Laos - Plain of Jars
Foto: The Tsminda Sameba church of Kazbek (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Georgia - Just after two o’clock we approach Stepantsminda. Along the roadside are numerous trucks, kilometers long. The trucks have been waiting here for the border crossing with Russia. Further along the route, there is no place to park. The police let a few trucks pass each time. We are let through without problems. The clouds hang low in the mountains as we enter Stepantsminda. It will not stay dry today. We decide to skip lunch and first go to the Tsminda Sameba church. The Tsminda Sameba church lies more than 300 meters higher on a mountain peak. The view of the church against the snowy mountain peaks of Mount Kazbek is the most famous image of Georgia. As we turn onto the road, taxi drivers gesture that the road is closed. Surprised, we ask how we can reach the church. We have to take a path 100 meters further. The path is no more than a cart track. Could this be the right route? We follow the track and climb slowly upward. The road is bad. Carefully, we try to avoid potholes and rocks. Minibuses travel the same route with tourists. It must be correct. Passing each other sometimes barely works. In one hairpin bend, the road is so bad that we have trouble getting through. All tires slip. We let two minibuses pass and watch how they tackle these obstacles. That works. At the top, we have a view of the Tsminda Sameba Church. Although it is cloudy, the view is amazing. Especially after such a tough journey. The small church is beautifully decorated inside with frescoes. The monks are sitting there warmly. The wood stove is burning. Outside it is chilly at this height. What a special location to build a church. The return trip goes along the same road. We slowly drive down the slope. We don’t want to take risks, especially not to overburden Brutus. The faster descending minibuses that drive this route daily we let pass.
Freedom Square in Tbilisi
Georgia - Today is Independence Day in Georgia. For the 25th time, it is celebrated that Georgia became independent from Russia. On the famous Rustaveli Avenue, many stalls and stages are set up. There is entertainment everywhere. We order a sandwich at one of ...
The Ancient Capital Mtskheta
Georgia - We drive to the old capital, Mtskheta. Before visiting the cathedral in the town, we drive to the church on the hill opposite Mtskheta. This church sits on the other bank of the river. The Jvari Church contains a large wooden cross, symbolizing the wooden ...
The Bodbe Monastery
Georgia - After about a two-hour drive, we reach Bodbe Monastery, one of Georgia’s most important religious sites. This active convent is particularly known as the burial place of Saint Nino, who played a crucial role in converting Georgia to Christianity in ...
The Cave City of Vardzia
Georgia - The cave city of Vardzia is a rock monastery on the slopes of the Erusheli River. It was founded by Queen Tamar in 1185 as protection against the Mongols and consisted of over six thousand apartments across thirteen levels. The only access to the complex ...
The Modern Resort Town of Batumi
Georgia - The weather clears, and the sun even breaks through. On the boulevard, most of the beach tents are being dismantled and cleared away—the season is over. Behind the boulevard stand tall apartment blocks and skyscrapers of unusual shapes, giving the skyline ...
The monastery of David Gareja
Georgia - We drive out of Sagarejo, heading for the David Gareja monastery. The monastery is carved into the rocks and lies exactly in the mountainous area on the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan. We had heard the road there would be bad. Expecting the worst, ...
The mountain road to Ushguli
Georgia - From Mestia we continue driving to Ushguli. Mestia is located at an altitude of 1,400 meters. Ushguli at 2,200 meters. This makes Ushguli the highest continuously inhabited mountain village in Europe. We do wonder if this is not higher in the Alps. The ...
The Stalin Museum in Gori
Georgia - We drive on to Gori, a city world-famous as the birthplace of Joseph Stalin. He was born here in 1878 in a modest wooden house, still standing next to the museum later built in his honor. Visiting a museum dedicated to a man responsible for the oppression ...