Kakheti, Georgia

These are from a recent trip with Somebody to her home province of Kakheti, eastern Georgia. Autumn, autumn.

Top 2: barberries.
3rd: pears.

Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

A final few from up to Tamar's Summer Tower, including (top) a quick shot down to Ushguli from the grounds of the Tower itself. I didn't want us to pause there for long as we were wet nearly through, warm from the walk up, and at risk of getting quite chilled if we stopped long enough to rest nicely. So, down we went right after this, to the fires of home at the top of the village.

Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

These are from the walk up to Tamar's Summer Tower high above Ushguli, Europe's highest watchtower. Light rain, thunder and lightning made it a challenge just to get up there, let alone to take pictures. But the fall colours made me try.

En Route to Svaneti, Georgia

Exercises in Creative Fencing, Samegrelo province... with mountains looming as always in the background.

(I'm actually away in Kakheti with Someone as these last 2 days of posts are hitting the blog, thanks to being able to "send now, post later". Back on Tuesday.)

En route to Svaneti, Georgia

I know, these are all out of order from the whole last trip to Svaneti - the first ones I showed were from the last day, and now I'm showing ones from the way up there... whatever.

This is a bus stop in rural Samegrelo.

Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

Herself at my favourite photo-point for Murqmeli, the lowest hamlet of Ushguli. Pause for a quick photo in the rain, then carry on to Tamar's Summer Tower, while thunder & lightning crashed around us. We got soaked; but she still loved it. What a woman.

A door made from an old traditional grain-threshing board.

Herself at the top of the watchtower of Lamaria Church.

And a view down onto the same church from a window of that tower.

Ushguli, Svaneti, Georgia

4 more from the early October tour with Someone.

Feeding Time

Ratiani Family with Someone

Ushguli from the watchtower of Lamaria Church

Lamaria Church door

Rebuilding after Fire, Mestia, Svaneti, Georgia

Dali and Shero and their house after the fire some months ago. They're hard at work returning it to a state fit to be lived in. It was basically a total loss, though thank God no one was harmed. But the family escaped at night with what they were wearing.

Mestia, Svaneti, Georgia

More from Mestia. The middle shot's a favourite angle which I need to get the lighting right on.

Mestia, Svaneti, Georgia

Internet at home is back at last! Nearly 2 weeks without it reminded me how much I use the thing - not hours per day, but some time each day for sure. We switched to a different ISP in the end, while the other 2 battle it out and lose us customers. Their loss.

Top 3 - Mestia scenery.

Bottom 2 - Home/museum of Mikheil Khergiani, celebrated son of Mestia, mountaineer who died doing what he loved but much too early, in the Italian Alps.

Mestia, Svaneti, Georgia

All from the visit earlier this October.

The artist's cat.

A sample of the artist's son's work.

The artist and his own work.

Fall foliage, Mestia.

I still don't have internet back at home yet, so reduced to occasional surfing in other locations. Warring internet serive providers, you're not doing your country any favours, ra!

Mestia, Svaneti, Georgia

Top 3 - details from a carved wooden door.

Bottom - sorting out my book collection back in Tbilisi - 8-900 books or so...

Etseri, Svaneti, Georgia...

Top: Sergo the Reaper

Next: Watching paint crack, a favourite pastime

Bottom 2: You've heard of James & the Giant Peach perhaps, but Sergo & the Giant Tomato?! It weighed in at 1.2 kg...

Internet sizmari (nightmare), Georgia

Several days now of no internet at home and in a significant part of Tbilisi, with rumours of an ISP having gone down. So I'm accessing it from a friend's house tonight. And a warm welcome to the first visitors to the blog from Jordan and Bangladesh, countries 91 and 92!

Today's photos are from my recent 25th tour of Svaneti - from Kurashi, top part of Etseri village. It has a purportedly 9th-century church with an 11th-century gospel, all of which I saw for the first time. The 3rd photo is a small copy of the wheel used to torture St George. And the bottom is a house in Kurashi.