Hello everyone. We continued our journey in the Kakheti region and arrived in Telavi, the capital of this region. We were drawn to an interesting accommodation facility with two-story cottages and decided to stay here for a night.

The place is called Tita Homes complex. There are two-story cottages here and it also has a pool and a restaurant. It was incredible to encounter such beautiful nature just a little distance from the city. The Alazani Valley and mountains were right in front of us. Having a pool in this complex is wonderful because usually, in such cottages, there’s just a building with nothing else. But here everything you might need is available: a restaurant, nature and more. I was very curious about the view we would encounter inside because the windows looked very panoramic from the outside.

We took the key to our cottage and started exploring inside. Everywhere had a mountain view and from the terrace, we could see the Alazani valley. The price for this panoramic-view cottage was 116 Euros per night, including breakfast. As soon as we entered the cottage, a small sitting area greeted us. It felt just like a home. Details like the air conditioning, lighting and stairs to the second floor were all considered. In the kitchen corner there was a coffee machine, a tea maker, tea and coffee capsules, an induction stove and even a dishwasher and washing machine. There were also kitchen utensils like plates, glasses and pans. A large refrigerator was available as well. It’s an ideal place for families or groups of friends.

We went out to our terrace and began exploring the view from the upper floor. In front of us the Alazani valley and mountains stretched out in all their beauty. Kakheti and the Alazani valley seem to be some of the most beautiful places in Georgia. Most people are used to going to Batumi. But this place with its nature and atmosphere, is definitely a must-see.

Then we got a bit hungry and decided to check out the hotel’s restaurant. The restaurant is surrounded by greenery, with a lovely atmosphere. It has beautiful spots in the garden for taking photos and it’s possible to sit on the terrace or inside. We combined lunch and dinner. The restaurant, with its benches, palm trees and peaceful atmosphere, feels almost like a park. We decided to sit in the terrace at the back, overlooking the Alazani valley and the mountains. The clean air, nature and complete relaxation were amazing.

The menu was quite diverse and we ordered a few traditional Georgian dishes. I ordered Georgian kebabs and khachapuri made with sulguni cheese. We also tried kubdari. Kubdari is a type of khachapuri made with meat and enriched with special spices. We chose Georgian beer to go with it, which paired perfectly with the kebabs.

After such a wonderful lunch-dinner, we decided to go for another walk and head to the center of Telavi to explore the local attractions. We had a lovely experience while discovering the city. First, we saw a giant plane tree, over 900 years old, located in the heart of Telavi. This tree has witnessed historical events in the region and is a fascinating natural wonder. The plane tree is not only visually impressive but also stands as a symbol of the area's past.

Everyone who comes to Telavi visits this place to see this ancient tree. There’s something like a massive cave inside it and surprisingly, it’s still growing. The woman who brought us here told us that 15 people tried to surround this tree but couldn’t manage to do so. Imagine how thick this tree is. A man came and said that the tree was once sturdy, but after being struck by lightning a massive crack was formed. This might be one of the thickest and oldest trees we've ever seen. From the tree you can descend into a beautiful park leading to a square.

What I really liked about this city is the abundance of greenery. Wherever you go, everything is fresh, neatly trimmed and there are small houses with balconies. You really feel peaceful and relaxed here. You would definitely recommend this place to your friends and loved ones. If you've never been to the Caucasus, it’s worth coming here just for the view of the Alazani valley and the mountains. There was also an interesting sculpture here, though I couldn’t quite understand it. It seemed to be a teapot, a bicycle and a lamp all combined.

We walked for about 10 meters and saw a very interesting building. It turned out to be an artists school. It was an old structure, with a grapevine or something else on its balcony. It was a beautiful sight with artworks on the walls, really quality paintings. When I was a child, I attended an art school for a while, even for about two years, but then I quit. If you ask why I quit, I don’t know. I guess I got bored. Later I turned to dance and gymnastics.

It was really hot, so we went into a shop to get some water. Here, especially Borjomi water is very famous and I think it’s the most delicious one. I also recommend the local lemonades, as there are different flavors. After drinking our water we headed toward the marketplace. They said there was a very colorful market and we were quite curious. We quickly started heading down to the market.

We passed through the colorful streets of the city and reached the local marketplace. Here fresh fruits, cheeses, traditional breads and spices were being sold. We chatted with the vendors, tasted their products and encountered a very warm atmosphere. There was also an oil popular in the Caucasus that I wanted to see. This oil, made from sunflower seeds grown in the Caucasus, is not sold in Tbilisi and Batumi, only here. When we stayed at the hotel they used this oil for dressing salads. Looking at the prices, everything here was much cheaper, especially tomatoes and cucumbers, which were much more affordable than in Batumi. The non-rotten, sweet tomatoes cost around 1 Lari and cucumbers were 1.5 Lari, about 50 cents. Even Tkemali (Georgian soy sauce) is sold here. Local-made churchkhelas were also very affordable. There were even some cooked meats, butter and various kinds of honey being sold. This market has everything, including souvenirs, traditional clothing and local products.

We also visited the vineyards I mentioned earlier and learned about the wine-making process. Since Telavi is one of the most famous wine regions in Georgia, it was a privilege to taste different kinds of wine. The wine is stored in ancient clay pots called qvevri. It was fascinating to see the wine-making process here. We first tasted a white dry wine called Kisi. This wine, which matures in a short time, was quite tasty, not acidic and had a very sweet texture. Then, we tried the Saperavi wine. The wines here generally had a dry and refreshing taste. Our favorite was Kindzmarauli, a red wine with a very smooth and rich flavor profile.

We also tried other types of wine. Finally we tasted rosé wine, which left a light and fruity taste, a perfect drink for hot summer days. We ended the day with a beautiful glass of wine.