CHAPTER 3: A SPORTY MONTH AND A NEW ROUTINE

I can’t believe it’s already been three months. Apparently, yes! I still have so much to explore ! Time flies !

NEW TEAM

This month, new volunteers have joined the crew! The group dynamic has completely changed, and it’s really great.

A DAY TRIP TO GORI AND MTSKHETA

With the other volunteers, we went on a day trip to two cities: first Gori, then Mtskheta, one of the oldest cities in Georgia. In Gori, we climbed up to the fortress. It was freezing, our shoes and socks were still wet from our stop in Tbilisi.
We also hitchhiked on the way back to Rustavi.

A WEEKEND SKIING

We had the chance to return to Gudauri, but this time to ski and snowboard! I went there with my partners in crime, Jaco and Lisa.

To get to Gudauri, you can leave from Didube bus station in Tbilisi. The journey costs around 30-40 lari.

On the first day, the fog was thick. Not easy to race down the slopes with almost no visibility… but it was still a lot of fun!

In the evening, we treated ourselves at the hotel restaurant. On the menu… suspense… khinkali, of course. You can’t come to Georgia without eating them.

That night, we met some locals, played billiards, and spent hours chatting. I was completely exhausted.

The next day, we were back on the slopes under a bright blue sky. Up in the mountains, we were literally skiing in the clouds : a magical moment!

On the way back, we finished the adventure the same way we started it: hitchhiking.

"Beware !"

TBILISI, AGAIN

I spend a lot of time in Tbilisi. I often go to Fabrika. There’s no direct bus to get there, so once I arrive in Tbilisi, I have to take a marshrutka (a minibus). There’s no stop button, which means I have to gather my courage and loudly say:

“Ukastravad gamicheret, tu sheidzleba!”

(thank you, Lia, for this survival phrase).

In those moments, my heart starts racing, and I feel like everyone is staring at me. Anyway, the marshrutka stops. Honestly, it’s very practical; you just have to forget about social anxiety for a moment. Ironically, I feel much more comfortable hitchhiking.

Most of the time, instead of taking another bus, I just keep walking for about 30 minutes. Yes, taking the bus is easy, but Tbilisi isn’t really a pedestrian-friendly city. Sometimes you have to take long detours or turn back because you simply can’t cross the road...

In Tbilisi, I meet my expat friends and a few Georgians. I sometimes feel a bit lost in this world full of different languages.

I also went climbing for the first time in Tbilisi, in the city’s largest climbing gym, the biggest in Georgia. It had been a long time since I last climbed. I also discovered a new sport: padel. I loved it, and I’m definitely going back.

SURROUNDED BY CATS

I’ll end this chapter with this photo of my ever-hungry neighbors!

Basking in the sun,

Cheers, and see you around!

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