Day 12 Wednesday 1st October

You know we caught the train. It was the only one of the day, so it was just as well. It was about 80% occupied, at least first class was, l guess the rest was busier. We trundled gently across the country going about 40 or 50 km/hr. The scenery varied between narrow gorges with tunnels to broad glaciated valleys with high mountain ranges to the North and South. These are The Caucasus mountains and the Lesser Caucasus. Unfortunately wherever you look there is the untidy evidence of past industrial activities. I am talking empty roofless concrete structures often with twisted rusty reinforcing steel sticking out of it. The Russians were in charge from 1921 until 1991, so it must be their doing.

The train pulls into Tbilisi station and we get our first feel of this city that is home to a quarter of Georgia's people. Tbilisi is a modern city trying to move forward in the 21st century after the strife and stagnation of the late 20th. It's streets are crowded with pedestrians, construction debris and hurtling or crawling traffic. Flagship building projects, the Presidential Palace, new Cathedral, stunning auditorium, revamped parks coexist with crowded old markets, confusing bus stations and shabby Soviet apartment blocks.

Tina's Home stay is going to be our first experience of this type of accommodation. Have a look first.

This gives you a flavour of the place. The artist is Tina's nephew, who when he is not painting his Chagal inspired work, paints church icons for a living. Tina is very helpful and her husband Zviad, a real workhorse. Our room is through the double doors in the lower picture. 

There is a large park on the top of the cliff with a funicular railway to get you up. The trouble is that it doesn't start until half way up. Here are some of the fun things we went on. 

Finally we will try to post another video, using a different way. In case you can't tell, it's the funicular going down. No, sorry that didn't work. I think the video might be too big. Try a still instead.