- ODO 6128
- Location Tbilisi, Georgia
- Weather 11-19 Storm gusts
After a month on the road from Bulgaria through Turkey I came across the roof scape of Tbilisi suddenly. The road dropped sharply from the mountains into the bowl of the city below. Two things signalled my switch from the country to the city. The road surface changed from gravelled and pot holed to smooth tarmac. At the same time the procession of vans turned into a constant stream of Mercedes, 4x4s and busses. None of while were used to a fast confident cyclist. I swept down the switchbacks into the capital in the valley overtaking busses and cars alike in the gusty pre storm wind. Made my way to a phone shop to buy a new SIM card for my phone then sat in Fabrika – a converted soviet era sewing factory – listening to techno with a drink and arranging access to my flat.
I left London 5 months ago on a soup of anxiety and illness. Overpacked bags. No idea of how I’d find extended travel. I’ve struggled in places. With the cycle and the stopping too. As I rolled into Tbilisi and sat down surrounded by skateboarding hipsters awing at the contrast between the communist concrete and the older ramshackle wood and stone apartments I felt at home in the change. When I got to my home for the month the feeling strengthened. The whole 1st floor of a grant Georgian town house is now mine. Complete with king size bed, mezzanine and two bathrooms. All within a walking distance to my office – IMPACT hub. The city feels like an older and edgier Paris. I get a whole month to live as a local.
