Politics of Georgia!

The Politics of Georgia is structured as a presidential representative democratic republic  system with a multi-party system, and the President as the head of state and the Prime Minister as the head of the Georgian Government. Since the Rose Revolution, the party system has been dominated by the National Movement - Democrats. Georgia has been a democratic republic since the first multiparty, democratic parliamentary elections of October 28, 1990.The Georgian state is highly centralized, except for the autonomous regions of Abkhazia, Adjara and South Ossetia. Abkhazia and South Ossetia have seceded unilaterally from Georgia and would be given autonomous status if Georgia's territorial integrity were restored. These regions had an autonomous status within the Georgian SSR during Soviet rule.

Following a crisis involving allegations of ballot fraud in the 2003 parliamentary elections, Eduard Shevardnadze resigned as president on November 23, 2003, in the bloodless Rose Revolution. The interim president was the speaker of the outgoing parliament (whose replacement was annulled), Nino Burjanadze.Fresh parliamentary elections were held on March 28, 2004, where the United National Movement's parliamentary faction, the NMD, secured the vast majority of the seats (with ca. 75% of the votes). Only one other party reached the 7% threshold: the Rightist Opposition with ca. 7.5%.

Tensions between Georgia and separatist authorities in Ajaria increased after the elections, climaxing on May 1, 2004 when Abashidze responded to military maneuvers held by Georgia near the region by having the three bridges connecting Ajaria and the rest of Georgia over the Choloki River blown up. The Georgian government claims to have restored "constitutional order" in the Upper Kodori Gorge - The sole Georgia-controlled part of breakaway region Abkhazia.

Under the Saakasvili administration Georgia has achieved considerable progress in eradicating corruption. In 2008 Transparency International ranked Georgia 67th in its Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 3.9 points out of 10 possible.In January 2006 a new party, Georgia's Way, was created. The movement is led by former Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili, and appears to be relatively popular. An opinion poll conducted by the Georgian weekly Kviris Palitra and published on April 10, 2006 suggested that Salome Zourabichvili would garner 23.1% of votes if a presidential election were held today. President Saakashvili ranked first with 33% - an all-time low for the Georgian President - whilst no other individual managed to surpass double-digit levels of support.On November 7, 2007, during a period of mass protests, President Saakashvili declared Tbilisi to be in a state of emergency. There were massive demonstrations and protests by the civil opposition, demanding the resignation of President Saakashvili. The Georgian police used teargas, batons, water cannons and high tech acoustic weapons in the streets of Tbilisi. Later that day, the President declared a state of emergency in the whole country of Georgia. The Russian government denied accusations of being involved or of interfering in the situation. President Saakashvili rejected all demands that he resign his position, but announced early presidential elections to be held in January 2008, effectively cutting his term in office by a year.

President Saakashvili invited Vladimer ("Lado") Gurgenidze, MBA holder from Emory University, United States and former business executive, to succeed Noghaideli on the position of the PM on the same day. Gurgenidze was formally approved on the position and granted the trust of the Parliament of Georgia on November 22, 2007. Gurgenidze implemented only two changes in the Cabinet of Georgia so far, replacing Alexandre Lomaia, the former Minister for Education and Science and new Secretary of National Security Council with Maia Miminoshvili, former Head of the National Assessment and Examination Centre (NAEC). Prime Minister also invited Koba Subeliani, former Head of Municipal Accomplishment Service to succeed Giorgi Kheviashvili, former Minister for Refugees and Accommodation.

Mikheil Saakashvili resigned from the position of the President on November 25, 2007 as the Constitution of Georgia requires the president stands down at least 45 days before the next election to be eligible for retaking part him/herself. The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Mrs. Nino Burjanadze took over the position until the results were announced on January 5, 2008.On November 27 it was announced that a NATO membership referendum and election date referendum will also be held on the election day together with presidential elections.  The November 7 elections determined that more than 77% of the population voted in favor to NATO membership.

Mikhail Saakashvili on May 22, 2008 announced his confident victory for his ruling party in parliamentary polls amid fears of political unrest, and rising tensions between Georgia and Russia.

Rose Revolution!

The "Revolution of Roses" was a change of power in Georgia in November 2003, which took place after widespread protests over the disputed parliamentary elections. As a result, President Eduard Shevardnadze was forced to resign on November 23, 2003.

Georgia held parliamentary elections on November 2, 2003. At stake were 235 seats in parliament of which 135 would be decided by a nationwide proportional party-list system and 85 were "majoritarian" contests in which a "first past the post" winner would be determined in each of Georgia's 85 electoral districts. In addition, a nationwide referendum was held on whether the future parliament should be reduced to 150 members. This was not a presidential election; that was set to occur in the spring of 2005, at the expiration of President Shevardnadze's second and final term.

On 3 November the International Election Observation Mission, composed of the Parliamentary Assemblies of the OSCE and the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights . Mikheil Saakashvili claimed that he had won the elections (a claim supported by independent exit polls). This was confirmed by an independent parallel vote tabulation  conducted by the ISFED (International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, local election monitoring group).
Saakashvilli and the united opposition accepted ISFED's PVT as "official" results, and urged Georgians to demonstrate against Shevardnadze's government and engage in nonviolent civil disobedience against the authorities.

n mid-November, massive anti-governmental demonstrations started in the central streets of Tbilisi, soon involving almost all major cities and towns of Georgia in a concerted campaign of civil resistance.. Shevardnadze’s government was backed by Aslan Abashidze, the semi-separatist leader of the autonomous Ajara region, who sent thousands of his supporters to hold a pro-governmental counter-demonstration in Tbilisi.

The opposition protest reached its peak on November 22, when President Shevardnadze attempted to open the new session of parliament. This session was considered illegitimate by the major opposition parties.

Supporters of two of those parties, led by Saakashvili, burst into the session with roses in their hands ,interrupting a speech of President Eduard Shevardnadze and forcing him to escape with his bodyguards.Shevardnadze met with the opposition leaders Saakashvili and Zurab Zhvania to discuss the situation, in a meeting arranged by Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. After the meeting, the president announced his resignation. That prompted euphoria in the streets of Tbilisi. More than 100,000 protesters celebrated the victory all night long, accompanied by fireworks and rock concerts. The Supreme Court of Georgia annulled the results of the parliamentary elections. In the January 4, 2004 presidential election Mikheil Saakashvili won an overwhelming victory and was inaugurated as the new President of Georgia on January 25. On March 28, 2004, new parliamentary elections were held, with a large majority won by the Saakashvili-supporting National Movement - Democrats, and a minority representation of the Rightist Opposition.

Ushguli!

Ushguli is a community of villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Upper Svaneti, Georgia.Ushguli comprises four villages:
 Zhibiani some 2100 m above sea level;
 Chvibiani or Chubiani
 Chazhashi or Chajashi
 Murqmeli

The Ushguli villages contain buildings that are part of the UNESCO Heritage site of Upper Svaneti.Altitude claims vary from 2,086 to 2,200 metres. Ushguli is considered to be the highest inhabited village in Europe.

It is located at the foot of Shkhara, one of the highest Caucasian summits. About 70 families (about 200 people) live in the area, enough to support a small school. The area is snow-covered for 6 months of the year, and often the road to Mestia is impassable.

Typical Svanetian protective towers are found throughout the village. The Ushguli Chapel located on a hilltop near the village dates back to the 12th century.Typical Svanetian protective towers are found throughout the village with goats, pigs and cows happily mingling with the local population on the narrow cobbled lanes. A short walk above the village leads to a small hilltop where the Ushguli Chapel is located. This dates back to the 12th century and contains some very old frescoes.

Guria!

Guria in Georgia, in the western part of the country, bordered by the eastern end of the Black Sea.Guria is bordered by Samegrelo to the north-west, Imereti to the north, Samtskhe-Javakheti to the east, Ajaria to the south, and the Black Sea to the west.Guria consists of three administrative districts:

Ozurgeti
Lanchkhuti
Chokhatauri

Guria first appears c. 1352 as a fief of the house of Vardanidze-Dadiani; and after 1463 it became a sovereign principality independent of the Kingdom of Georgia under a branch of that house, known thereafter by the name of Gurieli. The principality, comprising modern Guria and much of Adjara with the city of Batumi, was subsequently reduced in size and devastated in a series of conflicts with the Ottoman Empire .
There were uprisings against Russian rule in 1819 and again in 1841. In 1840, Guria was made a county (uyezd) and renamed Ozurgeti, after one of its main towns. In 1846, it was transferred to the new Kutais Governorate.

. The peasant protest movement, which originated in 1902 and culminated in an open insurrection against the government during the Russian Revolution of 1905, was the most effective and organized peasant movement in the empire. The peasants’ self-government, the so-called Gurian Republic, survived into 1906, when it was crashed and Guria devastated by the Cossack punitive expedition.The region was a native powerbase of the Georgian Social Democratic (Menshevik) Party which dominated the Democratic Republic of Georgia from 1918 to 1921. Guria was a scene of guerrilla resistance to the militarily imposed Soviet rule early in the 1920s. Under the Soviet government, Guria was an agrarian area divided into three administrative districts.

Subtropic farming and tourism is a mainstay of the region’s economy. Water is one of the Guria’s main assets. The province is famous for the mineral water of Nabeglavi, which is similar to Borjomi in its chemical composition and the Black Sea health resort of Ureki rich in magnetic sand. Guria is also one of the largest tea growing regions in Georgia.

Svaneti!

Svaneti  is a historic province in Georgia, in the northwestern part of the country.Surrounded by 3,000–5,000 meter peaks, Svaneti is the highest inhabited area in the Caucasus. Four of the 10 highest peaks of the Caucasus are located in the region. The highest mountain in Georgia, Mount Shkhara at 5,201 meters ,is located in the province.Situated on the southern slopes of the central Greater Caucasus, Svaneti extends over the upper valleys of the Rioni, Enguri and Tskhenistskali. Geographically and historically, the province has been divided into two parts—Upper Svaneti,and  Lower Svaneti .. Historical Svaneti also included the Kodori Gorge in the adjoining rebel province of Abkhazia, and part of the adjacent river valleys of Kuban and Baksan of Russia.

The landscape of Svaneti is dominated by mountains that are separated by deep gorges. Most of the region which lies below 1,800 meters,above sea level is covered by mixed and coniferous forests.The forest zone is made up of tree species such as spruce, fir, beech, oak, and hornbeam.

The region is notable for its glaciers and picturesque summits. Svaneti's signature peak is probably Mt. Ushba which towers over the Inguri Gorge and can be seen from many parts of the region.
The climate of Svaneti is humid and is influenced by the air masses coming in from the Black Sea throughout the year. Average temperatures and precipitation vary considerably with elevation.The highest amount of precipitation falls on the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The region is characterized by very heavy snowfall in the winter and avalanches are a frequent occurrence.  Middle altitudes (1200-1800 meters above sea level) experience relatively warm summers and cold winters.

 Large parts of Svaneti lie above 3000 meters (9840 feet) above sea level, a zone which does not have a real summer. Due to Svaneti's close proximity to the Black Sea, the region is spared from the extremely cold winter temperatures that are characteristic of high mountains.

The Svans are usually identified with the Soanes mentioned by Greek geographer Strabo, who placed them more or less in the area still occupied by the modern-day Svans.  The Byzantines wanted the region, for if they secured its passes, they could prevent Persian raids on the border areas of Lazica. With the end of the war .,Svanetia again became part of Lazica. Then, the province joined the Kingdom of Abkhazia to form a unified monarchy which was incorporated into the Kingdom of Georgia in the early 11th century. The province’s Orthodox culture flourished particularly during the Georgian “golden age” under Queen Tamar who was respected almost as goddess by the Svanetians. The legend has it that the duchy was annually visited by Tamar. The Svans had been known as fierce warriors for centuries.

Part of the Russian governorate of Kutais, Svanetia was divided into two raions (districts) – Mestia (former Sethi) and Lentekhi – under the Soviet rule. The unsuccessful anti-Soviet Svanetian Uprising took place in the region in 1921.The Svans, the indigenous population of Svanetia, are ethnic subgroup of the Georgians. Until the 1930s, Mingrelians and Svans had their own census grouping, but were classified under the broader category of Georgian thereafter.  They are Georgian Orthodox Christians, and were Christianized in the 4th-6th centuries.
The Svans have retained many of their old traditions, including blood revenge. Their families are small, and the husband is the head of his family. The Svan really respect the older women in families.
 The Svan language is being largely replaced by the Georgian proper.Svanetia is known for their architectural treasures and picturesque landscapes. The Botany of Svanetia is legendary among travelers. The famous Svanetian towers erected mainly in the 9th-12th centuries, make the region’s villages more attractive.

Svan culture survives most wonderfully in its songs and dances. Svanetia boasts the most complex form of Georgian polyphonic singing, traditional to Georgian vocal music.

Kazbegi (Stepantsminda)

Stepantsminda  ), is a small town in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of north-eastern Georgia. Historically and ethnographically, the town is part of the Khevi province. It is the center of the Kazbegi Municipality.

Stepantsminda was named after a Georgian Orthodox monk named Stephan, who constructed a hermitage at this location on what later became the Georgian Military Road.The town is located along the banks of the Thergi River, 157 kilometers  to the north of Tbilisi at an elevation of 1,740 meters (5,710 feet) above sea level. Stepantsminda’s climate is moderately humid with relatively dry, cold winters and long and cool summers. The average annual temperature is 4.9 degrees Celsius. . January is the coldest month with an average temperature of -5.2 degrees Celsius while July is the warmest month with an average temperature of 14.4 degrees Celsius.

. The town is dominated by large mountains on all sides. The most notable mountain of the region, Mount Kazbek, lies immediately to the west of town.According to tradition, Stepantsminda, literally "Saint Stephan", was named so after a Georgian Orthodox monk Stephan, who constructed a hermitage at this location on what later became the Georgian Military Highway.

 After the expansion of the Russian Empire into the Kingdom of Georgia in the early 19th century, the people of the region revolted against Russian rule. However, the local lord Gabriel Chopikashvili, son of Kazi-Beg, remained steadfast in his loyalty to Russia and helped to suppress the revolt.He adopted the surname Kazbegi, and the village under his control was also frequently referred to as "Kazbegi". The name was officially changed to Kazbegi already under the Soviet rule in 1925..

Stepantsiminda is known for its scenic location in the Greater Caucasus mountains, and is a center for trekkers and mountain climbing. Local attractions include the Alexander Kazbegi Museum and Ethnographic Museum in town, and the Gergeti Trinity Church.
There is Georgian part "Kazbegi" of border crossing point to Russian Federation "Kazbegi" - "Verchni Lars". The crossing was opened 01.03.2010.The customs is multilateral, for all citizens of the World. The crossborder road is in mountain tunnel, so it is impossible to cross the border on foot. No information about possibility to cross the border by cycle.

Batumi!

Batumi  is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. Sometimes considered Georgia's second capital, with a population of 121,806 (2002 census), Batumi serves as an important port and a commercial center. It is situated in a subtropical zone, rich in agricultural produce such as citrus fruit and tea.Batumi is located on the site of the ancient Greek colony in Colchis called Bathus or Bathys – derived from the Greek phrase bathus limen or bathys limin meaning "deep harbour".

Garrisoned by the Roman-Byzantine forces, it was formally a possession of the kingdom of Lazica until being occupied briefly by the Arabs who did not hold it; in the 9th century it formed part of the Bagratid monarchy of Tao-Klarjeti , and at the close of the 10th century of the unified kingdom of Georgia which succeeded it.

A curious incident occurred in 1444 when the Burgundian flotilla, after a failed crusade against the Ottoman Empire, penetrated the Black Sea and engaged in piracy along its eastern coastline until the Burgundians under the knight Geoffroy de Thoisy were ambushed during their landing raid at the port of Vaty, as Europeans then knew Batumi

.In the 15th century, in the reign of the prince Kakhaber Gurieli, the Ottoman Turks occupied the town and its district, but did not hold them. They returned in force a century later after the decisive defeat which they inflicted on the Georgian and Imeretian armies at Sokhoista.Batumi was recaptured, first by the prince Rostom Gurieli in 1564, who lost it soon afterwards, and again in 1609 by Mamia Gurieli. Since 1723 Batumi was part of the Ottoman Empire. With the Turkish conquest the Islamisation of the region, hitherto Christian began. It was completed by the end of the 18th century.

Batumi today is the main port of Georgia. It has the capacity for 80,000-tonne tankers to take materials such as oil which is shipped through Georgia from Central Asia. Additionally the city exports regional agricultural products. Since 1995 the freight conversion of the port has constantly risen, with an approximate 8 million tonnes in 2001.
Since the change of power in Ajara, Batumi has attracted several international investors with real estate prices in the city trebling since 2001. Kazakh investors have reportedly invested $100 million to purchase more than 20 hotels in the Ajara region of Georgia.Batumi was also host to the Russian 12th Military Base. Following the Rose Revolution, the central government pushed for the removal of these forces, and in 2005 an agreement with Moscow was reached. According to the agreement, the process of withdrawal was planned to be completed in a course of 2008, but the Batumi base was officially handed over to Georgia on November 13, 2007, ahead of planned schedule.
Batumi lies at the northern periphery of the humid subtropical zone. The city's climate is heavily influenced by the onshore flow from the Black Sea and is subject to the orographic effect of the nearby hills and mountains, resulting in significant rainfall throughout most of the year, making Batumi the wettest city in both Georgia and the entire Caucasus Region.

The average annual temperature in Batumi is approximately 14 °C (57 °F). January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 7 °C (45 °F). August is the hottest month, with an average temperature of 22 °C (72 °F).

September is the wettest month with an average of 335 mm (13.2 in) of precipitation, while May is the driest, averaging 92 mm (3.6 in). Batumi generally does not receive significant amounts of snow (accumulating snowfall of more than 30 cm.), and the number of days with snow cover for the year is 12. The average level of relative humidity ranges from 70–80%.The Batumi Botanical Garden ,is a 111 hectare area of land 9 km north of the city of Batumi, capital of Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Georgia.

Currently, the garden consists of nine floristic sectors, those of Caucasian humid subtropics, East Asia, New Zealand, South America, the Himalayas, Mexico, Australia, and of the Mediterranean. The garden collection comprises 2037 taxonomic units of ligneous plants, including 104 of Caucasian originThe Batumi Botanical Garden was started by the Russian botanist Andrey Nikolayevich Krasnov (1862-1914), brother of General Pyotr Krasnov, in the 1880s and officially opened on November 3, 1912. He was aided by two skilled gardeners and decorators – the French D’Alphonse and the Georgian Yason Gordeziani.

An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants.An aquarist owns fish or maintains an aquarium, typically constructed of glass or high strength acrylic plastic. Cuboid aquaria are also known as fish tanks or simply tanks, while bowl-shaped aquaria are also known as fish bowls.

Specialized equipment maintains appropriate water quality and other characteristics suitable for the aquarium's residents.

I like Batumi very much.

Kobuleti!

Kobuleti ,is a town in Georgia's southwestern region of Ajaria. It is situated on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Kobuleti is a sea resort, visited annually by Georgians and many former Soviet Union residents. From the 17th century into the 19th, Kobuleti was a fiefdom of the Tavdgiridze family, first under the authority of the Principality of Guria, and then of the Ottoman Empire.

Kobuleti - Hotel Kapuchino.A newly opened hotel at the seaside of Kobuleti (in the center).

A hotel is a comfortable, four-story building.

There are 17 rooms, 3 Lux (double room), a room with three beds, a room with four beds and 12 rooms with two beds in this hotels.

In each room there are also television set, bathroom, fridge, fan and water during 24 hours

This hotel has café-bar "Kapuchino” where you can have a dinner

On the second floor of the hotel there is a café-bar where you can have a breakfast and refreshments, ice-cream, coffee ”Expresso”, popcorn and drinks.A
ll guests of these three Lux will have their own dressing gowns, slippers for only one use and accessories of the bathroom (shampoo, soap, towel).

Exclusive offer: when guests are resting in this hotel they will get refreshments free of charge once a day.

In the mornings guests will be rewarded with coffee or tea (depends on their desire)!!!

Tskaltubo!

Tskaltubo, is a spa resort in west-central Georgia. It is located at around 42°20′23″N 42°35′57″E. It is the main town of the Tsqaltubo district of the Imereti province.The resort's focus is on balneotherapy for circulatory, nervous, musculo-skeletal, gynaecological and skin diseases, but since the 1970s its repertoire has included "speleotherapy", in which the cool dust-free environment of local caves is said to benefit pulmonary diseases.

Tsqaltubo was especially popular in the Soviet era, attracting around 125,000 visitors a year. Bathhouse 9 features a frieze of Stalin, and visitors can see the private pool where he bathed on his visits.Currently the spa receives only some 700 visitors a year, and since 1993 many of the sanitorium complexes have been devoted to housing some 9000 refugees, primarily women and children, displaced from their homes by ethnic conflict in Abkhazia.The nearest major airport to Tskaltubo, Georgia is Kopitnari Airport This airport is in Kutaisi, Georgia and is about 21 km from the center of Tskaltubo, Georgia.

Ureki!

Ureki – is a small town in Ozurgeti Municipality. It is located at the coast of the Black Sea, 4 m above the sea level, to the north and to the south it is surrounded by the mouths of the rivers Sepa and Supsa and to the east it is surrounded by Tsvermagala Mount. The status of a small town was given to it in 1953. The population is 1,4 thousand (2005). There is a railway station on Samtredia-Makhijauri railway line in Ureki. The roads of international importance Batumi-Poti and Ureki-Samtredia lay there.

 Influencing Medical Factors of Resort Ureki such natural riches as sea and sand with magnetic characteristics create all essential conditions for rest and treatment. The territory is covered by longstanding firs. Positive medical factors of resort Ureki can be noticed by their possibilities to cure various diseases, and namely: • heart and blood vessel diseases • functional diseases of central nervous system • diseases of musculoskeletal system Ureki’s medical factors are used by both adult and children’s contingents.

Sairme!

Sairme resort belongs to Baghdati municipality of Imereti region. The resort is located 27 kilometers south-west of the district center. Mineral water sources of Sairme are located in Khanistskali River gorge, 880-1000 meters from the sea level. The average annual temperature is +8.5 oC.

As per legend, deers and wild goats used to come from nearby forests to the resort. They used to assemble near mineral water sources. Hence, hunters named the place Sairme.
Sairme has been a famous health resort since the 19th century. The resort started functioning in the 30s of the 20th century. During this period:

Resort buildings were constructed
Composition and medical properties of mineral waters were studied
Sairme waters were bottled
Medical centers were opened


Sairme resort attracted numerous guests during the soviet period due to the distinguished medical properties of its mineral and thermal waters.
Sairme is a resort of a balneologic type, with gastroenterological and urological profile, with unique water treatment.
Sairme springs belong to carbon mineral water and are characterized with weak acidic medium (ph=6, 1-6,5) and increased content of flint acid.
Treatment with Sairme mineral waters has a good result in healing chronic diseases of kidney and urinary tract, liver and gall-bladder, pancreas and intestine.
There are three groups of Sairme waters with chemical composition:
Waters of this group belong to weak mineralization (1,4-3,0mg/dm3) of carbon hydrocarbonate, calcium-natrium, flint acid, iron mineral waters. Spring No.1 also enters this group.
Waters of this group belong to weak mineralization (3,7-4,2mg/dm3) carbon hydrocarbonate, calcium, boron flint acid, iron mineral waters. Spring No.3 also enters this group.

About Borjomi!

Borjomi  is a resort town in south-central Georgia with a population estimated at 14,445. It is one of the districts of the Samtskhe-Javakhetiregion and is situated in the northwestern part of the region in the picturesque Borjomi Gorge on the eastern edge of the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. The town is famous for its mineral water industry (which is presently the number one export of Georgia), the Romanov summer palace in Likani, and the WWF-site Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Borjomi mineral water is particularly well-known in those countries which were a part of the former the Soviet Union; the bottling of mineral water is a major source of income for the area. Because of the supposed curative powers of the area’s mineral springs, it is a frequent destination for people with health problems. Borjomi is also home to the most extensive ecologically-themed amusement park in the Caucasus.

Marshrutkas to Borjomi (7 GEL, 2½ hours) leave Tbilisi’s Didube bus station about hourly from 8am to 7pm, with a similar return schedule from Borjomi’s bus station (22534; Meskheti 8). Other marshrutkas from Borjomi bus station go to Akhaltsikhe (3 GEL, 1½ hours, about hourly), Gori (4 GEL, 1½ hours, at 7.30am, 10am and 1pm), Kutaisi (7 GEL, three hours, 11.30am and 2.15pm) and Batumi (14 GEL, six hours, 9am). Frequent buses and marshrutkas run between Borjomi and Khashuri (1.50 GEL, 30 minutes), on the main Tbilisi–Kutaisi road, 32km northwest of Borjomi, until early evening.

Borjomi is well known for its mineral waters that have been revered for centuries for having positive healing affects on people with digestion disorders. Archaeological excavations have revealed the existence of stone bathes in the area, proving that these mineral waters have been utilized by people for thousands of years.

The original name of the gorge was Tori. It has variety of historical sights, including: the castles of three brothers (Petre, Gogia and Sali) and various churches and monasteries built between the 6th and 12th centuries. The Romanov Palace, constructed at the end of the 18th century by Tsar Nicholas, accentuates the role Borjomi has played for royalty and commoners alike throughout its history.

The state has recently established the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park to help preserve the beautiful and unique nature of Borjomi.

The Hotel BORJOMIS KHEOBA meaning "Borjomi Gorge" is situated in the middle of the town and offers its guests a stunning view of both the city and the Mtkvari River.

Georgia Raised Biscuits!

Ingredients:

1 pkg. active dry yeast or 1 cake compressed yeast
1 1/2 c. water
4 1/2 c. unsifted all purpose flour
2 tbsp. salt
1 tbsp. sugar
2/3 c. butter
1 egg yolk


Use very warm water (105 to 115 degrees) for dry yeast; lukewarm (80 to 90 degrees) for compressed. Sprinkle dry yeast or crumble cake into water. Let stand a few minutes. Into large bowl, cut in 1/2 cup soft butter, yeast and mix well. Roll about 1/4 inch thick or cut 2 floured board.

Put half on a cookie sheet. Brush with melted butter. Top with remaining. Beat egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of water together. Brush on biscuits. Cover and let rise until doubled about 1 hour. Preheated hot oven (425 degrees) for about 10 minutes. Makes 3 dozen.

Georgia lemon Cake!

Ingredients:

Beat 4 eggs in mixer.

Add: 1 sm. pkg. lemon instant pudding 3/4 c. cooking oil 3/4 c. water

Beat until well blended and pour into a tube or springform cake pan which has been heavily coated with unsalted vegetable shortening. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in 350 degree oven. Let stand for a few minutes, then punch holes in cake with a cake tester or toothpick.

Make a glaze with: Juice of 2 lemons 2 tbsp. melted butter

Add a tiny bit of water if too thick, then dribble over the cake.

Georgia Peanut Cake!

Ingredients:

1 pkg. German chocolate Bundt cake mix
3 eggs
1 c. water
1/4 c. peanut butter
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp. butter or oil
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1/3 c. chopped peanuts


How to cook?
 Mix all ingredients together. Beat until moist, add peanuts last. Pour into a greased Bundt cake pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes. Then frost with the following glaze.

Sm. amount of powdered sugar
Sm. amount of brown sugar
1 1/2 tbsp. warm water

Add a few more drops of water to make the glaze consistency and pour over cooled cake.

Chocolate cake!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 tablespoons dark cocoa
1 cup water or milk
1/2 cup chocolate liqueur
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
---Frosting---
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup milk
less than 1 box (1 pound) powerered sugar
1 tablespoon chocolate liqueur
1 cup chopped and lightly toasted pecans
1 cup coconut
Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease 9x13 pan. In large bowl, combine flour and sugar with wire whisk. In medium saucepan, slowly heat butter, oil, cocoa and water. Once ingredients are combined bring to a boil. Pour hot mixture into flour mixture. Mix together. Add rest of ingredients and combine completely. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes.

Ten minutes before cake is done, make frosting. Combine butter, cocoa and milk in same medium saucepan. Heat slowly until combined. Once combined bring to a boil. Add remaining ingredients. Carefully spread hot icing over hot cake. Allow frosted Chocolate Liqueur Cake to cool before serving.

Peach Cake!

ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups chopped ripe peaches
whipped cream, optional

 Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes


Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 10 inch tube pan.

In large bowl cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Beat well and add extracts.

In a small bowl mix flour and baking soda and add to creamed mixture. Fold in sour cream and add chopped peaches.

Next, pour batter into pan and bake 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until toothpick comes out clean. Top with whipped cream.

Iakob Gogebashvili!

Iakob Gogebashvili ,was a Georgian educator, children’s writer and journalist, considered to be the founder of the scientific pedagogy in Georgia. Iakob Gogebashvili was born in the village Variani near Gori, Georgia  to a poor family of a priest Simon Gogebashvili.He studied at the seminaries of Gori and Tiflis before enrolling into the theological academy in Kiev in 1861. Simultaneously, he attended the lectures in natural sciences at the Kiev University.. Yet, unlike many of his contemporary Georgian intellectuals, he was affected less by the Russian radicals than by a Christian background in the seminaries of Gori and Tbilisi. Returning to Georgia in 1863, he taught arithmetic and geography at the Tiflis Seminary and later became its inspector. Gogebashvili’s apartment, frequented by the seminarian students, soon became a haven for forbidden discussions of art and politics.

From then onwards Gogebashvili became a free-lance and devoted his energies to spreading education among his countrymen. In 1879, he helped found the Society for the Spreading of Literacy Among Georgians through which he channeled his efforts aimed at countering Russification, especially in the school system, and at reversing the erosion of Georgian language whose status he compared with that of a "wretched foundling, deprived of all care and protection.
Gogebashvili’s most influential work, Mother Tongue,, an introduction to Georgian for children, was first published in 1876. Moving from alphabet to literary texts, with a number of encyclopedic passages, it has gone through countless editions to become the pattern over the next hundred years for primers not only in Georgian, but in the several new literary languages of the Caucasus. Gogebashvili also authored a number of fairy stories and historical fiction for children as well as several journalistic articles in defense of Georgian culture and identity.

Ilia Chavchavadze!

Ilia Chavchavadzewas a Georgian writer, poet, journalist and lawyer who spearheaded the revival of the Georgian national movement in the second half of the 19th century, during the Russian rule of Georgia.Inspired by the contemporary liberal movements in Europe, as a writer and a public figure, Ilia Chavchavadze directed much of his efforts toward awakening national ideals in Georgians and to the creation of a stable society in his homeland.

His most important literary works were: The Hermit, The Ghost, Otaraant Widow, Kako The Robber and Is a man a human?!.

. Most of his work dealt with Georgia and Georgians. He was a devoted protector of the Georgian language and culture from Russification.

Chavchavadze was fatally wounded by a gang of assassins, led by Gigla Berbichashvili, in Tsitsamuri, outside Mtskheta. His legacy earned him the broad admiration of the Georgian people.

Ilia Chavchavadze was born in Kvareli, a village located in the Alazani Valley, in the Kakheti province of Georgia, which was part of the Russian Empire at that time. Ilia was a tavadi, the Georgian title of prince. It is thought that the noble Chavchavadze family came from the Pshav-Khevsureti region of Georgia, and, in 1726, King Constantine II granted the Chavchavadze family the rank of Prince in recognition of their knighthood and valor to the nation.
Ilia was the third son of Grigol Chavchavadze and Mariam Beburishvili. Grigol, like his father and his famous ancestors, had a military background. He, along with the local militiamen protected the village from numerous Dagestani invasions.
Ilia's mother, Mariam, died on May 4, 1848, when Ilia was ten years old, and his father asked his sister, Makrine, to help bring up the children. Aunt Makrine had a significant impact on Ilia's life, because, after 1852, when Ilia's father Grigol died, she was the only remaining caretaker of the family.
Ch'avch'avadze was educated at the elementary level by the deacon of the village before he moved to Tbilisi where he attended the prestigious Academy for Nobility in 1848. However, from an early age, Ilia was influenced by his parents who were highly educated in classical literature, Georgian history and poetry. From his parents, Ilia learned the inspiring stories of Georgian heroism in classical historical novels.

 Ilia also described the influence of the deacon's storytelling, which gave him an artistic inspiration, later applied in his novel writing.
In 1848, after the death of Princess Chavchavadze, Ilia was sent to Tbilisi by his father to begin his secondary education. Ilia attended a private school for three years before he entered the 1st Academy of Tbilisi in 1851. Soon after, Ilia's father died and Aunt Makrine looked after the family. His secondary school years were very stressful, due to his father's death. . In addition to his personal problems, the political situation in Georgia worsened under the harsh authority of the Russian Empire, which played a destructive role to the nation and its culture.After graduating from the academy, Ilia decided to continue his education at the University of St. Petersburg, Russia.That same year, Ilia was admitted to the University of St. Petersburg. During his student years, numerous revolutions sprang up in Europe which Ilia observed with great interest.Ilia finally returned to Georgia after the completion of his studies in 1861. During his journey back, Ilia wrote one of his greatest masterpieces, The Travelers' Diaries, where he outlines the importance of nation-building and provides an allegorical comparison of Mt. Kazbegi and the Tergi River in the Khevi region of Georgia.

After serving as a member of the Upper House in the first Russian Duma, Ilia decided to return to Georgia in 1907. On August 28, 1907 Ilia Chavchavadze was murdered by a gang of six assassins who ambushed him and his wife Olga while traveling from Tbilisi to Saguramo, near Mtskheta. The assassination of Ilia Chavchavadze remains controversial today.Either way, the Prince's murder was seen as a national tragedy which was mourned by all strata of Georgian society. Prince Ak'ak'i Tsereteli, who was suffering from serious health problems at the time, spoke at the funeral and dedicated an outstanding oration to Ilia: “Ilia's inestimable contribution to the revival of the Georgian nation is an example for future generations”

Akaki Tsereteli!

Akaki Tsereteli was  a prominent Georgian poet and national liberation movement figure.He was born in the village of Skhvitori on June 9, 1840 to the prominent Georgian aristocratic family. His father was Prince Rostom Tsereteli. His father was Prince Rostom Tsereteli. Following the old tradition Ak'ak'i Tsereteli spent his childhood years in the village of Savane in a peasant’s family and was brought up by a peasant nanny, all of which made him feel empathy for the peasants’ life in Georgia.

He graduated from the Kutaisi Gymnasium in 1852 and the University of Saint Petersburg Faculty of Oriental Languages in 1863.Prince Akaki Tsereteli was a close friend of Prince Ilia Chavchavadze , Georgian progressive intellectual youth leader.
He is an author of hundreds of patriotic, historical, lyrical and satiric poems, also humoristic stories and autobiographic novel. Ak'ak'i Tsereteli was involved actively in educational, journalistic and theatrical activities.


The famous Georgian folk song Suliko (full English version) is based on Ak'ak'i Tsereteli’s lyrics.He died on January 26, 1915 and was buried at the Mtatsminda Pantheon in Tbilisi.

Georgian Hot Milk Drink!

Ingredients:

1 cup hemp milk (or other milk)
1 tablespoon honey
1 pinch cinnamon
1 pinch ground coriander
1 pinch ground nutmeg

Directions:

Heat slowly in a pan or pot until just bubbling, whisking as you go. Pour into a mug and enjoy before bedtime.

Iced Tea Cocktail!

Ingredients:

4 ounces sweet tea flavored vodka (Sweet Carolina, Fire Fly, or other)
4 ounces lemonade
crushed ice
lemon wedge


Directions:

Fill tall glass with crushed ice.

Pour vodka and lemonade over ice.

Add squeezed lemon.

Stir.

Enjoy (responsibly!

Soko!-(Mushrooms With Onions and Cilantro)

Ingredients:

3 medium onions, finely chopped
3 tablespoons butter
1 lb mushroom, cleaned and quartered
1/2 cup mushroom stock
1 1/4 cups walnuts, finely chopped
1 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste

 Directions:

Fry the onions in the butter.

Add teh mushrooms and stock and simmer until the mushrooms are just cooked.

Stir in the walnuts and the cilantro and season to taste.

Georgian bread-Nazook!

ingredients:

Dough
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast (1 packet)
1 cup sour cream, room temp
3 1/4 cups sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup chilled butter, unsalted
1 egg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Glaze
2 egg yolks, beaten
1 teaspoon yogurt
3 tablespoons melted butter (for brushing the dough with)

Filling
 Filling
1 cup melted butter
2 cups sifted flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cardamom

Directions:

Dough: Add yeast to the sour cream and mix inches Set aside for 10 minutes. Combine flour, salt and butter and mix with your hands until crumbly. Add egg, vegetable oil, lemon juice and sour cream and mix well. Knead the dough, over a floured surface, for 5 minutes, or until no longer sticky. Add more flour if necessary. Form into a ball, mark with an “+”, symbolizing a cross. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 5 hours, or overnight.

Filling: Mix melted butter and flour until combined. Add sugar, walnuts, vanilla and cardamom. Stir until the mixture is smooth.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Assembly: Melt 3 tablespoons of butter and set aside. Remove dough from refrigerator; divide into 8 equal portions. Roll each dough ball into a 10 x 6” rectangle. Brush with melted butter. Spread 1/8th of the filling over each rectangle, leaving 1/2” border. Cover with a piece of parchment paper. Roll over it lightly with a rolling pin, so that the filling adheres to the dough. Fold the edges in 1/2” over the filling. Roll into a cylinder. Gently flatten with the palms of your hands.

Cut each roll into 6 pieces and arrange on 2 greased cookie sheets. Brush liberally with the egg glaze. Bake for 35 minutes, or until golden brown. Enjoy with a hot cup of tea!

Lobio with Walnut!

Ingredients:

1 cupful beans
50 shelled walnuts
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion or 75 g green onions
  How to cook:
Wash and soak the beans in cold water for 3 or 4 hours.
Drain, add cold water t cover and cook until tender.
Add the chopped onion and bring to boiling point.
Add crushed walnuts to the beans.
Season with salt and pepper.
Mix with a wooden spoon.
Serve hot or cold sprinkled with chopped greens.