Kutaisi is just twenty minutes by bus from Tskaltubo Town where I am since the end of December. So yesterday, I decided to have a day trip there.
The third largest city of Georgia, and one of the oldest - it was founded before Christ, and historians assume that it was the capital of Colchis visited by Jason and the Argonauts.
Kutaisi, Georgia on the Google.maps
Kutaisi always was an important political center, many times it was a capital of Georgian states. But today, it's not the brightest hour of the city: back in Soviet times, it was the second largest center of Georgia, and today it ranks third (after Tbilisi and Batumi). There is no large-scale industry, no sea beaches, even the transport function of the city is declining. The future of Kutaisi is shrouded in fog, but let's not talk about it today.
I came here not for the first time, so I easily chose the route that suited my mood: I quickly left the city center, which is pretty, but not interesting to me, and walked along the banks of the Rioni River and, then, climbed to the Bagrati Cathedral.
The only photo I took in the city center: Władysław Raczkiewicz, the president of Poland in 1939–1947, native of Kutaisi.
Residential buildings on the rocky bank of the river is the most attractive corner of Kutaisi for me, alas, in the evening most of it was poorly lit.
The Rioni River looks insignificant in winter but during the melting of snow in the mountains, a frantic stream rages here. Look at the embankment walls and you will understand how menacing this stream can be.
Nice wall, couldn't get past it without taking a photo. It will probably be appreciated on Adobe Stock.
Here I turned upstairs and began climbing the stairs. On the side of the mountain, I noticed a blooming (in January!) daffodil. (I took no image since it was dark shade there.)
Soon, the panorama of the city opened up. I already had a telephoto on my camera, so I took advantage of this opportunity.
Private houses on the slope of the mountain - a typical picture for Georgia.
And in the yards there are persimmons and tangerines.
- More persimmons in my recent post from Tskaltubo
This church, Kutaisi Holy Annunciation Temple, has always riveted my eye on past visits. This time I couldn't resist again.
At last Bagrati Cathedral appeared. The foreground in photography is always important. In the frame, the silhouette of pomegranate fruits.
Bagrati Cathedral was founded in the 11th century but by the 20th century had been reduced to (majestic) ruins.
A few years ago it was restored.
Of course, it's always interesting to look inside. But I will not say that the spectacle is impressive.
Today, the cathedral is one of the main tourist attractions of Kutaisi. I personally appreciate it not so much for its appearance, but for the pleasant way to it from the river embankment, for a spacious yard with a lawn, ruins of walls,
and nice views of the city and mountains.
It was 8 degrees, kind of warm, but kind of cold. Alas, the walk ended with a headache as monumental as the Bagrat Cathedral is.
I got on the circular minibus number 1, arrived to the bus station, bought cheese, as my relative asked me, and then got on the bus to Tskaltubo. When I came back, I took a headache pill and fell into bed to watch a series about the druids.
I took these images with a Nikkor 70-300mm, 24mm on a full-frame DSLR Nikon D750 in Kutaisi, Georgia on January 4, 2023