Sunday, May 26 - Day 6
May 26th is the national day of Georgia. There was another day-tour planned, but the driver from the previous day was not available, as he was busy fixing his car. Another driver, somewhat less pleasant, showed up with another German car, with the star on the hood.
Florian has been at the destination where I was headed to, so I went alone, he stayed back in town. The first stop was just outside town, at the Bobde Monastery, originally built in the 9th century, but remodeled in the 17th century. It is one of the major pilgrimage sites in Georgia, due to its association with St. Nino, the 4th-century female evangelist of Georgians, whose relics are shrined there.
The main destination for the day was the David Gareja Monastery Complex, located about 100 kilometers away, in a barren area close, even very close, to the border with Azerbaijan. The first half of the trip led us through fertile areas towards Tbilisi, then we took a turn and the landscape changed suddenly. We were now driving amid a steppe-like landscape. It did remind me of my earlier trip of a region of Azerbaijan, that was even more barren - it was quite impressive.
The monastery was founded in the 6th century, founded by David Gareji, an Assyrian monk. The buildings, which include hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters, were hollowed out of the rock face. Very impressive, a definitive highlight in Georgia. a must-see!
The pictures you see above is just one part of the complex, there is an upper part, which is even more impressive. It, however, lies in Azerbaijan territory. A German guide I met told me it had been possible a couple of years ago to visit it, but now it was barricaded off. I did hike up a path, but soon a Georgian soldier with machine gun stopped me, and told me not to go any further. There was a nice view from there, even nicer were the wild flowers growing there.
At 2 pm, we started our ride back home, me again marveling at the unique landscape. Should I return, I would love to ride my bike there.
I got back to Sighnaghi quite early, around 4 pm, where I got reunited with Florian. He had been busy walking around in town, where lots of national day celebrations taking place there.
We had dinner at a restaurant called Pheasant Tears Winery, which was recommended by the Italian couple two days prior. It was run by an American guy we talked to, it was truly amazing and we also enjoyed the wine that accompanied the dinner. The picture you see below is deceiving - it was just an overflow room, the main room was full to the brink.
We walked off the dinner a bit, then I asked my hosts if I could use the washing machine next to my room - and was glad to have clean clothes by the following morning. I slept quite well.