Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

More sparks flying & bouncing off things as the axe is ground, maybe a 1/4-second exposure

View towards the top of the village from the museum window - this is the part where I live, with the school roof at bottom left

The school where I teach English, once a hotel but given for this use when the old facility burned down. There has been a school in Ushguli for 51 years as of this November, and a couple who teach there have been at their posts as long. Background: Mts Lamaria (right) and Shkhara (left), Georgia's highest at over 5000m

Lali & I at a waterfall, lower Svaneti

Tamar's Summer tower, Europe's highest watchtower (I think), overlooking the village

Back from Internet Exile

So I thought I'd got it all sorted out for internet on computer by mobile up in faraway Ushguli. Last year I also had problems but after about 12 days of phone calls back & forth to Magti (cellphone operator in Georgia) I was on. NOT this time. 17 days with no internet... Not that I'm a junkie or anything, but I DO like to stay in touch. Lali was up there with me at least...

But I had pressing reasons to return to Tbilisi before western Christmas, so here I am for a several weeks' break. Back online.

Photos top to bottom:

Zakro sharpening an axe, Temo holding the grinder down, Anzor looking on; sparks intensified by using a slow shutter speed

The tower at right collapsed earlier this year - c'mon, government, these are ancient national treasures, DO something!

View from the museum window

Orthodox Church bell from the 19th century, which was when the village last had a priest

Zakro shaving a newly- slaughtered piglet (most of its hair came off under boiling water)