Expatriates Forums in Georgia

KENDO in Georgia - where ???

bernhph — Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:56 pm

Author: bernhph

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 12:56 pm

I am looking for a kendo dojo in Tbilisi.
Thank you for every piece of info !
Philippe

very short skirts in Georgia ...good or bad ?

Kevincosnter71 — Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:07 pm

Author: Kevincosnter71

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:07 pm

Hi...i couldnt get the purpose of your post but it was interesting indeed.

Are you from Georgia?

cheers
kevin

NIGHTLIFE IN GEORGIA / GEORGIA NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Georgia Info — Tue May 08, 2007 11:51 am

Author: Georgia Info

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:51 am

NIGHTLIFE IN GEORGIA

Nightlife in the republic is to be found primarily in international hotels although there are some bars and restaurants in Tbilisi. The Georgian State Dancers are highly praised but only occasionally to be glimpsed in Tbilisi, being almost constantly on tour. The Rustaveli Georgian Drama Theatre also has a good reputation and is particularly renowned for its Shakespeare productions. The Georgian folk theatre Nabadi, holds performances depicting the history of the country in modern and traditional forms.

Generally, nightlife in Tbilisi is still in its infancy. The most established is the King David Club in the basement of the Adjara Hotel. There is live jazz almost every night and a disco afterwards. But with its red velvet interior it looks more like a striptease bar in Moscow or Warsaw.

A much better location is the Beatles Club on Kostava Street. This is where Tbilisi's beautiful people go, to dance to Western charts music. The Sheraton Metechi Hotel also has a nightclub which is very popular with Tbilisi's rich and famous, and with the expatriates. There are also a lot of new European style bars on Chavchavadze Prospekt and around Rustaveli Square, including several Irish pubs.

Only very recently the interior of the Film Palace was completely revamped and turned into an amusement centre with discotheques, bars, a cinema and casino.

FOOD & DINING IN GEORGIA / GEORGIA DINING GUIDE

Georgia Info — Tue May 08, 2007 11:50 am

Author: Georgia Info

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:50 am

FOOD & DINING IN GEORGIA

According to Georgian legend, when God was distributing land among the peoples of the world, the Georgians were so busy eating and drinking that they lost their place in the queue and there was no land left for them. But when they invited God to join the party, He enjoyed Himself so immensely He gave them all the choicest bits of land He had been saving for Himself. Georgians pride themselves, with some justification, on being the bons viveurs of the former Soviet Union, and their culinary tradition has survived better than most the dead hand of Soviet mass-catering. The cuisine makes extensive use of walnuts, which are used to thicken soups and sauces (anything including the word satsivi will be served in a rich sauce flavoured with herbs, garlic, walnuts and egg). Cafes, restaurants and street-food traditions are all better established in Georgia than in many of the other former Soviet republics, and the markets are full of locally grown fruit and vegetables. Privately run restaurants, cafes and bars, which began to thrive during the Gorbachev period, were badly hit by the post-independence breakdown of civil order, but in recent times have begun to bounce back. Over 500 original varieties of grape are grown here, more than any other country. Both red and white wine is produced in Georgia.

National specialties

• Meals usually start with an array of hot and cold dishes which may include spicy grilled liver and other offal.

• Walnuts feature in sauces and soups. They are also used in desserts, coated in caramelised sugar, gozinaki, or in churchkhela, when they are threaded on string then dipped in thickened, sweetened grape juice which is subsequently dried into chewy, flavoursome ‘candles’.

• There is less emphasis on lamb to the exclusion of other kinds of meat than in other parts of the Caucasus. Roast suckling pig is often served, and beef and chicken are grilled or casseroled in various sauces, one of the commonest forms being chakhokhbili, a stew involving herbs, tomatoes and paprika.

• Lobio, a bean and walnut salad.

• Marinated aubergines, pkhali, made from young spinach leaves pounded together with spices.

• Khachapuri, consisting of layers of flat bread alternated with melting cheese.

• Basturma, cured meat and assorted fresh and pickled vegetables.

National drinks

• Kindzmareuli, a fruity, red wine, is reputed to have been Stalin’s favourite tipple.

• Akhasheni and Teliani are two of the commoner red wines, fruity and dry respectively.

• Tsinandali is a dry white wine, as is Gurdzhaani.

Tipping: For service in restaurants, the bill is usually rounded up.

SHOPPING IN GEORGIA / GEORGIA SHOPPING GUIDE

Georgia Info — Tue May 08, 2007 11:38 am

Author: Georgia Info

Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 11:38 am

SHOPPING IN GEORGIA

General

Georgian ceramics, embroidery and jewellery are all distinctive, and may be bought in art salons or special tourist shops. Visitors may also develop a liking for locally produced wines and brandies. Antiques such as rugs and icons attract a heavy export duty and must be licensed for export by the Ministry of Culture. Goods acquired in markets or from private individuals will not come with an export licence, whereas official tourist shops usually take responsibility for certification. The main shopping streets are Rustaveli and Chavchavadze Avenue.

Shopping hours

Most shops are open Mon-Sat 1000-1800, some open on Sundays.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 1000-1800.

Currency

Lari (GEL) = 100 tetri. Notes are in denominations of GEL100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10 and 5 tetri.

Currency exchange

Euros, Roubles or US Dollars can be exchanged at special exchange shops, found throughout the city, while other currencies must be exchanged in banks. Cash is the preferred method of payment, and visitors are advised to carry notes in small denominations. Visitors are also advised to carry US$ in cash, Euros and Russian Roubles are also in use. There is unlikely to be a substantial difference between rates offered by banks or bureaux de change.

Credit & debit cards

Credit cards are accepted in certain hotels, restaurants and shops in Tbilisi. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Traveller's cheques

Euros or US Dollars are recommended.

Currency restrictions

The import and export of local currency is unrestricted. The import of foreign currency is permitted. The export of foreign currency is limited to US$500 or equivalent.