Georgia occupies a territory at the intersection of Europe and Asia, bordered by Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, and for centuries it was one of the most strategically contested places on earth. The result is a culture of extraordinary richness: one of the world's oldest wine traditions (8,000 years, using qvevri clay vessels), a unique alphabet, a polyphonic singing tradition, a cuisine that combines Silk Road spices with Caucasian abundance, and a hospitality culture (the concept of "tamada" — feast master and toastmaster) that treats guests as sacred.
Georgia occupies a territory at the intersection of Europe and Asia, bordered by Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, and for centuries it was one of the most strategically contested places on earth. The result is a culture of extraordinary richness: one of the world's oldest wine traditions (8,000 years, using qvevri clay vessels), a unique alphabet, a polyphonic singing tradition, a cuisine that combines Silk Road spices with Caucasian abundance, and a hospitality culture (the concept of "tamada" — feast master and toastmaster) that treats guests as sacred.
Tbilisi is a city of balconied wooden houses, sulphur bath houses carved into a hillside, a medieval fortress overlooking the Mtkvari River, and a contemporary art and nightlife scene that has emerged from nowhere in the past decade. The Caucasus Mountains — visible on clear days from Tbilisi — offer some of the most dramatic hiking in Eurasia. Georgia is currently excellent value for money and receives a fraction of the visitors its quality deserves.
