2021 09 Trans Caucasian trail
Day 26
It was clear sky in the morning so I got up to take pictures of the glacier of the biggest mountain of Georgia. The host had washed our clothes and they were drying at the woodstove in the kitchen.
She was preparing our breakfast of salad, fried patatos and scrambled eggs, including pancakes and the famous cheese cornmeal hashbrowns.
They had build a nice guesthouse with 6 rooms a big living dining room at the entrance and a huge bathroom at the other end. The bathroom was all tiled in black marble imitate, floor and walls, just 60 cm below the ceiling and the ceiling itself was white. There was a white porcelain wash sinc, European toilet and a shower. The water running free to the center of the room, where it drained into the subfloor. Astonishing, but not really comfy cause it was very cold and even the hot water, did nothing to change the temperature.
The owner was a important border police man, it seems he got a good salary. He explained to Lasha how to get to Mestia our next destination.
We followed his advice and rode down the road
Till we turned off into a valley taking us to the village of Khalde. Khalde is an important place in the history of Georgia, since it is an heroic example of the Georgian resistance against the Russian empire. In 1871 the Russian Zsar had implemented a new tax system and sent collectors to the Georgian village. The village resisted and 14 men were taken to prison for it.
Two men were able to avoid to be imprisoned and they called to arms. The village had many towers
And stone houses, and when the Zsar sent 250 soldiers in 1879 under a General, they suffered a historic defeat. 2500 soldiers were sent to subdue the rebellion with heavy artillery, and the entire village was flattened, the church blown up, and the men fled into the mountains. The Russians gathered the families of the running men and so forced them to surrender. They all were shipped off to eastern Sybiria. Only 2 of them returned years later, to rebuild their village.
We continued riding up the valley till the trail turned to the left up to the pass. All way we had an amazing view of the glacier and as we reached the summit two more giant glaciers came into view. We camped near Agushi, so the horses would have decent feed.
Day 26
It was clear sky in the morning so I got up to take pictures of the glacier of the biggest mountain of Georgia. The host had washed our clothes and they were drying at the woodstove in the kitchen.
She was preparing our breakfast of salad, fried patatos and scrambled eggs, including pancakes and the famous cheese cornmeal hashbrowns.
They had build a nice guesthouse with 6 rooms a big living dining room at the entrance and a huge bathroom at the other end. The bathroom was all tiled in black marble imitate, floor and walls, just 60 cm below the ceiling and the ceiling itself was white. There was a white porcelain wash sinc, European toilet and a shower. The water running free to the center of the room, where it drained into the subfloor. Astonishing, but not really comfy cause it was very cold and even the hot water, did nothing to change the temperature.
The owner was a important border police man, it seems he got a good salary. He explained to Lasha how to get to Mestia our next destination.
We followed his advice and rode down the road
Till we turned off into a valley taking us to the village of Khalde. Khalde is an important place in the history of Georgia, since it is an heroic example of the Georgian resistance against the Russian empire. In 1871 the Russian Zsar had implemented a new tax system and sent collectors to the Georgian village. The village resisted and 14 men were taken to prison for it.
Two men were able to avoid to be imprisoned and they called to arms. The village had many towers
And stone houses, and when the Zsar sent 250 soldiers in 1879 under a General, they suffered a historic defeat. 2500 soldiers were sent to subdue the rebellion with heavy artillery, and the entire village was flattened, the church blown up, and the men fled into the mountains. The Russians gathered the families of the running men and so forced them to surrender. They all were shipped off to eastern Sybiria. Only 2 of them returned years later, to rebuild their village.
We continued riding up the valley till the trail turned to the left up to the pass. All way we had an amazing view of the glacier and as we reached the summit two more giant glaciers came into view. We camped near Agushi, so the horses would have decent feed.