Please, fasten your seat belts ...

Since 2008 the number of cars in Georgia grew twice, together with the traffic growth a lot more car accidents happen in the country. The worse record of accidents in recent years was in 2008, when death rate counted 20 dead per every 100 000 of the population. While in Japan it is about 6 people per 100 000 and in Europe less than 10.

Already in just one month, from December the 1st Georgian drivers will have to buckle themselves up, and make sure their passenger wear seatbelt as well, otherwise they must be ready to pay off a fine worth 40GEL (22$).

Not long time ago there were no obligations to wear a seatbelt at all, though later it became a rule to fasten it while driving on the highways. It was pretty rare to see anybody wearing seatbelt except those from some international organizations and foreigners, very few Georgians would ever do it. I remember how surprised the police officer was to see me buckled up; he immediately started to accuse me in racing down the city, which was not the case at that moment. After saying I was just going home, he interrupted me with next question why I was wearing it then. Inspiring right?! So not only it was not a rule, it was even unpopular and some kind of embarrassing to be wearing a seatbelt for most of the drivers, as it would kind of indicate on their poor driving skills, especially among young people. I was trying to encourage my friends doing that but unsuccessful it was.

There are two more surprises to come; first one is the ban of dark tinted glasses, which is really popular in here. Some people even had their windshields tinted. I remember my friends having hard times to drive back home at night from the seaside. Another surprise will be a 200GEL (115$) fine for throwing garbage out of the window.

I would encourage and recommend adding technical inspection of the vehicle, but not as a money making mechanism, but as the one that would guarantee more safety on the roads, as most of accidents happen as a result of technical fault of the vehicle, most of the time involving lives of innocent people. At the moment when the fine for drunk driving is 200GEL (110$) the fine for driving а car with a technical malfunction is only 15GEL (8$) which is even cheaper than talking on the phone 20GEL (11$).

Tbilisi - the city that loves you !!!

"Tbilisi - the city that loves you", with these words Tbilisi city was welcoming its guests to "Tbilisoba" holiday. When grapes are already collected and it is time to make new wine.

"Tbilisoba" is an annual Autumn holiday, that was first celebrated in 1979 on 28th of October. There was a little break in 1990's due to destabilization in the country, but it was soon restored in 1995 as a tradition. It is usually held on the last weekend of October. There are different events taking place in the old city as well as in the other central parts of the capital.

Back in the past, the whole city used to be a big market, a big trucks would be standing throughout the city, selling different kinds of goods from all different regions of Georgia, grapes, homemade cheese, wine, churchkhelas. The whole city smelled barbecue. Some competitions took place in sports, dances, or singing. Different performances of folklore representing Georgian as well as other ethnic minority traditions from all over Georgia.

(Representing Georgian Elite in early 1900's)

Nowadays, according to my observations, the holidays is a bit changed. More attention is being payed to cultural events and tradition rather than markets, though you can still eat some barbecue, ride a horse in the middle of the city, and buy a good homemade cheese from Imereti or Samegrelo.

Destination: Georgia

This summer I traveled a lot to different parts of Georgia, have been to mountains, at the sea side and to some distant regions as well. Everywhere throughout Georgia you can find a traveler with a backpack and a camera.

Tourism in Georgia is growing intensively. According to Georgian Tourism and Resorts Department total number of tourists, visited Georgia during 9 months of the year, made up 1.5 million, 77% out of which were from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey.

Apart from Georgian hospitality itself, a big attention to tourism protection is paid by local authorities. For example, when we had a youth exchange project in Tkibuli region, in one of the remote villages, local police department were informed about foreign participants, and you could see police car patrolling the area. During another project in Tskaltubo, near to Kutaisi city, police also knew about foreign guests, and warned one of our Georgian friends, who was assisting his group mates in implementing project activities in the city, to be attentive and take care of them, offering their assistance and any kind of help needed. Earlier at the sea side, a Russian speaking friend of mine (who is Georgian, but has been raised in Russia) had a noisy, tensed conversation with a group of his Georgian friends at 4am, in the dark place somewhere near the club, the criminal police appeared from nowhere to prevent the upcoming fight dispersing the group of aggressors. In general, in comparison to the last year, the crime in Georgia has decreased by 9% according to MIA statistics.

Overall, the environment in Georgia is pretty friendly and safe. However every individual is responsible for his or her behavior, no matter where he or she is coming from and should respect local traditions and general social behavior which is nothing much complicated and the stay in Georgia will be full unforgettable memories and positive emotions.