belson

I had such a great day in Kazbegi!

But first I had a terrible morning. 

I went to chinese embassy in Tbilisi and tried to explain that I need a transit visa, just for going to Pakistan, 3 days is enough, can I please have that without LOI?

But the people working there did'nt speak english and when I found a guy who translated he was saying first that the city (Kashgar) I want to transit through, does'nt exist, then that I don't need a visa for flying over China (and I nicely explained that I want to go over land, that's why I need a visa) and then he said that  it is not possible to go by bus... and last of all ... that Pakistan (and he was laughing when he was saying this) is close to India, not at all close to China, there is no border between China and Pakistan. 

I asked for a map (because I wanted to show them that the Karakoram highway actually is going through their country!) but of course the chinese embassy did'nt have a map so I gave up and left.

So what have I learned?

Always get your visa before you go!

Have a LOI for China.

I will try again in Baku, wish me luck.

Anyway, after this I went to Kazbegi by marshrutka.

Kazbegi is in the Caucasus in the north, close to the russian border. The journy there, by the Millitary highway, is going through the mountains passing a ski resort and a lot of nice scenery. Kazbegi is on 1700 meter and the main reason for going here is the very famos church Tsminda Sameba situated on a hill above the city, on 2200 meters.

So I arrived and the driver was cousin to my homestay so he drived me there, it was a very nice little house like this:

Then I started to walk, aiming the church high on the hill. I walk up into the village, got lost and talked to some cows (it's hard to be a lonley traveller) found the way with some help (not from the cows) walked and walked ... and it was snow, very deep snow.

I stopped every 50th meter resting, finally I was at the higher slope on the mountain, and the church seemed to be close now, this is were I decide to take a shortcut (but I should really just stop and think of all the other times I been out self treeking and got lost and walking around in the jugle forever, but someway my brain does'nt work that way) so I started to climb this very steep snowy steep and stopped every 10th meter to breath. This is me resting like half way of the last "killing" part:

The shortcut took me forever but finally I was in the top.

Beautiful!! It was.

And I'm very sorry but my picture uploader does'nt work but here is link to a picture of the church somebody else took:

http://viaterra.net/photos/2005trip/2005-GEO-kazbegi.jpg

I won't even tell you about me going down, but I took another way down, it was snow everywere when I finally fell (yes fell, like in from above) down on the main road. 

After I got food from the lady in the house, it was sooooo good. Maybe the best food I ever had. A soup and some bread things with cheese in, I forgot the name of this now but it's famous food for Georgia.

Anyway, I wirite about Azerbaijan next time. I'm hungry now!