Day 14 Friday 3rd October

The plan today is to visit Davit Gareja monastery complex. The Lonely Planet Guide describes this visit as follows; "With a spectacular setting in remote, arid lands near Georgia's border with Azerbaijan, these much revered cave monasteries were carved out of the hillsides long long ago. They became a cradle of medieval monastic culture and fresco painting. Saint's tombs, vivid 1000 year-old murals, an otherworldly landscape and the very idea that people voluntarily chose-and still choose-to live in desert caves, all combine to make visiting Davit Gareja a startling experience today. "

And so it proved to be, also a very demanding climb. We were due to join a minibus party leaving at 11 am. At 10-55 were was only us and an American woman so they swapped the transport to a car. It turned out that Dawn, the American was teaching at Kabul University in Afghanistan and had a few days vacation. She was most interesting to talk with, but that's another story.

This is a panoramic 360 degree photo. Try expanding it and look carefully at the start and finish. Technology hey!

The ancient entrance.

We had to scramble several hundred metres up to get to the ridge where access to the other caves was. This is the start of the climb where we had a little picnic. It is also the place I left the tablet. Three quarters of an hour later we reached the ridge. Just below us there was a huge eagle. A wonderful photo chance so I dived into the rucksack for the tablet.......I ran back down the mountain to find it, arranging with Helen to meet on the circuitous path back down. We eventually met up again and Dawn was back in tow. Well done to Helen, a wonderful but exhausting afternoon. Back to Tbilisi and dinner in the posh Piano Bar.