Independence Day - Tbilisi
Back in Tbilisi the traffic was close to deadlock, made worse than usual by road closures around Georgian Independence Day.
Although our hotel was not on a main thoroughfare, the back streets leading to it were not coach friendly, with impossibly tight corners and low hanging wires. So after one, almost failed, approach on arrival, from then on, the group went to and from the big bus in several minibuses.
This time not even the minibuses could make it so we went on foot. Our hotel was on an unprepossessing street but had turned out to be very comfortable and while vehicles were problematic it was only about fifteen minutes on foot to the city centre in one direction and to Liberty Square in the other.
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Georgia Independence Day - Liberty Square and fireworks
That's St George killing a mythical foe on the post - the military have others in mind
Georgia, once in the Warsaw Pact, has sought membership of NATO - right on Russia's border
With 10 other former Soviet Republics it's a member of the NATO aligned, Orwellian titled: 'Partnership for Peace'.
We've got you surrounded Putin! But we're friendly. Don't be so paranoid!
We also found some quite nice places to eat nearby.
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A couple of the several Georgian eateries we patronised in Tbilisi
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Now it was time to move on to Armenia. The coach took us to the border where we would cross to yet another coach, and another local guide, on the other side.
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Leaving Georgia to Armenia
There are more images in the Georgia Album See more...