Photo: Ralph & Lena + champagne in Mestia square
Sep 18, 1985 In the morning we went to the mountain museum, but found it closed. We searched for a cafe for some breakfast. Lonya eventually found us a disco, where we started our morning meal with beer. Soon they brought us out cheese filled hot bread. A group of Georgians played and sang us songs. We danced to some of the disco songs and ate more hot bread, this time with a spicy meat filling. The Georgians gave us two bottles of local champagne as a gesture of friendship. They then delivered 6 large open bottles of Georgian white wine to our table. Although very grateful, we left soon thereafter.
We went to tour a Mestia church and an ethnographic museum. Georgia had its own alphabet and language. Taya could not understand Georgians talking unless they spoke Russian. Afterwards we packed our belongings in a van that would take the 9 of us to Nacra. Before departing, I had more wine with Lonya's friends. We visited a small market in Mestia, but it was very expensive. Taya was outraged that they would charge the equivalent of $9 for a pound of honey.
Photo: Mestia
Photo: Mestia street sweeper
Photo: Mestia cemetary
Photo: Mestia cemetary
Map of USSR
