Hello dear friends. In my previous post I took you on a tour of the city center of Tbilisi. Today I want to share our adventure in the embrace of nature. Our journey began at Turtle Lake, and we hiked all the way to Freedom Square in the Mtatsminda Mountains, covering a distance of about 8 kilometers.
We visited the lake in the morning when there were fewer people around, and it had a unique charm of its own, quiet, serene, and meditative. Just what we needed. There's nothing quite like stepping away from the world's problems and spending quality time with nature. We leisurely strolled around, spotting various animals besides turtles, such as cats, ducks, geese and magpies. We took a few rounds around the lake and climbed up to a vantage point to overlook the capital city of Georgia.
There are two ways to visit the lake. First, you can drive to it using an asphalt road winding around the mountain's base, or second you can take a cable car ride. The cable car is an old model with cabins that can accommodate 5-7 people each. It consists of only two cabins and operates depending on passenger density. You can get a ticket for just 2 lari with a metro card. The cable car ride begins on the left side of Vake Park. We decided to take a taxi to the lake and then walk towards the park.
What can you do at the lake? Since it was September we didn't see any swimmers. But it's probably possible to take a dip in the lake as there is a beach like area. We noticed that there were many things still under construction, but you could see some restoration and maintenance work in progress. You can take a thrilling zip-line ride over the lake, enjoy a relaxing catamaran ride with a roof on the lake or simply sit at a lakeside restaurant and savor the view.
Many people, like us hiked up the mountain's slopes on the trails. These trails lead to Mtatsminda Park, where you can indulge in various activities or relax by the benches, have a snack or let your kids play in the playground. It was a delightful experience for us.
When we reached the mountain's summit after hiking the trails, we couldn't get enough of the breathtaking view. Tbilisi lay at our feet, surrounded by lush greenery, and the air was incredibly fresh. Plus there were plenty of turtles on the mountain too. It seems like both the lake and the mountain have become the territory of turtles. We jokingly called it the "Turtle Mountains" among ourselves. I was truly amazed by the diversity of flowers and plants. We made sure to take breaks at the lookout points and savor the scenery. So for those who want to go, don't let the trek scare you away. There are plenty of observation and resting spots here.
We also encountered other reptiles like snakes and lizards. Personally, I'm not an expert on snakes, but according to my friends, the snakes here are non-venomous. So, I wasn't too scared. After all, as long as they're not venomous, they can't harm us. However, some people have a phobia of snakes and can't even bear to see them, and I understand that too.
We noticed some unripe figs on the trees. Fig season has begun here, but these seemed to be a variety that never fully ripens. We collect these kinds of figs and make pickles and jams in Batumi. By the way did you know that fig leaves have many health benefits? In our family we use fig leaves in cooking. We make delicious and healthy dolmas and stuffed grape leaves with them.
Speaking of food, when we reached the summit of the mountain, we caught a whiff of barbecue and couldn't resist diving into the restaurant. I think it was a brilliant strategy after a nice hike! After a satisfying walk, we felt like we had earned some khachapuri and shashlik.
We finally reached Mtatsminda Park, and the app showed that we had walked 17.2 kilometers.
Mtatsminda is a must-visit for everyone. If your path ever leads you to Tbilisi, I highly recommend it. For those who don't want to walk, I suggest taking the cable car to Mtatsminda Hill and enjoying a panoramic view of beautiful Tbilisi in all its glory. Wait for the sunset and discover a different city, sparkling with lights! You can explore the park, have a meal and enjoy yourself. Funicular Restaurant, with its exceptional view is a highlight, so it's better to reserve a table on the terrace. There's plenty of entertainment for all ages here, including a funfair with different areas, an observation wheel right on the edge of the hill, and, in general, taking a walk while enjoying the views and mountain air is fantastic.
