10 things you probably didn’t know about Georgia - The Telegraph recommendations

The British publication ‘The Telegraph’ has published material about Georgia, a country which, as the media outlet puts it, is an exciting travel destination. The article represents a 10-point list of facts that, as the Telegraph assumes, are unknown to the majority of Britons.

“Sat at the crossroads between Asia and Europe, this plucky nation packs a lot in: from snowy mountains to sandy shores, via rolling vineyards, ancient cities and UNESCO-listed monasteries. Today marks the 99th anniversary of independence from what was then the Russian Empire and to celebrate here are some things you may not know about this Eurasian beauty,” The Telegraph reads.

It’s not actually called Georgia

Georgians call their homeland ‘Sakartvelo’- reads the publication. “ It’s not entirely clear where the moniker, Georgia, came from but one theory dictates that it was coined by Christian crusaders in the Middle Ages on account of the country’s devotion to St George.”

They do love St. George

“Oh yes. In fact there’s a giant golden statue of him slaying a dragon in Tbilisi’s central square.”

It’s one of the loftiest nations in Europe

The Telegraph suggests its readers to forget about the Alps next winter and vacate on the Caucasus’ sparkling slopes, that are ‘renowned for their reliable snow, well-groomed runs and refreshingly low prices.’ According to the publication, mountainous Georgia can boasts of its ‘stunning scenery, restorative mountain air and excellent ski resort.’

Speaking of low prices…

According to Numbeo, a crowd-sourced global database of reported consumer prices, Georgia is the seventh cheapest country in the world. As is pointed out by The Telegraph, that information would be particularly useful for Britons whose spending capacity has dropped considerably due to the weakened pound.

‘Uncle Joe’ still looms large in Georgia

The Telegraph refers to Stalin as ‘Uncle Joe’. According to the British publication,  Stalin, the Soviet dictator, still has many fans in his birthplace, Georgia.

“His rule of the Soviet Union may have been defined by repression, famine and labor camps, but, according to a report by Reuters last year, Stalin still has many (mainly elderly) fans in his birthplace (though most people, it should be added, see him as a tyrant). Nevertheless, it is reportedly very easy to pick up paintings and other paraphernalia depicting Uncle Joe at local markets. “

One of Europe’s oldest cities is located there

“That city is Kutaisi, in western Georgia, which was the capital of the Kingdom of Colchis, an ancient region of the southern Caucasus, from as early as the second millennium BC. This timeworn city has been the center of multiple conflicts between Georgian kings, Russians and Ottoman rulers, and was an industrial center in the days of the Soviet Union. Its state historical museum tells the story more comprehensively than we do and contains 16,000 artifacts relating to Georgian history and culture.”

It’s hard to get to Georgia

The Telegraph believes that due to few direct flights to Georgia, only the most intrepid people from European countries currently venture to Georgia. But once you get there, you feel ‘as though you have the place to yourself.’

Tbilisi is a perfect spot for a city break

“Sure, it’s a pain to get to but when you finally touch down in the Georgian capital you’ll find a city rich in rewards: “Think Art Nouveau architecture, lively bars and bijoux restaurants selling delicious local fare,” reads the publication.

Legendary Georgian hospitality

The British media outlet describes Georgian hospitality as ‘boozy merriment’. “Sometimes it involves drinking wine from a ram’s horn,” the Telegraph publication reads.

Futuristic architecture abounds

Despite its old-world charm, Georgia is open to novelties. According to the publication, the country is actually ‘a keen champion of futuristic architecture, as demonstrated by the space-age Georgian Parliament building in Kutaisi.’