A few hours ride from Batumi we visited a family who James befriended several years ago. The welcome we received could not have been warmer!
Mamuka, one of the family's sons, had gotten married recently. We got to meet his wife's family that evening and the grandma ended up preparing a fantastic Georgian feast for all of us. Naturally, Chacha flowed freely. That night we were introduced to the Georgian tradition of elaborate toasts. Nobody drinks unless a toast is made. You are not required to empty the whole glass with every toast but all glasses must be fully topped up before a new toast can be made. I was impressed by how much thought and effort everybody put into their toasts. The few toasts I remember were friendship, distant friends, hospitality, safe travels, old and new mothers, health, a full table, parents etc.
Eventually Mamuka, Tamuna, James and I got a ride back to Mamuka's place in one of his friend's little old Russian cars. It was an adventurous and somewhat scary ride with a Georgian driver who was anxious to get home. Thank God we arrived in one piece.
Next morning we got to help Valeri, Mamuka and Lasha pick grapes for Georgia's famous home made wine. The partially fermented juice from an earlier harvest made a delicious, refreshing drink out in the vineyard. James and Valeri obviously like it.
One of my favorite components of Valeri's agricultural property was the fig tree next to the outhouse. It sure sweetened up the outhouse visits.
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