Tag: #HeijsOpRijs

After many months spent chasing the sun across Asia, the Middle East and Europe we decided to switch things up and head for the fresh mountain air of Georgia. The great Caucasus mountain range with its 5000m peaks, picturesque Svan towers, monasteries, famously hospitable local population and low living costs are just some of the things that drew us to this country. I should also clarify that we are talking about Georgia the country, NOT the state in the USA (a common misunderstanding). Technically the country is called Sakartvelo and it is not clear where the English name ‘Georgia’ is derived from. Don’t ask me which continent it belongs to because I still don’t know! To the north is Russia, south is the Middle East, east is Asia and west is Europe. It is separated from Europe by the Black Sea and separated from Russia by the Caucasus mountains. Georgia declared itself an independent state in 1918 but in 1921 it became part of the Soviet Union and was a military republic until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992. Despite a large majority of the country bordering Islamic states, the population of Georgia is 84% orthodox Christian and there are countless beautiful monasteries scattered throughout the countryside and mountains.