Last day in the Caucuses

Today was the first time in ages where I had an opportunity to sleep in. Yay I thought. But my body had other ideas and I was wide awake at 6:00am well before the rest of Tbilisi. I found plenty to do without waking the world and eventually set off to find Adjarian Kachapuri, one of the famous Georgian dishes, the one I missed out on yesterday. It is a boat shaped bread filled with cheese and cooked then a raw egg is put on top. Looks cool. 


Its an easy walk to downtown and along the way I checked out all the shops, mainly top end stores but fun looking around anyway. 


Quite by chance I found myself in a mall and again quite by chance I stumbled across ‘Sakhachapure No 1’, the Kachapuri shop Ani had recommended to me. Excited I put my order in and waited and waited. It was being made fresh so it was a long wait. The staff were much like all other staff I have encountered in Tbilisi, rude and dismissive. 


But anyway my meal arrived.  I followed instructions and mixed the raw egg into the salguni cheese mix, broke off the corner of the bread and, struggling with the fresh cheese smell, took a mouthful. Most of you will know that I don’t go close to smelly dairy and salguni cheese is big time smelly and fresh. The first mouthful was enough. I have tried it and nearly threw up. Cheese lovers would love it and it would be such a fun thing to eat.   Oh well! https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1kU-dLuudCAjTL_Q9--mKFU5w_xRaEsjD https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11ITYrpkXvkYY9RoqUl-PT72_dFSfyoE6


I spent a few hours just wandering, looking here and there generally just chilling. https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1qmYh5VRvbwm9rKEp6JlX11NWKMaiaB6N
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AhToiphrILMu_Mr7yAFjUqzvispX0G1Dhttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1lp7lvPDvOwekJpHSjr3Y7dKueXCKRIf2https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12C0zkMQD1S3gfqr1Ajo7mXA2QrJ3kaZChttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1w0ry0LwTRGxUvEJpbp8yEVE_b-2Ze9GZhttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1suA007-91QhhNipGZ89BmZyF7N2frOJkhttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1twPcm-PXYR64jUk6gzO_FC2JhdhlV_MChttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=16Ez8-sfKfwySFtykyGBYZR9qCUQvfIg2
Suddenly a steak bar appeared in front of me and something pulled me in. I ordered the steak only to be told that its off the menu. Dang!


But the compensation was a salad of tomato, cucumber, chopped walnuts and Ajika, a spicy and delicious georgian sauce. I’m so pleased there was no steak because the salad was delicious. These tomatoes are out of this world and the Ajika just blew the flavour out of the water. A ‘must have this again’ type dish. https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LGZdPgazj_XECWuOBeJ10hVG_ZhBO6Eb

Stomach full I began the walk home checking out bits n pieces along the way. There were a few women begging on the footpath but nothing like the numbers we have at home. The streets continue to be spotless although here there is a lot of graffiti. 


As I was walking home it started to rain. No jacket with me so I had a couple of choices close by. Wait in an ice cream shop or wait in McDonalds. I chose the latter and downed a burger and fries waiting till the rain had stopped before I walked the last of the uphill trek towards home. 


Bag packed, odds n sods done I bade Tbilisi goodnight. It’s been a blast. 

My bolt ride arrived right on time and delivered me to a lovely looking airport. I was convinced my driver was going to fall asleep but thankfully we made it. 

 

Check in and immigration were a breeze and now I am sitting waiting for my flight. There are few people at the gate because a huge flick of people are watching some poor person be tended to by the first aid crew. Its quite amazing to think its ok to gawk at someone’s misfortune. 


If I thought the retail staff in the city were rude, well those at the airport are on another level. Even their faces are not at all animated but my time here is limited and I got a decent coffee from a young guy who smiled. 


Athens here I come. 

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