Metro in Tbilisi

Metro stops

Long escalators to metro

There are two underground metro lines in Tbilisi. Metro is built very deep so you have to go a long way down with escalators. When I came to Tbilisi I noticed that the escalators to metro were moving faster than escalators elsewhere. As journey is very long there is no option to take normal stairs. I have good experience with metro of Tbilisi as the escalators and metro have been always functioning. One way metro ticket costs 50 tetri which is about 25 cents in euros.

Cab ride in Tbilisi

Marjanishvili

In Tbilisi it is very easy to catch a taxi in the day or night time. Most of the taxis are unofficial ones but they have still taxi sign on the roof. There are many taxis constantly passing on the streets and you can flag down one easily. In Georgia you don't hop into a taxi straight away. First you ask if the taxi driver is willing to drive to your desired destination and then you negotiate the fare for the trip. Common fare inside the city is five laris which is about two euros. On the back seat I have been always trying to buckle up but very rarely taxis have had seat belts available. Here my post about taxis in Turkey.

How to travel from Tbilisi to other cities in Georgia?

Meidani roundabout

There are many places to see in Tbilisi but also outside of Tbilisi are many places worth visiting This post is an informative post how to travel to other cities in Georgia from Tbilisi. Mini buses or cars do not follow strict timetables even though they have some guidelines. It is possible that they wait until the ride gets full before departing. There are four main places to take transportation by minibus to different destinations in Georgia. For example Six-hour trip to Batumi costs 20 lari and two-hour trip to Telavi costs 10 lari.

Station square

In front of the railway station you can find mini buses that go to cities in western Georgia. You can go to destinations like Batumi, Kutaisi, Zugdidi etc. There are many mini buses departing during the day so you can choose if you want to travel early in the morning or later.

Isani

When you step out from the metro station Isani already some drivers will be asking if you are interested to travel some city in Kakheti. You can travel to eastern Georgia cities like Sighnaghi, Telavi, Kvareli etc.

Didube

Near metro station Didube is a bus station called Okriba. From there you can take mini bus to Kazbegi, Gudauri, Mtskheta, Batumi, Zugdidi etc.

Ortachala
Ortachala is one kilometer from 300 Aragveli metro station. From Ortachala you can take transportation to places outside of Georgia like Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan etc.

Georgian bread

Bread called shoti being baked

Bread in Georgia is baked in an unique way. The bread is shaped in a long form and then put against a wall of a big pot. On the bottom of the pot there are hot coals. You wait until the bread gets nicely brown and take it out. Georgians like to eat the bread cracking the most crunchy parts by hands. Commonly the bread is enjoyed with cheese.

Why traffic is unsafe in Tbilisi?

"Mushroom building" by the road

Traffic in Georgia is crazy and unsafe. In this post I will discuss some reason which makes traffic crazy and not safe in Tbilisi. There are vehicles in horrible condition in the traffic. Many cars have shattered front window, buffers missing, no seat belts and list goes on. Reason for the bad condition of the vehicles is that there is not yearly inspection for the vehicles which they need to pass. It means that you can drive with anything in the traffic as long as it moves. You see plenty of old Ladas and cars which have steering wheel on the right also, Pedestrians cross the road everywhere. Nobody searches a zebra road for crossing. When crossing on zebra road and cars are turning they do not give the way to pedestrians as in other European countries. One friend told me that he completed a driving license in Georgia by driving in a track few years ago but as the traffic in the city of Tbilisi is crazy he never dared to drive.

Culture differences between Finland and Spain comic book published

Vamos

Today I published a comic book called "Timo & Fernando - Culture differences between Finland and Spain". Go to http://www.parmvoo.com/timoandfernando/ and download for free.

Churchkhela

Different kind of churchkhelas

Georgia has own national "chocolate bar" called churchkhela. In some places I have seen it being called Georgian snickers. Traditionally churchkhelas are made of walnuts and wine grape juice. Churchkhelas are prepared by attaching walnuts to a piece of thread and then dipping it in a wine grape juice which has been made more condensed by adding flour in it. Then you hang them for drying and once they get more solid, they are are ready to be eaten. Both red and white wine juice are used for Churchkhelas.  In addition to walnuts also nuts and pumpkin seeds are used for the thread which is dipped in the juice.

Cheap and tasty way to get full in Georgian restaurant

Khinkali

Tasty and economic way to get full belly in Georgian restaurant is to order Khinkali. You can order Khinkali with different meats, cheese or vegetables. One Khinkali costs around 65 tetri which is 25 cents in Euros. I get satisfied with six Khinkalis and with eight Khinkalis I feel full. The means that you get full with 2 Euros in a good restaurant.

There is a story of a Georgian man who went to a restaurant and ordered 99 Khinkalis. The waiter asked "why 99 and not 100?". The man answered, "I am not a pig".