We
made it! The plan was to cross into Georgia on 1st May
and a
30km drive saw us at the border.Heart wrenchingly, after we had cleared EC out and had been told by the guy that Georgia didn’t like any sort of tablet etc etc, I had to leave my home in Johns capable hands and walk. I should of packed a lunch. I got stamped out of Turkey then walked down a corridor going through glass doors feeling like Maxwell Smart!!. Got to the other end and no one there - so hollered. One guy came out of duty free and just waved me to the door down another short corridor. I exited and looked through the gates at John waiting half way. Another guy arrived and checked my passport and I just stood around waiting.
I did not like the feeling of being away from my home. I had the clothes I stood up in and my passport.
John
duly arrived and we drove the 50m to the Georgia entry. This
crossing had been closed between 1995-2015 but now has huge
infrastructure setup to deal with a bus loads of people. We were the
only ones, apart from the trucks.
The
Georgia half was the same - I then walked down more corridor past the
x-ray machines. A customs official came up to me and asked for my
luggage and I indicated it was in the car. She asked me to get it and I
explained it was not in a bag but in draws as this had been my home
for 2 years. She was quite astounded by this,
She had good English and I told her where we’d been and where we
were going. I sat inside waiting for John.
Once
he was through we parked at the insurance booth. For the first time
we needed to buy insurance - our green card does not cover us here. We
were classed as a truck and it cost 60GEL - I first thought A$120 but I’d
got my wires crossed and it was only A$30 - A$2 a day. We had argued in
vane to get through as a special vehicle but no go.
Georgia
here we were.
Next
to the Armenian border via Akhalkalaki to buy a SIM card and get some
currency.
Immediate
thoughts of Georgia are bit like Ukraine - a step back in time. Old
equipment but pretty groovy tracked tractors, Lots of fallen down
buildings or in disrepair but very friendly folk.
The
currency and phone was easy. We asked the lady from the SIM shop
where to eat and she indicated a place over the road.
What
a surprise! Once downstairs it was very clean and fancy. I ordered while John went back to get our computers.Two Georgian plates - one was big dumplings - the other a fried pork and vegie combo and two soda waters which came in 400ml bottles. Both meals were nice but we won’t need dinner! 19GEL about A$10
On
towards Armenia - only 40kms but the road was only sealed around
the potholes so very slow going. John got into 4th once
and regretted it. Every time you think there is a good section of
road a pothole jumps out under both wheels!Finally at the border. I was encouraged once again to depart and walk. A guy flicked through every page of my passport then took me inside to another couple of guys in a booth. They also flicked though my passport asked what was the make of the car them stamped me out. We were out of Georgia after about 5 hours.
About 9000AMD -
for
which neither of our cards would work and reluctant to pay with our
US$ - we paid with Georgian GEL. Cost about A$30. Then we had to go and
buy Insurance - another $A15. The insurance guy offered to sell us a SIM with 4GB -
seemed expensive (A$12) but would give us data immediately as we would not
pass a town before camp. I
noticed back in the car that the message said I had only 500MB. Done
for!! However
on the up side it enabled me to apply for our Azerbiajan visa.
We
turned west towards a lake and national park.
At
the village of Tavshut we saw one of the neat tractors so stopped to
talk to the young men with it. John had a good look at it which
surprised the locals. While chatting, the herd of cows came home and just
walked through the building into the courtyard and their corral for
the night.
At
the village of Tavshut we saw one of the neat tractors so stopped to
talk to the young men with it. John had a good look at it which
surprised the locals. While chatting, the herd of cows came home and just
walked through the building into the courtyard and their corral for
the night.
The
two guys 20 and 22 year olds took us on a walk to this little chapel
then they hopped in their new tractor and we followed them to a small
dam close by. Then onto another older chapel which had this ring of
large stones inside….. Maybe the building was built over the
stones??
Onwards
to the lake Arpi and Lake Arpi National Park. The
roads are slow with lots of potholes.
The
Armenians are very inventive with their fences!
Many
great old cemeteries all with their own style of head stone.
134km