Saturday, November 15, 2025

My 24 days to Central Asia (Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia Oct 16 > Nov 8 2025) Day 15 Batumi, Vardzia & Akhaltsikhe, Georgia

Ali & Nino Statute, Batumi, Georgia
Alphabetic Tower, Batumi
Caves Complex, Vardzia, Georgia


Day 15 Thursday Oct 30 2025 (Batumi, Vardzia & Akhaltsikhe, Georgia) - weather in Batumi in the early morning was superb, clear blue sky when our group made a visit to Ali & Nino statute in Batumi Boulevard. Next, we visited the Caves Complex in Vardzia & stay overnight in Akhaltsikhe. 

Travel itinerary: Batumi > Vardzia > Akhaltsike, Georgia (approx. 289km)
 

1) Hotel check out in the early morning to visit the Ali Nino Monument statute in Boulevard area, also a test of my travel buddy's driving skill & patience to steer the rental car from a small courtyard in our guest house / apartment to the main road via a very narrow lane !  


2) Batumi Lighthouse, Georgia - built in 1882, the octagonal stone lighthouse is illuminated by red lights in the evening.  


3) Alphabetic Tower, Batumi, Georgia - a high rise tower offering views over Batumi from an observation platform & a revolving restaurant 


4) Miracle Park & Ferris Wheel, Batumi, Georgia 


5) Ali Nino Statute, Batumi - representing a sense of impermanence (meaning the state of not lasting forever), this sculpture was originally made for the Venice Biennial. 


6) Batumi Miracle Park Waterfront & Beach area, Georgia 


7) Casino Iveria, Batumi, Georgia - a leading player in the gaming sector since 2009 ! 


8) Exiting the Batumi Boulevard heading for our group's visit to Caves Complex, Vardzia, a long drive of approx 188km, 3hr. 




9) Caves Complex, Vardzia, Georgia - a 12th century cave monastery complex in southern Georgia, carved into a cliff face along the Mikvan River, originally serving as a fortified sanctuary against foreign invasion, it was a massive city with over 3,000 caves including living quarters, churches, a library & a winery, designed to house uo to 60,000 people, today it is a major historical & archaeological site with some monks still living in the remaining caves. 

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