About Sights – Gergeti Trinity Church

Gergeti Trinity Church (Georgian: წმინდა სამება) is a popular name for the Holy Trinity Church near the village of Gergeti outside the town of Stepantsminda (Georgian: სტეფანწმინდა) in north-eastern Georgia. The church is situated on the right bank of the river Chkheri (the left tributary of the river Terek) close to Georgia’s 3rd highest mountain, Mt. Kazbegi. View of Stepantsminda … Continue reading

About Food – Green Beans with Nuts

Nuts are a popular ingredient in Georgian cuisine. In this recipe we will show how to make a delicious summer dish of green beans with nuts (Georgian: მწვანე ლობიო ნიგვზით) Ingredients: Green Beans! 1 kilo. Other ingredients: 200 grams of walnuts, 1 large onion, 3 cloves of garlic, 70 grams of fresh green coriander, 80 grams … Continue reading

About Sights – Dariali Gorge

The Dariali Gorge (Georgian: დარიალის ხეობა) is a river gorge at the east base of Mount Kazbegi on the border between Russia and Georgia.  The local people call themselves the Mokheve (habitants of the gorge). The gorge has become known as one of the most romantic places in the Caucasus and has been immortalized in Russian poetry, notably by Lermontov … Continue reading

About Food – Chicken Barbecue

Barbecued meat is very popular in Georgia both as a family meal and also at feasts and celebrations. Pork is the most popular meat, followed by chicken. In this recipe we will show you how to prepare barbecued chicken. Ingredients: 1 kilo of chicken breasts, 1 large onion, 1 clove of garlic, 2 tbs of … Continue reading

About Sights – The Cave City of Vardzia

Vardzia (Georgian: ვარძია) is a spectacular cave monastery site in southern Georgia, dug out of the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Mtkvari River in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. It was the easternmost bastion of Christianity and holds special significance for Georgians because it is associated with King Tamar, the most famous woman in Georgian history (she was crowned king, … Continue reading

About Architecture – Georgia’s Glass Police Stations

Since 2009, the government of Georgia has built 80 new police stations and plans to build more. The architecture is futuristic and is also very symbolic: the buildings are open, with large windows and help to show that the democratic process in Georgia is open and transparent for everybody. There are more photos of the glass police … Continue reading

About Dogs – Caucasian Shepherd Dogs

Background: The mountainous region of the Caucasus which lies between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea is home to one of the oldest living Molosser breeds, the Caucasian Shepherd or Mountain Dog (Georgian: კავკასიური ნაგაზი). There is a great variety of types among Caucasian dogs depending on their home region. The original purpose of this breed was to … Continue reading

About Food – Ojakhuri (Family Meal)

In this recipe we will show you how to make a popular Georgian family meal called Ojakhuri. Ingredients: 500 grams of pork, 400 grams of potatoes, 3 medium sized onions, 2 tbs sour cream (or mayonnaise), 2 tbs white wine vinegar, 60 ml of white wine, 50 ml of oil, half tsp of powdered Berberis … Continue reading

About Sights – Akhaltsikhe Fortress

Akhaltsikhe (Georgian: ახალციხე, literally new castle); also known as Lomsia, is a small city in Georgia’s southwestern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti. Established around 800 years ago, it has had Georgian, Ottoman, Russian and Soviet rulers. The city is situated on both banks of the river Potskhovi, which separates the old city in the north and new in the south. The old city … Continue reading

About Government – New Parliament Building in Kutaisi

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili inaugurated the country’s new parliament building in Georgia’s second city, Kutaisi (Georgian: ქუთაისი) on 26 May 2012. “This new building of our parliament is a symbol of the new Georgia,” said President Mikheil Saakashvili at the official opening of the ultra-modern new legislature. Moving the parliament here is part of the Georgian … Continue reading

About Food – Tarragon and Rice Flaky Pastry

Georgians are very fond of the herb tarragon, which they call tarkhuna (Georgian: ტარხუნა), and find many ways to consume it, including in meat stews, with grilled trout and in herb salads. There is even an emerald green tarragon-flavored soda drink. In this recipe we will show you how to make a popular Georgian tarragon and … Continue reading

About Law Enforcement – Georgia is now one of the safest places in Europe

According to a 2011 crime and security survey conducted by Jan Van Dijk, Professor of Victimology and Human Security at Tilburg University in The Netherlands, Georgia is now one of the safest places in Europe and its capital, Tbilisi, has become one of the safest capitals in the Western world, comparable to Lisbon or Vienna. The results of … Continue reading

About Food – Making Georgian Flaky Pastry

Flaky pastry is used for several popular Georgian dishes, including Khachapuri (Georgian Cheese Bread), Lobiani, pastries and cakes. This step-by-step guide will show you how to make authentic Georgian flaky pastry. Ingredients: 1.2 kilos of white flour, 1 egg, 180 grams of butter, 500 ml tepid water (milk can be used instead, especially if you … Continue reading

About Finance – New Vault for National Bank of Georgia

On June 15, 2012 the President of Georgia attended the opening ceremony of the new vault of the National Bank of Georgia in Tbilisi. Equipped with the latest security systems it is intended to support Georgia’s ambition to be the financial center of the region. Interior of the Vault “Interested investors or financial institutions that … Continue reading

About Recreation – Skiing in Georgia

High accommodation and piste costs mean that more and more skiers are looking for resorts that are a little further afield than the norm. Look no further! Georgia’s mountains offer some of the best skiing in the world. In fact, skiing in Georgia was listed in a New York Times article, ‘The 41 Places to Go … Continue reading

About Sights – Narikala Fortress

Narikala (Georgian: ნარიყალა) is an ancient fortress on a steep hill overlooking Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and the Mtkvari River. The fortress was established in the 4th century and considerably expanded over subsequent centuries. Much of what remains today dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1827, parts of the fortress were damaged by an earthquake and demolished. … Continue reading