Mid Week in the High 90's and Low 100's

We have been checking the weather reports and forecasts everyday, both for what we are supposed to get as well as what is happening back in Maine. You have also been getting some of our hot weather! (We promise though, we are too far away to send you ours.)  It may be that Maine has higher humidity than we have here though.  Up until yesterday it had been dry, so dry that even the weeds are crisp and brittle.  No matter how you put it; it is uncomfortable beyond description for all of us.

Yesterday, we had thunderstorms in the late afternoon, followed by early evening ones and then again early early morning storms.  The strange thing is that it is still supposed to get up to 98 degrees this afternoon before we start getting more storms.  With luck we get temps only on the 80's Friday and maybe only high 70's on Saturday.  We are so ready for cooler temps.

The watermelon sellers are doing a great business here, both the roadside folks as well as those in the stores. (Photo attached shows what we see along the highways.)  Water sales are probably much higher as well.  All I can tell you is that we are all drinking a lot of water and not needing to go to the bathroom very often.  Dehydration is a serious thing and I know Seth and Nia are having some issues because they are complaining of headaches. Maybe this is in part from always living in the world of air conditioning and suddenly it is absent here except for the occasional store.  Seth asked me yesterday if there were warnings about heat waves and cautions to the elderly as we get in the US, and I told him I had never heard of any.  But, summer here is brutal.  Mostly in late July and August when it is not unusual for the temps to be in the 100's.  That is why as many people as possible leave town for mountain villages and the Black Sea...anyplace where it is cooler!

Enough said about weather.

Seth, Nia and family arrived back from Batumi early Tuesday am, and are staying in the Tbilisi suburb of Tskneti with Luisa, Nia's sister. The kids had picked up a bug in Batumi, as had Seth.  They are feeling somewhat better now; well enough to do some sightseeing. We have had some time together through the generosity of a car loan from one of Nia's sisters.

We went to the Wine Gallery near our flat late morning to do some wine tasting with Seth and Nia. We needed to get a Georgian's opinion on which wines we should buy for our party this weekend.  Having Nia present allows for many more questions and answers than we could ever have mustered with our limited language skills.

Above, Nia reviews the wine list.  Our first tastings are on the table before her.

The wine list, bulk, and prices per liter.  The Lari is valued at 2.32/$1 so you can see the prices for wine are amazingly reasonable.  

After wine tasting, we spotted a bakery where they make bread in the big clay ovens, slapping the bread on the side of the oven until it is baked.  They even make lobiani (dark bean filled) and khachapuri (cheese filled, usually with a Georgian Gouda which is stronger in flavor and on the salty side); the oblong vs round version.  These are purchased piping hot; too hot to consume immediately unless it is in the dead of winter and cold.  

Here, Seth is holding our lunch while Nia was purchasing water at a corner store near our flat.

After getting the car from Nia's brother-in-law, an ER doctor working a 24 hour shift, we headed to Mtskheta to show the children two different churches.  The first is one of the largest old churches in the country, Sveti Tskhoveli.  The current structure is the third one built on this site, was built in 1010AD and incorporates a stone structure dating from the 6th century which replaced a wooden structure dating from the 4th century.  

Candles in front of an icon inside the cathedral.

Outside, we watched the clouds in the sky becoming more and more ominous.

Bad sky!

David and Sandro take a break outside the cathedral.

When we first came to this cathedral about 15 years ago, Georgia was definitely not a tourist destination, and was often without electricity for most of the day in Tbilisi.  One could visit historic places without being in a mob of people.   Now it is a far different story.  The area around the cathedral has been greatly commercialized, with many restaurants and vendors selling everything!  

Sandro and Kira try on the big sheep skin/fleece hats!  

Our next stop was across the river, atop a hill, to visit the Jvari Church.  This is the place where Saint Nino looked down on the city below and made a cross from grape vines tied with her own hair.  The cross had a drooping cross piece which still characterizes the Georgian Orthodox cross. 

Jvari Church built in the late 500's.

View of the town of Mtskheta from Jvari.

Our family taking in the view!  It was hard to get away from the other tourists, as there was a full bus of them that arrived while we were there.

Here both of us get into the photo taken by Nia!

And so as the rain started to fall and the lightening and thunder started around us, we ended our touring for the day and headed to a restaurant in town for dinner where Nia was joined by some of her best friends in Georgia for a lovely reunion.