People, landscapes, culture … what’s not to love about Georgia

We had set the benchmark. We spent a wonderful week and a half exploring Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, but with several more weeks up our sleeves, we were certainly not going to stop here. Where to next, where to next? Depending on how much time you have here, the world is your oyster. There is a hidden treasure around every corner in this spectacular country. You are just going to have to choose.  Be prepared to be constantly surprised! Get ready for the wonders of Georgia!

Stepantsminda and the Caucasus Mountains

What to do in and around Tbilisi

Always looking for a place that’s a little bit different and where relatively few travellers wander, we decided on Georgia, starting with the capital Tbilisi. Georgia the country, not the US state, that is! A former state of the Soviet Union it has a decidedly Russian, east bloc-esque kind of feel about it. But in many other ways, it is very decidedly not so. This country is an enigma!  On November 14, 1990, the republic was renamed the Republic of Georgia. It subsequently became independent before the dissolution of the Soviet Union on April 9, 1991. You really need to explore, observe, see and feel it. The views will not disappoint and neither will the people along with their warm hospitality. Georgians are a very proud and nationalistic people who treat foreigners with respect and courtesy.

View of Tbilisi

Discover some hidden parts of Turkey and Cyprus

Turkey was going through some tough political times whilst we were there. Whilst we were in central Anatolia, amongst the infamous fairy peaks of Cappadocia, we heard that there had been a military coup. There has also been a bombing at the Istanbul Airport recently which meant that we kind of had Cappadocia to ourselves! Great for us but not so good for the locals or for tourism. Hot air-ballooning, exploring, hiking, weaving in and out of houses that looked like they had once belonged to regal fairies were part of our daily routine for a week or so. We met great people and made lots of new friends.

The wild horses run through the fairy peaks of Cappadocia, Turkey.

Wondering at the gateway to the Amazon

Soon enough we were off to Baños de Agua Santa, or Baños, as it’s more commonly known. The area around the small town has to be the jewel in Ecuador’s jewel-encrusted crown! This tourist-happy town is the gateway to the Amazon. The town itself isn’t a bomb of excitement, and in peak season it can feel garish and overcrowded with backpackers and tour operators trying to lure you into the den of mountain-biking, rafting, hiking, bungee jumping and partying. Having said that, nobody leaves without some great stories and a big whopping smile across their face! Luckily for us, it was low season, and we were able to hang out and do our thing. You can sometimes see the nearby Volcan Tungurahua erupting.  Saw it erupting in 1999, no such luck this time!