Tbilisi. Botanical Garden.
Near our hotel there was a falafel kiosk. I wanted to try it, but never managed, because after lunch we were all like a family of stuffed ducks. We needed to walk off all those kebabs, khachapuri, and desserts. Since our previous trip, Tbilisi Botanical Garden had been on our “must visit” list, and friends also recommended it, so we went.
Based on summer memory, we went to the entrance near Narikala Fortress, right next to the cable car. In half a year, circumstances changed, and that entrance was closed because of rockfall risk. We were almost ready to cancel the botanical-garden walk, but then carefully checked the options. It turned out things were not that bad: the nearest working entrance was about 300 meters away.
For a very symbolic price - 4 lari (about 120 RUB) per person - we entered a steep path winding among cacti. I still don’t know why we didn’t photograph them, so you’ll have to trust us: broad, funny-looking cacti, with red fruits that looked very authentic.
The botanical garden is in a gorge with its own microclimate. It is noticeably warmer there than in the city, and the air feels completely different. The microclimate also changes as you move through the gorge. Where we entered, it was warm, green, and did not feel like January 7 at all. Signs near the bamboo grove said that bamboo symbolizes purity of thought in China and friendliness in India. Farther along the gorge it became colder, and there was snow near a small waterfall.
We climbed up and down the gorge slopes a lot. We also saw a very strange futuristic-looking building from the photo - an art object with rusty “leaves.”
We reached the giant sequoia, and this is where we got our main disappointment. We couldn’t cross the park and exit through another gate: a guard with a radio blocked the way and explained, in full corporate style, “You must leave through the same gate you entered.” Still, it didn’t ruin the impression. The park is large and interesting. We explored only a small part. It definitely has enough for at least a couple more walks. We also still want to find the greenhouse - left for next time.
Before going, we spent some time wondering whether it made sense to visit in the off-season. After the visit, the answer is absolutely yes. The park is beautiful in any season, and thanks to the gorge microclimate you can still see green bamboo, cacti, and flowers - like in the fairy tale “The Twelve Months.”
#trip #NewYear #Tbilisi