Our second week in Tbilisi was packed with adventure, learning, great food, and plenty of walking!
One of the highlights of the week was celebrating Georgia’s Independence Day. Georgia celebrates Independence Day on May 26, commemorating the declaration of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918. Although the country was later incorporated into the Soviet Union, Georgians regained their independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The holiday is a proud reminder of Georgia’s resilience, history, and commitment to self-determination.
The city was full of energy as families gathered to watch the military parade and enjoy the festivities throughout the streets. We spent hours wandering through the family activity areas, enjoying games, exhibits, and activities for all ages. Of course, Michael and Henry couldn’t resist testing their strength at one of the displays featuring an impressively heavy weightlifting bar. 😉
Another day, we took the funicular up the mountain to visit Mtatsminda Park. While we didn’t go on any of the rides, it was fun to explore the park, take in the views overlooking Tbilisi, and see what all the excitement was about. Henry and Kristian even found a spot to get in a game while enjoying the scenery.
The parents enjoyed a special outing of their own with a wine tasting at the Karalashvili Wine Cellar. Along with sampling local wines, they learned about Georgia’s remarkable winemaking history. Georgia is widely considered the birthplace of wine, with archaeological evidence showing that people were making wine there over 8,000 years ago. In fact, the oldest known evidence of winemaking was found in Georgia, making the country’s wine tradition one of its greatest cultural treasures.
We continued settling into our Tbilisi routine with plenty of our favorite activities, including pickleball, chess, and art class. Each week feels a little more familiar as we discover new corners of the city and revisit places we enjoy. One of our favorite discoveries has been finding a local baker whose pastries and breads keep us coming back for more. Combined with all the delicious Georgian food we’ve been enjoying, we’ve certainly been eating well!
Thankfully, all that good food is balanced out by the amount of walking we do. Most days, we rack up between 10,000 and 15,000 steps exploring neighborhoods, parks, markets, and city streets. As week two comes to a close, we’re continuing to fall in love with Tbilisi. Between the rich history, welcoming people, amazing food, and endless opportunities for adventure, we’re excited to see what the coming weeks will bring.
