Things to do in Vardzia

In 1994, Bagrati Cathedral, together with the Gelati Monastery, was included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list as a single entity. In 2001, ownership of the cathedral was transferred from the Georgian state to the Georgian Orthodox Church. It is presently of limited use for religious services, but attracts many pilgrims and tourists. It is also frequently used as a symbol of the city of Kutaisi, being one of its main tourist attractions. I recommend to visit in the morning.

The most striking feature of the church is undoubtedly its pure gold-clad dome, dazzling in the sunlight and exuding a gentle solemnity when illuminated at night. It's worth noting that the church's construction was primarily funded by donations from ordinary citizens—it's not just a building, but a symbol of Georgians rediscovering their faith and solidifying their national identity after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

On the way to Kazbekistan, almost everyone stops here. After crossing the bridge, Ananuri Fortress stands beside the reservoir at the bridgehead, looking from afar like a stone castle stranded in the middle of a lake. I stopped the car and took some photos from the bridge. As soon as I pressed the shutter, it suddenly dawned on me—wasn't this the same angle as on the cover of *Lonely Planet*? The same bridge railings, the same gray-white stone walls, the same blue-green water. So the "cover-style shot" mentioned in the travel guides was just an ordinary roadside spot, not at all pretentious. The reservoir behind the fortress is called Renvali Reservoir, surrounded by concentric circles of mountains, its water a medium-deep green. Standing atop the fortress, the view is indeed the best—the reservoir, the bridge, the mountains, and the winding mountain road in the distance, all spread out below. But getting up there wasn't so easy. The left entrance was blocked off. A local offered a small tip to enter from the right; the fee wasn't much, more like a "gateway fee" for this centuries-old fortress—payable by soldiers six hundred years ago, and by tourists six hundred years later. The internal staircase was narrow and the steps slippery. Every step was taken with extreme caution. My friend slipped while going down, so safety first. This view is best seen in photos :D

you can get free borjomi mineral water which claimed to be very good for health there, and is quite nice to take a walk around the park

We drove along the Georgian Military Highway in July and stopped at Kazbek. The mountains are massive, the peak is covered in snow, and the green slopes below — it looks like a postcard. We hiked up to Gergeti Church, and the views from there are the best on the whole road. The climb on foot takes about an hour, and it's windy and chilly at the top even in summer, so a jacket is a must. It gets crowded, but it's worth it. If you're driving this road, definitely make a stop — you won't regret it.

It is a beautifully designed bridge which is lovely to walk over! And is covered in lights during the night :)

【Ali and Nino】 Ali, a descendant of a famous Muslim family in Azerbaijan who was influenced by Shia since childhood, and Nino, a Georgian princess who believed in Christianity, fell in love. Due to different beliefs, family obstruction, and secular public opinion, their love was eventually destroyed under the attack of the tide of the times. This may be the most romantic sculpture in the world. Every evening, they slowly move towards each other, stare, hug, kiss, penetrate each other, and then say goodbye and leave. Over and over again, even if you know the ending, you still look forward to it silently! Batumi landmark building 【Ali and Nino】 does not rotate during the day, but starts to rotate in the evening, rotating once every 15 minutes. It is almost invisible to the naked eye, so if you want to capture all the movements, it is best to use the "time-lapse photography" function of the mobile phone, but it is really uncomfortable to hold the mobile phone in your hand for 15 minutes, so it is best to use a tripod. Address: MJ4V+66Q, Batumi, Georgia

The Mother Fortress is located high in Georgia, from where you can see the whole of Georgia. In the evening, you can take a cable car up the mountain to wait for the sun to set and watch the sunset. The temperature in Tbilisi at night is only over 20 degrees in this season, which is really comfortable.

The weather with sunny skies all day seems to wash away anyone's melancholy. Even in the middle of summer, the breeze makes the hot summer mild and pleasant. So far, I really like it here and I also like to continue to stay.