Tbilisi and Mtskheta – Republic of Georgia

October 7-11, 2019:

TBILISI:

Stalin Underground Printing House:

A nondescript, crumbling house in Georgia’s capital hides a series of tunnels where in 1904, a young communist secretly printed magazines, pamphlets, and newspapers.

Stalin Underground Printing House

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Picture of young, middle age and older Stalin

Funicular to Mama Daviti Church, Mtatsminda Pantheon, and Mtatsminda Park:

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Riding the Funicular up and down Mtatsminda Mount

Mama Daviti Church on Mtatsminda Mount is a domed temple erected in Tbilisi in 1859-1871. The Church is dedicated to St. David Garejeli – the Holy Father, who spread eastern Christianity – Orthodox – in the Georgia church in the 6th century and lived in a small cell here, where the church is now located.

Mama Daviti Church

Mtatsminda Pantheon is a pantheon of Georgian writers and public figures next to the church – prominent Georgian writers, artists, scholars, and national heroes’ tombs are here. The pantheon was officially established in 1929.

Mtatsminda Pantheon

Mtatsminda Park contains an amusement park, restaurant and TV Tower.

View of Tbilisi from Mtatsminda Park

TV Tower

Church of the Holy Trinity close to Elizabeth’s and Garrett’s apartment:

Exterior – Church of the Holy Trinity

Interior – Church of the Holy Trinity

The largest Wendy’s in the world:

The largest Wendy’s in the world

Axis Towers:

Axis Towers

Vake Plaza (under construction):

Vake Plaza

Underground passageways near Vake Park:

Underground passageways near Vake Park

World II Memorial, Vake Park:

World II Memorial, Vake Park

Vake Park:

Vake Park

Cable Car Ride from Vake Park to Turtle Lake

Shopping near Elizabeth’s and Garrett’s apartment:

Shopping near Elizabeth’s and Garrett’s apartment

Looking for presents for Amelia and Garrison

Japanese Restaurant:

Japanese Restaurant

Georgian tea time, Elizabeth’s and Garrett’s apartment:

Georgian tea time, Elizabeth’s and Garrett’s apartment

Eating with the family of our Guide/Driver:

Eating with the family of our Guide/Driver

Galleria Shopping Mall:

Galleria Shopping Mall

Freedom Square (Statue of St George and the dragon), City Hall:

Freedom Square

Pushkin Square:

Pushkin Square

Georgian National Museum:

Georgian National Museum

Sculptures along Rustaveli Avenue:

Sculptures along Rustaveli Avenue

Museum of Soviet Occupation:

Museum of Soviet Occupation

9 April Park:

9 April Park

Kashueti St. George Church:

Kashueti St. George Church

The National Gallery:

The National Gallery

Opera and Ballet Theater:

Opera and Ballet Theater

Prospero Books and Cafe:

Prospero Books and Cafe

Booksellers along Rustaveli Avenue:

Booksellers along Rustaveli Avenue

MOMA (Museum of Modern Art):

MOMA (Museum of Modern Art)

Photographs of the Caucasus Exhibition, MOMA (Museum of Modern Art)

Zurab Tsereteli, Georgian Painter/Sculptor, MOMA (Museum of Modern Art)

Apple of Love Sculptures (Adults Only!), MOMA (Museum of Modern Art)

Georgian Parliament Building and April 9 Memorial:

Georgian Parliament Building and April 9 Memorial

Tbilisi Concert Hall:

Tbilisi Concert Hall

Heroes Square:

Heroes Square

Street Art:

Street Art

Big Bicycle Monument:

Big Bicycle Monument

Biltmore Hotel:

Biltmore Hotel

Rustavelli Cinema:

Rustavelli Cinema

Old Town Tbilisi:

Old Town Tbilisi

Statues – Old Town Tbilisi:

Statues – Old Town Tbilisi

Souvenir Shop, Tram, Old Town:

Souvenir Shop, Tram, Old Town

Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater, Old Town:

Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater, Old Town

Anchiskhati Basilica, Old Town:

Anchiskhati Basilica, Old Town

Kari Church, Old Town:

Kari Church – Old Town

Georgian Patriarchate, Old Town:

Georgian Patriarchate, Old Town

Shopping in Old Town:

Shopping in Old Town

Ioane Shavteli Street – Main Old Town Street:

Ioane Shavteli Street – Main Old Town Street

Tblisi Public Service Hall:

Tblisi Public Service Hall

Statue of King Vahktang and Meteki Church of the Assumption:

Statue of King Vahktang and Meteki Church of the Assumption

Houses along the Kura River:

Houses along the Kura River

Queen Darajan Palace:

Queen Darajan Palace

Peace Bridge:

Peace Bridge

Rike Park:

Rike Park

$40 million Concert Hall (Closed), Rike Park:

$40 million Concert Hall (Closed), Rike Park

Metal tree and dog and bench sculpture, Rike Park:

Metal tree and dog and bench sculpture, Rike Park

Ronald Reagan Sculpture, Rike Park:

Ronald Reagan Sculpture, Rike Park

J Mayer H Pipia Panorama house:

J Mayer H Pipia Panorama house

Presidential Palace:

Presidential Palace

Juma Mosque:

Juma Mosque

Orbeliani Bathhouse:

Orbeliani Bathhouse

Balconies:

Balconies

Old Doors:

Old Doors

Botanical Gardens:

Botanical Gardens

River and waterfalls from Botanical Gardens:

River and waterfalls from Botanical Gardens

Zipline – National Botanical Gardens:

Zipline – National Botanical Gardens

Love Seat/Bridges – Baths District:

Love Seat/Bridges – Baths District

Sulfur Bathhouses:

Sulfur Bathhouses

Tbilisi Archaeological Museum:

Tbilisi Archaeological Museum

Aerial Tramway from Rike Park to Narikala Fortress/Mother of Georgia Statue:

Aerial Tramway from Rike Park to Narikala Fortress/Mother of Georgia Statue

Mother of Georgia Statue/TV Tower:

Mother of Georgia Statue/TV Tower

Narikala Fortress:

Narikala Fortress

The Church on the Hill:

The Church on the Hill

Billonaire Bidzina Ivanishvili’s House:

Billonaire Bidzina Ivanishvili’s House

International Night, Amelia’s and Garrison’s school:

International Night, Amelia’s and Garrison’s school

Amelia singing at International Night at her school (she’s on the far left with the cap)

Man fighting tiger statue:

Man fighting tiger statue

Russian Orthodox Church:

Exterior – Russian Orthodox Church

Interior – Russian Orthodox Church

Saint Andrew’s Church:

Saint Andrew’s Church

Blue (Lurji) Monastery:

Blue (Lurji) Monastery

Crepes for lunch:

Crepes for lunch

Vera Park:

Vera Park

Amelia Learning Karate:

Amelia Learning Karate

Late night shopping:

Late Night Shopping

Stamba Hotel:

Stamba Hotel

Tbilisi Concert Hall:

Tbilisi Concert Hall

MTSKHETA:

Mtskheta is a city in the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Georgia. It is one of the oldest cities in Georgia as well as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It is located approximately 20 km north of Tbilisi, at the confluence of the Kura and Aragvi rivers.

As the birthplace and one of the most vibrant centers of Christianity in Georgia, Mtskheta was declared the “Holy City” by the Georgian Orthodox Church in 2014.

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral: