Day 11 Tuesday 30th September

As very rainy day in Batumi. The first task today is to book our railway tickets to Tbilisi. To do this we need to find the railway office in the town centre, then on production of our passports we can purchase two first class tickets for 29 Lari each. About £12 for a 5 and a half hours journey. Having got this out of the way we decide to ride the cable car to the top of the nearby mountain.

This bronze is called "You, me and Batumi". A good giggle in the rain. 

The view from the top of the mountain. 

A bit of art deco, but I fear a pastiche. As the afternoon was brightening up. We decided to make for the famous Batumi Botanical Gardens. 

I had just taken the next photo when Helen heard the sad news of the deaths of both Jumbo Wilson and poor Neil Ramsay. The garden is called evening view and this picture will always remind us of them.

I mentioned the Café in the Garden. This did not refer to the Botanical gardens, but the gardens surrounding Batumi Tennis Club. The café was a bar/restaurant. The clientele was mainly young design students. There was a projected screening of old black and white silent movies over the bar, with music playing that just suited the mood of the film. We met the young man who had created the space. He had got books, art works, ceramics on display or for use. All in all a great success and the food wasn't bad either. 6-30 rise for a 7-30 taxi tomorrow morning. I had slight concerns that the guy didn't understand either 7-30 or taxi, however. He knocked on the door at 6-50, grinning.I put my watch on to 7-30, pointing to it and said taxi, loudly. At 7-30 he was back and we got the cases to the road. No taxi. I ask, he gets out his mobile. Now 7-40. Train goes 8-05. Journey time 20 minutes. 7-45 no taxi. I run to the main road to hail another taxi. As I get one, the original arrives. Time now 7-50. We get in, driver drives like Lewis Hamilton. Headlights full, flashers going horn continuous. We get to station at 8-03. No sweat.