Day 4 April 24, 2026 Telavi to Tbilisi Georgia
In the heart of Telavi, stands a natural marvel that has born silent witness to centuries of history – the Giant Plane Tree. This majestic organism, the largest tree in Georgia, exudes a unique charm. The tree is 150 feet tall and 39.4 feet in width. Sixteen men are needed to hold hands in order to circle it. The tree has stood here for 900 years.
Near the tree is a statue of a snail. Several very large snails live in that area. You might trip on one if not careful.
Also nearby is Batonis Castle, a 17th–18th century architectural monument. The Batonis Tsikhe complex includes some surviving sections of the Persian-style palace of the kings of Kakheti and a museum with archaeological and ethnographic exhibits, manuscripts, rare publications, and military equipment as well as a fine arts gallery. The original palace was built sometime between 1664 and 1675. In the political turmoil of the 17th and 18th centuries, the palace was damaged and reconstructed several times.
Next stop the Gremi Fortress composed of the royal citadel and the Church of the Archangels. We climbed 90 steps to reach it. No problem. The stairs are big, uneven and made of well used rock. The building has three entrances, one facing west, one facing south, and the third facing north. The interior is crowned with a dome supported by the corners of the sanctuary and two basic piers. The façade is divided into three arched sections. The dome sits on an arcaded drum which is punctured by eight windows.This was the seat of Queen Ketevan, who was martyred in 1624 in Persia for refusing to renounce her Christian faith.
Lunch was at yet another winery. Here we learned how wine is made in clay pots buried in the ground. The grapes, including seeds, stems and skin, are crushed and poured in a pot buried in the ground. Every few hours this is stirred. Eventually the liquid is siphoned off into another pot. The process continues until the desired fermentation has happened. In Georgia there is only black grapes and white grapes. The two are never mixed. For the first time we had no dessert.
Back on the bus and off to Tbilisi. During this ride we had a comfort stop. While there we spotted our one and only Ford Model A. It was a 30/31 AA truck with lots of modifications. It was converted into a mobile wine truck that was used for demonstrations. There is a phone number on the window if you are interested.
Spoffords Travel 