Tuesday, 30 June, 2015

It is a pretty full-on day today so after a quick breakfast we are on the road. First stop is the Batumi Botanical Garden. Because there is a lot of walking and I am slack, I ride in a 14 seater Golf cart. Andrew joins me for the first part of the visit.

We were part way through the tour when the driver got an important message – there were Japanese tourists who needed my cart so, even though I had paid the 40 Euros, it was bad luck. Not to worry we were near a picnic area and our group soon followed.

There were fruit snacks as well as the wine. Eventually, my golf cart comes back and transfers the whole group down to the bus at the exit of the park. We drive for a while and end up at another natural winery. As we get there the owner suggests that we go straight up into the vines.

We had quite a detailed explanation of what he was doing, his grapes, wine making etc. I ask him about Frosts – seldom but 2012 got totally wiped out and phylloxera. He said there is debate here about using the American root stocks that prevent it and the flavour of the wine. In Australia, we had no choice.

We finish the tour and there is a small lunch.

We get back on the bus and drive towards Tbilisi. We stop at this massive pub outside of town, it must have had 500 patrons there.

The pub is known as the Bean Hotel. We found this out from John, from the first day, who arrived with three of his overseas visitors.

So, it is time to go back to Tbilisi for a night’s sleep.

This is where we stayed our first night. It is goodbyes, especially to Miriam who does not rejoin us for the rest of the tour. Apparently she got quite ill and had to be taken to Hospital. A few EOFY activities and off to bed.