Georgia

After a relatively smooth border crossing we are now in Georgia. A country of which I knew little but which I like a lot. Our first port of call is Batumi, a resort town with a strange mix of soviet style buildings and buildings almost trying too hard to look modern. Some how it works and creates a pleasing city. WE find a homestay for very few euros staying with a lady by the name of Nutela which pleases Alan as its his favourite foodstuff. The house looks elegant fro the outside (Picture 1) but is very tired inside and the three of us sharing a room with two sofas and one camp bed that sags tyo the floor make the few euro seem expensive.

We try local cuisine for our evening meal, it turns out to be a flat bread with melted cheese and a semi cooked egg on top with a quarter pound of butter as a garnish just to top up the calories.

Friday 4th June head from Batumi towards Gori. We take the main road as shown on the map. After about 5 miles we leave the tarmac and the next 80 miles are cart track through the most fantastic mountainous scenery (picture 2). We climb so high there are remnants of snow beside the road. After we descend we regain tarmac but by this point the heat is so intense it is now melting and spraying tar out from our tyres.

We stop just short of Gori at a small guest house where we negotiate three rooms for $30. Tomorrow we will head into Gori, Stalin's birthplace and see the museum dedicated to his life.