)
• Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region
• Guria Region
• Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region
• Imereti Region
• Samtskhe-Javakheti Region
• Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region
• Shida Kartli Region
• Kvemo Kartli Region
• Kakheti Region
• Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region

Major Cities

• Tbilisi - Capital
• Batumi
• Sukhumi
• Poti
• Kutaisi
• Rustavi
• Tskhinvali
• Mtskheta

Other destinations

• Borjomi
• David Gareja - Cave Monastery
• Mtskheta - Old Capital of Georgia - UNESCO Heritage Site
• Mt. Kazbegi - Picturesque Mountainous Area
• Svaneti - Highest region of Georgia
• Ushguli - Highest Village in Europe - UNESCO Heritage Site
• Vardzia - Cave Town - 12th c.

Get in

Passports, Visas, and other documents

For citizens of US, Canada, EU, Japan and Israel visa will not be required upon entry.

Citizens of some countries can get visas upon arrival at Tbilisi airport (pls confirm this).

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for more information. http://www.mfa.gov.ge/?sec_id=66&lang_id=ENG

By plane

There are flights to Tblisi from a number of European, North American and Asian cities, including London (British Airways), Paris (Airzena), Vienna (Austrian Airlines), Moscow (Aeroflot), Koln/Bonn (GermaniaExpress http://www.gexx.de), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Athens (Airzena). Flights from Prague by Czech Airlines were cancelled; however you can still fly from/to Prague via Georgian Airlines (Airzena). Just recently, KLM also cancelled their flights to Tbilisi but just as in Prague case you can fly with Airzena from/to Amsterdam. Belavia (Belarusian National Airlines) is now offering direct flights from Minsk to Tbilisi at great rates (www.belavia.by). Please note that Georgian Airlines AirZena has many flights from many different cities. http://www.airzena.com/

By bus

There are direct bus services from Istanbul, Turkey, which stop at various places on the route and terminate in Tbilisi.

By boat

There are boat services to Batumi and Poti from Istanbul and Odessa. At the time of writing the Turkish Black Sea port of Trabzon was closed to passenger services.

Get around

Taxi

Taxi's in Georgia are best move around methods and they are considerably cheap. In Tbilisi it ranges from 3 to 5 lari depending on distance but you can always negotiate the price with the cab driver.

Minibus

Minibuses (Marshutka in Russian and commonly used name for minibuses in Georgia) operate on fixed lines. After finding out the number of your route, flag down a Marchriutka at the street. In Tbilisi, they will take you most anywhere for under half a lari. There are also Minibus lines from city to city. These usually terminate at bus stations. (30 to 50 tetri).

City Bus

There are brand new Dutch buses operating in Tbilisi. They are comfortable and cheapest way to go around (10 tetra). However, in the country side or outside of the capital the buses are old and slow.

Talk

Languages 

Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Alphabet 

Georgian uses the Mxedruli alphabet, which is unrelated to both Latin and Cyrillic alphabets.

For language-fans, Georgian and its related languages are a real treat. For everyone else, they could be a nightmare. Georgian is a Caucasian language, which is not related to other languages nearby or to any languages spoken on the European continent. While the formidable consonant clusters are frightening enough as is, the addition of a foreign alphabet will render communication very difficult indeed.

While everyone who visits should attempt to learn at least a few Georgian words, the truth is, nearly every single person, except teenagers, speaks great Russian. They don't mind using it either- another indication of how laid back Georgians are.

Buy

• Georgian wine, as much as you can. Georgia is the cradle of wine making, and with 521 original varieties of grape you will be sure to find exellent wines.
• Cognac. Georgian cognac is unique as it's made from Georgian wine. Recommended: Saradjishvili 'Tbilisi' cognac.
• When heading outside the cities, you might find an original hand-made carpet for sale.
• Georgians love to drink, so the country has an seemingly infinite amount of beers, wines, liquors and distilled drinks. To take home, buy a bottle of chacha, a sort of Georgian tequila.

Costs

Eat

The cuisine of Georgia is justly famous throughout the region (visitors to Moscow will have noticed the amount of Georgian restaurants). The two "national" dishes are "khachapuri" (A cheese filled bread, it more resembles cheese pie) and khinkali (minced, spiced meat in a dumpling, served in enormous quantities). A traditional Georgian feast, or "supra" is a sight to behold.

Drink

wine

Definitely try out Georgian wine. Unfortunately, you are not allowed to export home-bottled wine, which is often the best kind. Georgian wines are actually quite famous. It may be true that they are little to be known in the West, but this does definitely not include some 280 million people. This is roughly the population of former USSR where Georgian wines used to be a welcomed drink at any dining table.

beer

Georgia has a number of beers, the most common brands are Kazbegi, Aluda, Tbilisi, Bavariis Herzogi, Argo, Khevsuruli, Tushuti, etc. Outside of Tblisi it is very difficult to find anything other than Kazbegi.

Sleep

Outside of Tblisi (where there are numerous options for 3 star plus accommodation thanks the the NGO presence in the country) private homes are always the cheapest and most enjoyable option. If you can master a little basic Russian (which everyone speaks) going to the central square or market will probably land you a lovely big bed (usually) and some amazingly fresh home-made food for an an agreed price.

Learn

Work

Before going to work in Georgia, one must understand the culture. There is a heavy dose of 'manana' mentality. Work can start at 10 or 11 and end at 6. or so. People often take a whole month of the summer off. It is in many ways similiar to southern Europe. Don't let it frustrate you.

Stay safe

Things in Tblisi and the surrounding countryside have calmed down alot in the last 2 years or so. Tblisi sometimes suffers from an unjust reputation for street crime but muggings are rare. Some caution must be taken in the mountainous areas bordering Russia (close to Chenchnya, Dagestan etc.) as the border is porous to say the least and some solo travellers have had problems (the most disturbing being a the rape of a female traveller outside the town of Kazbegi). However tourists do not even figure in most people's thinking and thus no culture of targeting tourists (scams etc.) really exists.

Stay healthy

Respect

Georgians are hospitable to a fault (and beyond). If a Georgian invites you somewhere it will be almost impossible to pay for anything and sometimes even raising the subject of who will cover the bill can be embarassing for your host. If invited to a private home for dinner, make sure you arrive amply stocked with wine or sweets because your hosts will be spending more on you than you may realize.

If travelling in small towns (and in the quieter parts of Tblisi) it is customary to greet almost everyone who passes you with a friendly "Gamarjobat" (Hello). After years of isolation followed by war and economic turmoil foreigners are still regarded with undisguised curiosity and a casual greeting in the street could land you in the middle of the best dinner party of your life.

Contact

Phone

Georgia uses GSM (900 MHz and 1800 MHz) for mobile phones and there are two providers, Geocell and Magti. Coverage is quite good and you should be able to use your phone in most areas provided is supports the aforementioned technologies. Check with your mobile provider to ensure that they have roaming agreements with at least one of the Georgian operators.

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