Georgia. Batumi

 I hadn't initially planned to visit Batumi, but bad weather forced me to change my plans and descend from the mountains to the sea. From Mestia, the regional center of Svaneti, I took a direct minibus to this resort capital and the second largest city in Georgia. I spent the next two nights there, swimming in the warm waters of the Black Sea, trying authentic khachapuri, and strolling through streets filled with various exotic plants...

  During the rather long ride to Batumi, I met two guys - Sam from China and Sandor from Hungary. The trip was quite unusual because the driver was transporting people in two different directions—Kutaisi and Batumi. At the crossroads, he transferred the three of us with tickets to Batumi into a taxi, assuring us he had covered the fare and we would be taken to Batumi. Since I was the only one among us who spoke some Russian, and the driver also spoke a bit, I explained the arrangement to the others in English, calming them down. This chance encounter led to us becoming friends, and upon arriving in the city, we went to try authentic Adjaruli khachapuri together.   

 Sandor and I eventually parted ways, but Sam decided to stay at the same hostel as me, so we headed there together. After settling in, I immediately went to the sea, which was less than a kilometer away... 

  The beach in Batumi is pebbly, which I didn't particularly like, especially since the rough seas made it challenging to get out of the water. Due to the cyclone that drove me from the mountains, the sea was rough the entire time...  

 Batumi's main square and streets were delightful to explore...

  

 The port and various boats added to the city's charm...

  There’s also the Chacha Tower, which once had a fountain that flowed with chacha (Georgian vodka) for 10 minutes every week, but this hasn't happened in over five years...

  Walking along Batumi's promenade was a highlight, with its surrounding buildings and beautiful fountains...

  Будівлі поруч з набережною...

   

 Europe Square is the city's main square, and it's surrounded by impressive architecture... 

  The Church of St. Nicholas and Piazza Square were also notable spots...

  

  The high-rise buildings of Batumi, the Batumi Boulevard...

  

  Bamboo grove made me feel like I was strolling through a botanical garden...

   

  My hostel was located about a kilometer from the city center and about 800 meters from the sea. During the winter, the building serves as a place for English language courses, but in the summer, it operates as a hostel. The price for a bed in a four-person room was only 4 euros, and the conditions far exceeded the price...    

  The Batumi Cathedral of the Mother of God was another beautiful sight...

  I also enjoyed "fried ice cream" with berries, which I was even invited to prepare myself - an offer I couldn’t refuse due to my curiosity about such things...

  I frequently bought ice cream on the promenade from a shop belonging to the most popular local producer...

 Another treat I couldn’t resist was the baked goods, especially Guruli gvezeli  with cheese and a boiled egg inside...

  The Ferris wheel and the statues of Ali and Nino, the Georgian Romeo and Juliet, were standout attractions. At 7 p.m., the statues begin to move towards each other and then merge, completing a full cycle in about 15 minutes. This installation is incredibly popular due to its unique and touching concept...

   

 Overall, Batumi left a pleasant impression, adding another piece to my Georgian puzzle, distinct from all the others. It's always nice when a trip combines mountains and the sea. Although the sea wasn't part of my original plans, plans are just a direction that helps movement, but not the movement itself...