Tbilisi Tales - Ananauri (10/10/05)

Occasional Tales from our Life in the Republic of Georgia

On October 10^th we celebrated Columbus Day by taking a drive with Buba along the Georgian Military Highway, which has existed as a route between Georgia and Russia for more than two thousand years. Our destination was the churches of Ananauri, about an hour outside of Tbilisi.

The two churches stand behind a wall, high on a hill and overlooking the huge reservoir that was created when the Soviets built the Zhinvali dam in the 1980s. The two churches, both built in the 17th century, stand alongside a 12th century watchtower and a 17th century bell tower. The buildings were interesting and the surrounding scenery was lovely, especially the trees in their fall colors.

Sophie and Daddy


Jason and Sophie outside the church built in 1689


Sophie and Jason and the bell tower, with the reservoir behind


In the bell tower


The 1689 church and 12th century watchtower


Traffic jam in one of the villages on our way back to Tbilisi