Tour the Streets of Tbilisi in Georgia

Join Julie Conover and Mark Jennings as they tour the streets of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.

Julie: The next morning, we set out to explore this intriguing capital. The old town has been raised and rebuilt many times, but has maintained its narrow cobbled street and distinctive carved balconies. People lived literally on top of each other, with small stairways connecting family homes. Mark: The city is surrounded from three sides by mountains. From which flow hot medicinal springs that feeds Tbilisi’s many sulphur baths. These baths were famous with ancient travelers and are still used by locals and visitors today. Julie: Rising above the maze of alley ways is a fortress built in the 4th century, that has defended the city over 1,500 years. Its last battle was 1827, when a bolt of lightning struck the gunpowder storage and caused a massive explosion. Leaving it as we see it today. From this venerable structure, modern day Tbilisi comes into full view. Mark: During tough economic times, bread is a hot commodity. Using an ancient technique, bakers slapped the dough on the red hot sides of the clay ovens, yielding something similar to Indian bread. Julie: The people of Tbilisi are warm hearted and friendly. We experienced their tradition of hospitality to strangers at every turn. Mark: Georgians are also known for their longevity. In fact, there's so many people over a hundred years of age in Tbilisi, that international medical researchers are studying the phenomenon. Julie: The sport of skiing has found its way into many obscure corners of the globe, but Georgia’s people and culture have made this one of the world’s most intriguing accessible ski destinations. About 6,000 feet up in the Caucasus Mountains, is a winter resort called Budare. And as we soon discovered, just getting there is an adventure.