Georgia
Considering its size, Georgia is probably the country I have explored the most thoroughly. I might be a little biased (being Georgian myself does not exactly help with objectivity), but I genuinely think it is an amazing place. There is so much diversity in its landscapes, history, cultures and people that I find it almost impossible to get bored of it. And there is still so much I haven’t seen.
Svaneti
A wonderful place to escape the Tbilisi heat during summer. I only wish I had stayed longer. Apart from its beautiful landscapes, Svaneti also made me realize how much more I want to learn about the Svan language and culture. Hopefully I’ll return with a little more time (and knowledge).
Badzgireti - Tao-Klarjeti
Obviously the most beautiful village in historical Tao-Klarjeti 🙂 (Today in Turkey). It is also where my paternal grandparents come from, so perhaps my opinion is not entirely unbiased. But I think I can be forgiven for that.
Akhalsikhe
Definitely one of my favorite places in Georgia. There is so much history and cultural diversity in and around this city, including its Armenian community and the wonderful Armenian and Meskhetian cuisine. I also found the people there incredibly friendly, which made the whole experience even better.
Gori
Gori was a rather bittersweet experience for me. I really liked the city, but it was difficult not to think about what it went through during the Russian invasion in 2008. That history made the visit feel a little heavier than I had expected.
And no, I did not visit the Stalin Museum.
Vardzia
An incredible place with enormous historical significance. I think it is absolutely worth reading a little about Georgian history before visiting, because knowing the background makes the experience so much more meaningful.
I also find it fascinating that, after all these centuries, a small number of monks still live there.
Borjomi
Didgori Memorial
The memorial commemorates the Battle of Didgori, one of the most important victories in Georgian history. I would really recommend reading about the battle and its significance for Georgians before visiting. It gives the place an entirely different meaning.
The battle also inspired me to write a poem, which is here.
Bodbe Monastery
Uplitsikhe
Tbilisi
Zugdidi
Well, what can I even say? Mingrelians…
Zanzibar
Armenia
Armenia had been on my travel list for over a year, so I was very happy to finally get the chance to visit. There were things I liked and things I liked less, but overall it was a very interesting experience. The country has so much history and culture worth discovering, and I feel like I have only scratched the surface.
Sevan
A day trip from Yerevan that I’m very happy we made. Lake Sevan and the surrounding landscape are absolutely beautiful, and visiting Sevanavank Monastery and seeing the khachkars made the experience even more memorable.
I definitely wouldn’t mind spending more time around the lake on another visit.
Yerevan
I wish I could have explored more of Yerevan, but my body was not particularly cooperative under the 36°C sun.
I really liked the city’s architecture, and there seem to be so many interesting places and museums to discover. Hopefully I’ll return someday, preferably when the weather is a little more merciful.
Germany
Germany is probably the country I have travelled around the most, at least in terms of actual distance rather than the percentage of the country I’ve seen. I’ve been from east to west and from north to south, and somehow there is always something new to discover.
Despite all the complaints I hear from people living here (sometimes understandably), I genuinely love Germany. It has so much to offer, especially to those willing to explore beyond the usual destinations.