Tell anyone that you’re in
Tbilisi for just a day and they’ll think you’re nuts, and not without reason!
There is so much to see in the city. There is so much to see in Georgia,
actually. We’re talking about the country, not the US state. But you can
actually connect the two if you are a Philippine passport holder because a
multiple entry visa from the latter can act as a substitute for the former. In
short, fly in anytime until your visa for ‘MURICA expires. This is also the
reason why Georgia got the short end of the stick.
For my introduction to the
Caucasus, at least. The original plan was two days in Yerevan and two days in
Tbilisi. For some reason, though, it felt like the trains and the planes
connived in terms of schedule. Long story short, all permutations led to one
country getting three days and the other left with just one. I had to choose
which was which, and since it’s easier for me to enter Georgia because of the
US visa substitute thingy, I decided to award the three days to Yerevan. And
you know how that went.
The important thing is I had
to make most of that one day and prevent Tbilisi from being Dallas or Panama
2.0. You know those Amazing Race itineraries of mine where I land early in the
morning and take off later in the evening, in zombie mode? For Tbilisi I opted
to reserve a cheap hostel bunk that I can crash for a couple of hours before my
midnight flight. It worked, I guess. I left my luggage there after lunch, went out
to explore the city, and had four or five hours of snooze time before taking a
cab back to the airport.
So what did I see? I used the
metro stations as landmarks. My hostel was at Marjanishvili. The next stop was
Rustaveli. In between the two I saw mostly old buildings that look classy and
all that. There is an area near my hostel where the streets are cobblestoned
and surrounded by shops and restaurants housed in those old buildings. Good
location! I needed a new phone cable and I was able to find one there. And then
I headed to the bridge for a closer view of the river. Rivers give me peace of
mind somehow. Don’t ask.
The walk to Rustaveli was
okay. The highlight was obviously the river. Half an hour was enough. However, I
think it’s the walk from Rustaveli to Freedom Square that is packed with notable
tourist attractions. Shota Rustaveli is one long avenue with even more shops
and cafes. There is a museum called Merab Kostava Memorial House next to
McDonalds and the metro station. It’s the monument at the center that usually
gets the attention here. Go on and cross the road towards the Georgian National
Academy of Sciences.
The campus looks legit from
the outside, but I think tourists will be more interested in the hawkers and
what they are selling along the sidewalk. I saw plenty of souvenirs and art on
offer, but never really asked how much. I’m not really into buying stuff.
Baggage issues. I also saw a hostel or two. I guess this area can serve as a
good base if you are staying for a few days. It seems central enough and close
to the metro station. The cafes also look hip, although I’m not sure if they
are legit or just there as tourist traps.
Moving on I passed by the
Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tbilisi. Now this one stands out. The architectural
style appears to be similar to those that you see in Mudejar architecture. I
haven’t been to Southern Spain but I’ve seen photos. They look a bit alike,
sort of. The façade has yellow and mauve stripes, which makes the building hard
to ignore. There’s a huge statue of a guy with what appears to be a book that
he is stamping. He must be famous. Otherwise, why put him there!
A few blocks away is Kashueti
Church with its simple façade as well as the Parliament, which I suppose is
off-limits because there’s a security personnel guarding the entrance. You will
see Republic Square itself from here. There’s an obelisk with a golden statue
on top flanked by more buildings that make you feel as though you were in
Europe, if you count the Caucasus as part of Western Asia, that is. This is
where you get off if you take the bus from the airport. It’s not a bad first
impression, I’m telling you.
After my early dinner break at
Subway, I took a detour and trailed Lado Gudiashvili Street which has a side
street leading to Nikoloz Baratashvili St, which in turn leads to a bridge
crossing the river. This, I think, is tourist central. Why so? Well, it’s
because you have a clear view of the Presidential Palace on the other side of
the river. The entirety of Rike Park is also visible thanks to the avant-garde
architecture. The roof of the Peace Bridge looks ultra-modern and there’s
another building there that looks as futuristic.
Before you cross the Peace
Bridge, you might want to explore the area first. There’s a resto there with a
tower that has a golden clock on it. This is a favorite spot among camwhores
and locals alike. Even before crossing the bridge, you’ll already see the hills
that play host to a couple of old churches that you can visit via a short cable
car ride. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to go because I was pressed for
time. The view from Rike Park’s side is cool, nonetheless.
The closest metro station is
Avlabari, which is a few blocks away from Tbilisi St. Trinity Cathedral. If you
search for images of the city on Google, this church is among the most popular results.
I snapped a not so flattering photo from afar but begged off the visit. When
you get older, you’ll understand the struggle between enough rest and
gallivanting. As for me, I’ll make sure to visit Tbilisi again and plan it
better. For now, I’m just happy to have a quick look-see and actually ending up
loving it.
[TBILISI] One Day in Tbilisi
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