We were up and out of the house by 9.00 am after a breakfast of foul tasting sweet bottled drinks, fried eggs, cheese and honey. Todays itinerary included several monasteries and then back for another night in our lodgings.

Telavi Shuamta

We were up and out of the house by 9.00 am after a breakfast of foul-tasting sweet bottled drinks, fried eggs, cheese and honey.
First, we set off west from Telavi to the monasteries at Shuamta. Here going up a winding road in the most beautiful wood we passed the Akhali (new )monastery. This we did not visit because of the fierce nuns who did not like visitors. We went up the hill to the Dzveli (old) Shuamta monastery, beautifully set on the hillside. There was a tunnel from this monastery to the monastery of Ikalto which we visited next.

Telavi Ikalto Academy

Having finished the visit to Shuamta, we headed back down the road and onto the academy of Ikalto. Her we have the ruins of three churches and the ruins of the academy crammed into a small compound among some cypress trees. Founded in the 6th century by Zenon

Telavi Alaverdi

Next, we went to the cathedral of St George at Alaverdi. Founded by Joseph one of the Syrian fathers. The present church was built in the 11th century. One of the largest medieval churches in Georgia. The cathedral was built in tufa.
The frescos date from the 11th to 13th, and 15th centuries. The Russians whitewashed them in the 19th, and uncovered them and restored them from 1967.

Our guide giving a talk

Horse and Cart

Telavi Lunch

Next we went on for Lunch. I have no idea where we went, except we travelled by coach for over an hour towards the mountains. We sat outside under a vine on a large table. Massive amount of food and wine was brought out for us to eat.
BBQ pork, Meat Balls, Stuffed cabbage leaves, Stew, Cheese, Aubergines, Salad, Melon and fresh picked figs. Massive amount of wine, and bottles of chacha to drink.

 Telavi Nekresi

On the way back in the bus, we stopped and looked at the Nekresi church. Here we climbed the tower and rang the bell. Very good view from up here. To the East you could see the foothills very close, and the rest of the view was flat plains.
This church is one of the oldest churches in Georgia, a little basilica dating from the third quarter of the 4th century. In the 6th century was the base of the Syrian Father Abibos. In the next century a naved basilica was added.
Finally back home to Telavi for beers, and another meal which we really didn’t need after all the food at lunch