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On New Places and Friends

I don't remember the last time I went somewhere alone, especially not somewhere I've never been before. Sometime last year I decided to take time off from my day job and travel. I ended up booking tickets to Budapest, from there to Tbilisi and back to Dublin.

October came and I left alone. Though I wasn't really alone in either place, I was staying with friends of mine: In Budapest my friend Quang hosted me and showed me around (though that will be a separate blog post). We've only actually met twice before with; I think, a two year gap in between, yet it felt as if we've been close friends for years.

In Tbilisi I was staying with Teo, who I met in Montana as exchange students. We hadn't seen or interacted much for almost 10 years but it was lovely to catch up and see her again after such a long time.

I am extremely thankful for both of them for hosting me and I'm hoping to return the favor to them someday.

Chronicles of Tbilisi

Once I arrived in this beautiful city, Teo took me to see Mtskheta and the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral. Just about half an hour away from the city by Marshrutka. The next days I ventured alone, with Teos apartment being my harbor. My first stop was the Chronicles of Georgia, a bit out of town with the Tbilisi sea close by. I sat down and watched others admire the sculptures and inspect the details. I mainly used taxis to get around and found myself scared of their erratic driving every time.

After that I spent the days going on free walking tours and scavenging the city for vegan places. I walked up to the Mother of Georgia (not knowing I could've taken a cable car) and went looking through vintage shops in the city, taking pictures of the markets on my Fujifilm.

I booked a Get Your Guide trip to Kazbegi - Stepmantsminda, a mountain town right next to Gergeti Trinity Church. Seriously - google it, breathtaking place.

Despite being skeptical about going on an organized trip, where everything is scheduled with almost no freedom, I actually had the chance to meet interesting people from all over the world, sharing life stories during a bumpy drive.

While most of the people on the tour drove back to the city in the evening, I stayed in an Airbnb. I had planned to go on a hike the next day though it snowed, and I already pictured myself getting rescued.

Luckily I had exchanged numbers with Pedro who was there with his wife and their daughter, who also stayed the night in the mountain town. Since it was extremely foggy on the previous day and we couldn't see much of the church, Pedro and I ventured out again in the morning, hackling prices with the taxi drivers. Instead of going back with the next tour bus, I took a Marshrutka with them, talking to the couple next to me for most of the ride. I am very thankful for Pedros family company, it made me feel more at ease and reminded me of how life will make a way.

Back in the city I somehow ended up running into a girl from my flight - on the most random street toward the end of my trip, we crossed paths again. Though we hadn't spoken on the plane, we had a wholesome catch up. This felt like a full circle moment, easing me into the end of my trip.

I met a lot of amazing people on this trip, who for a brief moment weren't strangers but friends.

Pictures taken on Fujifilm XT-5 w/ 23mm lens