If it weren't for you, I might not have made it here.

My passport is blank, but my wife brought me here so I could experience Iceland. This is Kazbegi, at the border of Georgia and Russia. It's home to Georgia's third-highest mountain and the Caucasus Mountains' seventh-highest peak. Gergeti Trinity Church is the closest church to heaven. In February, snow falls heavily, covering the meadows in a pristine white blanket. The church stands quietly amidst the snow-capped mountains. We booked a day trip from Tbilisi, which included several other attractions. We met many Chinese people along the way, so we didn't worry about being scammed. 📍 How to get there There are three common ways: ❶ Self-drive: Rent a car locally. ❷ Minibus: There are minibuses to and from Kazbegi at the Didube station in Tbilisi for 15 lari per person. Try to sit in the front. ❸ Day trip: There are many day trip options near Meidan Bazar. The trip stops at five attractions, including the Ananuri Fortress (featured on the cover of Lonely Planet), a viewing platform, the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument, and a restaurant. You can usually bargain the price down to 45–50 lari per person. I hired a local driver to take us up the mountain for 60 lari. The driver waited for 60 mins on the mountain. 📷 Photo tips If you're just here for a quick photo, skip going inside the church. It's very small and takes only 5 minutes to see. The best photo spot is near the cross across the road from the parking lot. You can capture the cross, the church, and the snowy mountains in one frame. 🏨 Accommodation tips I recommend staying overnight here. If the weather is good, you can see the sunrise illuminating the golden mountains. I won't recommend Rooms Hotel Kazbegi. It's too expensive, and the window view is like a birdcage. I chose a small cabin next door, only a 200m walk from Rooms. You can dine at Rooms! After dinner, my wife and I enjoyed drinks on the second floor while admiring the snowy mountains. Other useful information Almost all the hotels are uphill, with Rooms at the highest point. This can be inconvenient if you have a lot of luggage, and local taxis tend to overcharge. Be sure to count your change when shopping at the supermarket, as they might shortchange you. The local food is quite salty. The church lights turn off around 7:30 am, so keep that in mind if you want to take night photos.