Tbilisi

28 September 201

Described as the 'beating heart of South Caucasus' the capital city of Georgia is definitely a great place to visit.

I came straight to the old town which has winding lanes, old balconied houses, leafy squares, handsome churches and countless characteristic bars and cafes. The area has a outer exterior which is crusty, decaying and in many places, in ruins. However, throughout the day, I have discovered wonderfully creative interiors often the work of young entrepreneurs who have set up little businesses here. I spent time with two young women; one was managing a cafe, the other a boutique specializing in Georgian designs. They had completely transformed the interiors of their crumbling premises. The same goes for the hostel I am staying in. It is run by   a costume designer from the main theatre in the city. Her craft shapes the decor and artifacts that adorn this wonderfully homely space.

Like all the main cities I have traveled through in Central Asia, Tbilisi is also trying to move forward. This brings with it construction debris, traffic and development projects. There is a huge new cathedral of the hillside and a presidential palace. I discovered that the main post office no longer existed as its former premises were being transformed into a swanky hotel. Instead it had been relocated to a half demolished branch away from the centre. This evening I stood on the walls of the 17 century old fortress which over looks the city. Below lay the mixture of architecture; the brand new Peace bridge spanning the river with the shabby Soviet apartment blocks around the cities fringe.