Jgurag (St George's) Church, Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

Top 2:  Some of the church's many St George icons; I especially like the style of the top one

Bottom 2:  details of the carved wooden door, a masterpiece - I must find out how old it is

Ipari to K'ala, August 2007

The beautiful carved wooden cross at the pass near Ipari again; and a couple more views of Ushba from near K'ala.

Svaneti, June 2007

From bottom to top:
Mestia, Svaneti's capital town with its almost 70 watchtowers. Jeff and I walked to one of the towers of the defunct ski-lift, then climbed it to see the view, which I had also done on my very first visit to Svaneti, in July 1999. Alas, then as now Ushba was hidden behind clouds. But the landscape was still rewarding.

Door, Mestia. Nothing fancy, perhaps; a nice piece of folk art nonetheless.

View towards Ushba from near the pass at Ipari. Ushba was still uncooperative, but the scenery still worth capturing.

Cross Detail, Ipari pass. This silver-painted wooden cross had carvings all over it, and a cup to toast from on a little shelf. The detail is of St George doing his number on the dragon, here beautifully rendered in a simple style.

House museum interior, Ushguli, August 2004

Some of the fantastically detailed carved wood items which are practically the only thing one can buy at all in the village. Not cheap, but each a masterpiece. The chair, bottom picture, at left, is the traditional seat of the male head of a Svan household.

Carved door closeup, Ushguli house museum, December 2003

This magnificent work is actually for sale, for US$4000 the last I heard. Many hundreds of hours must have gone into it. Any takers?