Georgia

Top: a hand-stitched panorama from the Imereti province of Georgia, near Tqibuli

2nd: near Stepantsminda (Kazbegi)

Bottom 2: Khevsureti in the fall a few years ago

People of Georgia

Might as well call this set "Person of Georgia", because there's 1 man in 4 of the 5 shots.

Nodar: in Khevsureti; holding an unusual set of horns in the old Mestia Museum; with children and nieces in Dizi; and (last) with an ancient mortar, also in Dizi.

The 4th shot is of Yours Truly, Tony the Mighty Hunter, in Etseri.

Khevsureti, October 2000

The old man of recent posts; and more of the river, including Nodar to give scale in the top shot.
K&P, while you're nuptualising tomorrow, I'll be at the wedding of a longtime acquaintance in Kakheti. But I'll be with you in spirit!

Khevsureti, October 2000

K&P, more for your viewing pleasure. Today - the Aragvi River.

Khevsureti, October 2000

Some of the people we met on that trip. The man at bottom is the same one who was in yesterday's top shot. The lady in the middle is holding a new cheese. The girl at top had only not to move while I squeezed off three shots of her perfect surroundings and pose.

Khevsureti, October 2000

The house at top was built by the grandfather of the 76-year-old man standing outside it. He had lived there all his life.

Khevsureti, October 2000

More for you, K&P. Don't worry, I know you're getting ready for the big day on Saturday and probably don't have time to look at these right now. But eventually you will.

Khevsureti, Georgia, October 2000

Move over for a while, Svaneti.

In the summer of 2000 I was given the opportunity to run a large medical aid programme for refugees in Georgia. The main doctor in our work turned out to be a Svan who became my best friend in the country, Nodar. He is the one who opened his province - Svaneti - to me, his friends and family being widely distributed there.

Before we travelled to Svaneti, though, there was another place I wanted as much to try to reach in Georgia: Shatili, at the top of Khevsureti, another ancient architectural jewel, as fascinating to me as Ushguli was.

These photos - and more to follow - are a record of the first of three attempts at Shatili. October 2000 gave us stunning fall scenery, but due to the Chechen war bordering Khevsureti, we were turned back by Georgian police fearing for my safety a few tens of kilometres from Georgia's fabled other village of towers.

I have two friends in the UK who are looking at getting involved in village life in Khevsureti - she has bought a house there, and in a few days they'll be married in England. K&P, these are in honour of you, with love and best wishes and God's blessing for your life together.