Sept 4 - Khnashuri

East of Zestafoni the road led into a narrow valley winding its way through the low mountain range which separates Georgia's arid east from the lush, semi tropical west. Separated by several kilometers one little village followed the other, cows were chewing their cud next to the road, and periodically we passed a few women selling strings of nuts and fruit from their rickety little stands. There were numerous little fires along the road with a steaming pot on them, an advertising cob of corn tied to a stick next to them and a man on a chair nearby waiting for a traveler hungry for some boiled corn on the cob. At one point an oncoming car came flying around a curve when one of its wheels fell off. The car slid to a halt with sparks flying off the hub as it dragged on the pavement and the wheel came bouncing and rolling in our direction. It ended up hitting a cement block and rolled back towards the sad looking, three legged car. Luckily the driver had a cellphone to call a tow truck. Poor guy.
On the other side of the mountains we pulled into a town called Khnashuri looking for internet. Mikheili, the owner of the internet cafe was so nice. He refused any payment for internet, made us some coffee and then invited us to come stay at his house. We had almost covered our daily distance so we accepted. His ten year old son Pharnavazi guided us back to the house and turned into a wonderful, attentive little host until his parents came back from work. He brought us water, showed us his car models and introduced us to the cats. Then he gave us a demonstration on his trampoline which he constructed build with an old, springy bed frame on blocks. Natalia, the mom, prepared a khingali fest for dinner. Khingali are sort of like giant ravioli but a different shape and are about as typically Georgian as it gets. Mmm yummy.
Later in the evening it was time for another feast and home made wine. We were so full! Georgia is definitely a place of delicious food on abundance.
For breakfast next morning, Mikheili prepared a barbeque of meat on scewers which are cooked by hanging them into a big clay barrel with a fire in the bottom. Delicious.

THANK YOU MIKHEILI, NATALIA, PHARNAVAZI AND GRANDPA FOR EVERYTHING. WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOUR KINDNESS AND ALWAYS THINK OF YOU AS OUR FAMILY IN KHNASHURI. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOME DAY.