On my way to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, I meet up with a French couple. Since we both make about the same trip on the motorcycle, we have been in contact several times and now that we are both in the same city, we would like to meet up to see each other.
They camp near a lake on the outskirts of the city and when I drive into Tbilisi I see on the navigation that it is still 16 km to their camping spot. What a huge city this is. An hour later I have only progressed 7 kilometers because everything is very fixed and once in a while I take a wrong turn in the maze of roads. It's getting late and I let them know that I'm not coming to the camping spot because I don't feel like looking for my hotel in the dark.
I quickly found the hotel and my motorcycle can be parked behind a gate in the city garden. The next morning I explore the city and visit the Sameba Cathedral, the Bridge of Peace and the Kartlis Deda monument. Tbilisi is a beautiful city with both hip neighborhoods and historic places. However, the difference with the rest of the country is very large. In the smaller towns and in the countryside, poverty is everywhere and everything looks rather Russian. Here, in the city, it seems more European.
When I, tired of walking, look for a restaurant, I hear that the French are in my neighborhood and we immediately meet in a pub. Nice to finally meet and exchange experiences and plans. Luckily my hotel is nearby because it gets very cozy and late.
