m̌ ḫ's photos

The Cross Over Mestia is a monumental cross situated 900 meters above Mestia, which commands attention from anywhere in the valley. The pathway to this cross starts from Mestia and guides you through the town towards Tskahazagari mountain. The hike is considered a shorter alternative to the Koruldi Lakes trail and is generally considered challenging, taking an average of 4 hours to complete, covering a distance of nearly 9 km.

The Sad Mother statue stands tall and solemn on the slope of a mountain, overlooking the scenic town of Mestia in Upper Svaneti, Georgia. The statue's expression is melancholic, with downcast eyes and hands clasped in sorrow. It is a hauntingly beautiful symbol of grief and mourning, paying tribute to the many lives lost in this rugged and remote region. The statue was erected in memory of those who perished in a tragic avalanche in the 19th century, but it has since become a symbol of resilience and hope for the people of Svaneti. Visitors to this mesmerizing region cannot help but be enchanted by the Sad Mother statue's stunning and majestic presence against the backdrop of the stunning natural landscape.

The Towers of Mestia, also known as Svan towers, are unique defensive structures that were built as a means of protection in the Georgian historical region of Svaneti. These towers are primarily found in the settlements of Mestia and Ushguli, which are both located in the Svaneti region and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Mestia, a town in the Svaneti region of Georgia, is known for its unique and distinctive architecture. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is characterized by its old stone buildings and towers.

In a hotel, with locals. Most of them are Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) the refugees in their own country. In 1998, during the fighting in Abkhazia, a significant number of people fled to Zugdidi, Georgia, seeking shelter and assistance. Most of these refugees took shelter in schools and other public buildings, while some were housed in collective centers that were opened by the authorities in and around the town. In 1999, Zugdidi was still full of IDP's, with more than forty thousand living there.

Zugdidi, Georgia in 1999 was a town that was home to a significant number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled to the town seeking shelter and assistance during the fighting in Abkhazia in 1998. Most of these refugees took shelter in schools and other public buildings, while some were housed in collective centres that were opened by the authorities in and around Zugdidi. The local community in Georgia shared their homes, food, heating fuel, and other resources to accommodate the refugees. It is estimated that there were between 40,000 and 60,000 internally displaced persons living in Zugdidi at that time. In 1999, Zugdidi was still full of these Internally Displaced Persons, and more than 40,000 were living in the county.

Historically, Zugdidi was a capital of the Principality of Mingrelia (Odishi) until 1867, when the principality was abolished by the Russian Empire. Nowadays it is the capital of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, which combines Samegrelo (Mingrelia) and upper part of Svaneti, and the center of the Zugdidi Municipality within. The city is located 318 kilometers west of Tbilisi, 30 km from the Black Sea coast and 30 km from the Egrisi Range. Zugdidi that time has been hosting and still hosts many refugees. The city has played a significant role in providing shelter and support to those who have been displaced from their homes due to conflicts and wars. Between 1991 and 1993, about 80,000 ethnic Georgians were displaced from the Gali district of Abkhazia, and about 52,000 were displaced from Sukhumi.As of 2023, nearly 300,000 persons remained internally displaced in Georgia, with 30-40% of them living in the Samegrelo region adjacent to Abkhazia. Zugdidi is the gateway to Svaneti, one of the most beautiful and mountainous regions of Georgia. The road between Zugdidi and Mestia, is known as the Svaneti Highway and offers a scenic journey through the beautiful mountains of the Greater Caucasus. As travelling on budget, we could reach the Svaneti main city by minibus via an arduous and dangerous 5-6 hour journey.

Traveling on a budget in Georgia in 1999 had been an adventure! With a little planning and a sense of adventure, it was still possible to explore this beautiful country without breaking the bank. Transportation from Slovakia to Georgia took 4 days spending up to 70 USD, using trains and 'marschrutka' minibuses like in this case.

The Bagrati Cathedral was constructed in the 11th century and is a cruciform-shaped church with four free-standing piers supporting the dome. It has a three-apsed construction to the east, with an elongated western arm. On the second floor of both sides of the west arm, there are galleries where women from royal families would have prayed. The restoration works began in the 1950s, and continued for several decades. In 1994, under Patriarch Ilia II, a fund was created for the reconstruction of the cathedral, and major conservation works were concluded in 2012.

The Bagrati Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Dormition, is an 11th-century cathedral located in Kutaisi, Georgia. The cathedral has been the subject of controversy due to its full-scale restoration and subsequent delisting from the World Heritage List. The restoration works on the cathedral began in the 1950s and has been a point of contention, with experts expressing concerns about the impact of the reconstruction on the cathedral's outstanding universal value and authenticity. The controversy surrounding the restoration and delisting of the Bagrati Cathedral has garnered significant attention and has been the subject of academic analysis. // This is the stage in 1999, and for the comparison I took the liberty to use a newer photo by hourglass . Another photo of the same by Peter Ashton

The Glory to Labour Monument is an abstract monument located in the center of Kutaisi, Georgia. It was created by sculptors E. Amashukeli and I. Bastanashvili and completed in 1980. The monument is an example of Soviet-era architecture and art, and it is considered a former USSR monument dedicated to the working people of Georgia and celebrates their contributions to the country's development. The artwork is made of bronze and marble and is located in a public square in the center of Kutaisi, being a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of the city's history and culture. (It is worth noting that the monument should not be confused with the Glory Memorial, which was a different monument located in Kutaisi that was dedicated to the memory of those who died during World War II and was demolished in 2009 to make way for a new parliament building.)

Gelati Monastery is a medieval monastic complex founded in 1106 by King David IV of Georgia on a wooded hill above the river Tskaltsitela, near Kutaisi. The main church of the monastery, known as the Church of Virgin the Blessed, was completed in 1130 in the reign of David's son and successor Demetré. The monastery is one of the largest medieval Orthodox monasteries, distinguished for its harmony with its natural setting and a well thought-out overall planning concept. Gelati Monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered a masterpiece of the Golden Age of medieval Georgia.

The Gelati Monastery in Georgia is known for its vivid and intricate murals, including depictions of Hell. The wall paintings inside the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin is a multi-layered ensemble, and from the original decoration, only the mosaic in the sanctuary conch and the murals of the narthex have survived. The majority of the wall paintings in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin were executed after 1510, and the murals were commissioned by the Kings of Imereti in the 1520s, 1550s, and between 1560 and 1578. The Gelati Monastery is a masterpiece of the architecture of the “Golden Age” of Georgia and the best representative of its architectural style.

The Bagrati Cathedral in Kutaisi is located on a hill, providing a beautiful view of the city, the Racha mountain range, and the Rioni River. Visitors can enjoy the view of Kutaisi from the area around the cathedral, which is also suitable for a picnic. The cathedral is one of the main hallmarks of Kutaisi and is considered one of the four Great Cathedrals of Georgia. It is a masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture and started a new era in the early medieval history of Georgian temple architecture. The cathedral was built in the early years of the 11th century, during the reign of King Bagrat III, to commemorate the unification of Georgia. The temple was partially ruined for centuries and was restored in 2012, mainly preserving the original image and style of the building.

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