The first step in my recent holiday was to take an over night train from 
Baku to Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia). Admittedly, it was just in transit as the main focus of this trip rested in other places. Not to mention I will have the opportunity to visit Georgia later this year when i leave Azerbaijan. Still I opted to spend at least one night in the city and made arrangements to meet up with a couchsurfer to get a little local flavour.The train arrived in the late morning. The day was cold and t
here was a smell of rain in the air. Little did I know. I met up with Bejan, a university student I know through couchsurfing. As i arrived at his apartment, where he would put me up for the night, his mother set out a banquet style breakfast for me. And after exchanging "niceties", I headed into town to arrange onward transport and do a little sightseeing. That's when the 
skies opened up. I did my best to stay dry, failing miserably of course. With the weather the way it was, there was no way i was going to do Tbilisi any justice. And i spent most of the day ducking in and out of coffee shops and internet cafes. One thing that is immediately noticeable is, contrary to Baku, Tbilisi's old city is actually old. In Baku, there has been a lot of beautification done in and around the old town, giving it a Disn
ey-like feel. Not so in Tbilisi. There are plenty of sight in and around town to keep one occupied, none of which i managed to see. There are a variable cornucopia of churches, and as i was there for Lent, they were quite busy. Of course i was only to see a couple of them as i dodge and darted in and out of the rain. There's also the wonderful Abanotubani sulfur baths (didn't go there). Plus there's the wonderfully set, 8th century Narikala fortress. Dominating the skyline it is a not to missed sight when in Tbilisi (didn't do there either). The rain just wouldn't let up :
( With tourism a miserable failure, I was ready to drown my sorrows. I had arranged to meet Bejan and some of his friends and a pub to watch, of all things, rugby. It turned out to be quite a cool night as i ended up singing lead with the house band for most of the night. And i even got some free drinks for the effort. In the end, it wasn't so bad. And i know that I'll have the opportunity to go back later this year, so watch out for the new and improved blog entry in a couple of months!!
here was a smell of rain in the air. Little did I know. I met up with Bejan, a university student I know through couchsurfing. As i arrived at his apartment, where he would put me up for the night, his mother set out a banquet style breakfast for me. And after exchanging "niceties", I headed into town to arrange onward transport and do a little sightseeing. That's when the 
skies opened up. I did my best to stay dry, failing miserably of course. With the weather the way it was, there was no way i was going to do Tbilisi any justice. And i spent most of the day ducking in and out of coffee shops and internet cafes. One thing that is immediately noticeable is, contrary to Baku, Tbilisi's old city is actually old. In Baku, there has been a lot of beautification done in and around the old town, giving it a Disn
ey-like feel. Not so in Tbilisi. There are plenty of sight in and around town to keep one occupied, none of which i managed to see. There are a variable cornucopia of churches, and as i was there for Lent, they were quite busy. Of course i was only to see a couple of them as i dodge and darted in and out of the rain. There's also the wonderful Abanotubani sulfur baths (didn't go there). Plus there's the wonderfully set, 8th century Narikala fortress. Dominating the skyline it is a not to missed sight when in Tbilisi (didn't do there either). The rain just wouldn't let up :
( With tourism a miserable failure, I was ready to drown my sorrows. I had arranged to meet Bejan and some of his friends and a pub to watch, of all things, rugby. It turned out to be quite a cool night as i ended up singing lead with the house band for most of the night. And i even got some free drinks for the effort. In the end, it wasn't so bad. And i know that I'll have the opportunity to go back later this year, so watch out for the new and improved blog entry in a couple of months!!