Monday, August 20, 2012

Satsulukidzeo.

Some Moments From the Homestead

Wintertime laundry.
Baby chickees, and an old pair of shoes.
The manhole located in the center of my host family's courtyard.
Papa chicken hanging out with his (probably) babies in the creepy first floor room that was never used for anything.
A bookshelf in my family's "summer house" (little two room house located directly behind the main house), including massive drinking horns, sippy cup with strap for the busy, executive infant on the go, picture of Jesus, and an iron.
Uncle Joe painting on wood, on the mantle, as you do.
My host family's summer kitchen.
Rose petals from the numerous rose plants, gathered and left to ferment in sugar water. Called "vardispheri sasmeli", or pink drink. This was from the first few days, when it was still pretty, before it turned into a viscous black sludge.
Spring time grape vines.
Gela putting on his shoe.
The gate across the road from our front door, and the mountains in the distance.
Nino, cooking.
Kristina, climbing.
Gardens, blooming.
The strange out shed where Gela snuck off to get drunk. Probably where the wine is made, really.
The irrigation system.
Arabi, the horse that sometimes lived in our front yard.
Simba, my one-time enemy but eventual friend after I snuck him many, many unwanted bulki (sweetbread Dariko used to buy for breakfast).

Mestia.

An impromptu trip that ended up being one of my favorite places in Georgia.
  Quick 10 AM pit-stop for a third breakfast and a couple beers, then it's back on the road!



 Mestia sign on the marshrutka's dash in the foreground, Ushba in the background.
 Don't know what this says. I imagine it concerns tolerance, or religion, or something.
 Our homestay, yay! These women were wonderful. If you ever find yourself in Mestia, find your way to this house and stay here.


 PHOTO-OP. Clearly looking the best we have ever looked after like, 2 straight days of travel.
 Koshki!

 Close up.
 This guard dog was too legit to quit. 
 Poor street dog, his foot was all wrong. But he was very cute.
 180 Lari taxi to Ushguli versus 300 Lari taxi to Ushguli.
 More river, as seen from a higher and less safe bridge.
 The mountain we climbed!!!!!

 Climbing..


 Climbing...
 Stopped to take some pictures of local flora/fauna for my mom:




 Back to climbing...

 Spiky dangerous plant of evil.
This is a pretty accurate visualization of the angle we were climbing at. I spent most of the climb telling Kayla where she could shove it.
 Ushba! "The Matterhorn of the Caucasus" as I heard one person call it this one time!

 You can't tell, but in this picture I am still cursing Kayla for making me climb this damn mountain.


 Mestia, small and far away.