Day One in Tblisi

The Georgians are an open and hospitable people and this robust temperament is contagious when you visit their country.

Tbilisi is the “Pearl of Caucasus” and is rich in history and culture. The capital stands as one of the most ancient cities in the Caucasus, situated on both sides of the Mtkvari River and surrounded by mountains on three sides. Tbilisi has been home to many visitors and conquerors through the ages. It was in the 4^th century that Tbilisi was first shown on a map made by the Roman cartographer Castorius.

Tbilisi was famous for its thermal healing water and legend says that King Vakhtank Gorgassali once wounded a pheasant on a hunting trip. The pheasant fell in one of the hot springs and when the king went to retrieve the game, he discovered the water was warm and that is when he decided to build the city on that place. The name Tbilisi means warm (tbili) in Georgian.

Day 1 – Sunday

Arrived in country about 0400 and to hotel by 0530. Hotel is Marriott Tbilisi. It is a very beautiful and historic hotel.

History of the Tbilisi Marriott Hotel:

The Tbilisi Marriott was first envisioned in 1910. The goal was to build a European standard hotel in Tbilisi and construction started in 1911. In 1915, construction was completed and the hotel was called the Majestic. The architecture project that is the hotel won a gold medal at an international exhibition in 1916. In 1917, the hotel was used as a hospital for WWI.

In 1921, the ownership of the hotel was transferred to the Soviet Labor’s Committee of Georgia following the invasion by the Red Army. In 1936, the Soviets refurbished the hotel and it was opened in 1939 as the Hotel Tbilisi. It was listed as one of the top ten hotels in the entire USSR. In 1990, the hotel was used as a military stronghold for the opposition during the Civil War and arms fire dramatically damaged it. One of the wait staff in the restaurant told us one morning that he was 20 years old at that time and he remembered standing across the street from where we were sitting. He said the hotel was devastated and it was a very frightening time in his country. The hotel was refurbished again in 2002 and now stands as the beauty and pride of Tbilisi.

When God first divided the earth amongst different peoples, the Georgians were late to arrive as they were having a party (supra). God was disappointed initially and told them everything was gone, until the Georgians told him that their party had been in his honor. God was so pleased that he gave the Georgians the very part of earth that he had set aside for himself.

We immediately fell into bed but knew we would need to wake soon to begin our transition to the time change. I tried to wake at 1000, but fell asleep again until noon.

We set out that day walking about. We found the “dry bridge” market, the Tbilisi answer to Smiley’s, only with lots cooler stuff. I talked with a gentleman about my age who knew English very well. He is a botanist, but sells maps and books at the market. He sold me a book and map of Georgia for 10 Lary, about $8.50. We rested that afternoon at the “ladies” fountain and spoke with Matt Shannon for the first time. We were also approached by beggars for the first time. It became obvious quickly that Hector is a unique individual in this country. We were to see only three other black men the entire week.

We ate dinner at the hotel that evening (way too expensive!!!), but convenient. Then we walked a bunch more. We went to Freedom Square and then down backstreets to the old NATO building (??). The backstreets of Tbilisi are, for the most part, in pretty poor shape repair wise. There are broken sidewalks and rundown buildings everywhere. The architecture has a definite “Soviet” look to it and for the most part is quite drab, in need of pressure washing and painting, and lots of windows replaced.

As we passed one building there was a woman bending over to a basement window. As we passed I noticed she was buying bread from a baker in the basement of the building. As we walked by and I turned to look back, he was leaning out his window, looking quite typically European of a small shopkeeper waiting for his next customer.

We returned to the hotel in anticipation of trying to adjust our bodies to the significant time changes; we are eight hours ahead of our home time. We weren’t really successful, but managed to get some rest.