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The Georgian Contribution to Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah

The Georgian Contribution to Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah

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Palm Jumeirah is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. There are probably very few people who have never seen it, at least in a photo. It is even visible from space, together with the Burj Khalifa. These landmarks have helped make Dubai one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting around 20 million visitors every year.

Today, many people in Dubai know about Georgia, as Dubai has become one of the main sources of visitors to Georgia. However, I believe very few of them know that a Georgian engineer played an important role in the construction of Palm Jumeirah.

That engineer was Otar Zaldastanishvili. He developed an engineering solution that prevented the reclaimed land from being washed away by the sea—one of the key challenges in building the Palm Islands. In 2002, his structural engineering concept helped stabilize the artificial land, making the project possible.

Otar Zaldastanishvili was born in Telavi, Georgia, in 1924. His family was forced to leave Georgia because his father had participated in an uprising against the Soviet regime after the Soviet occupation of Georgia. They first emigrated to France and later settled in the United States.

He studied at the Sorbonne and later at Harvard University, where he eventually became a professor. He joined a construction company in Boston, became a partner in 1952, served as its president from 1964 to 1989, and as chairman of the board from 1989 to 1997.

Under his leadership, a team of 25 engineers completed major construction projects around the world. During his career, Zaldastanishvili oversaw more than 1,000 projects across the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

His notable works include projects at Boston International Airport, the restoration of Harvard University’s stadium and Brown University’s Moynihan Auditorium, government and residential buildings in Washington, D.C., high-rise buildings in France, Algeria, and Iraq, and engineering work related to the development of Jumeirah.

He was also a pioneer in developing innovative structural engineering techniques that made it possible to utilize the space above highways. Several major engineering innovations are associated with his name, leaving a lasting impact on the construction industry.

Sadly, Otar Zaldastanishvili did not live to see Palm Jumeirah completed. He passed away in 2005, before the island became one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. Nevertheless, his engineering expertise played a significant role in creating one of Dubai’s greatest achievements.

Mukhran guliashvili

used source:

https://iberiana.wordpress.com/iberiana/geosurnames/zaldastanishvili/

Tribute to the Belgian Engineer Behind the Tbilisi Funicular 🇬🇪🇧🇪

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The Tbilisi Funicular is one of the city’s highest-rated attractions. As a tour guide, I often take my guests on this short but unforgettable 10-minute ride from the lower station to the top of Holy Mountain (Mtatsminda). I always see how impressed they are by the views and the experience they take in during this journey.

Tbilisi funicular
Tbilisi funicular

A funicular is a type of railway transport system designed to move people or goods up and down steep slopes. It usually consists of two connected cars attached to the same cable—when one car goes up, the other goes down, balancing each other.

Behind these impressive views lies an equally impressive story related to the construction of the funicular in 1905, almost 120 years ago, when it first started operation. At that time, Georgia was part of the Russian Empire (1801–1917), so most infrastructural projects were organized from Moscow.

Tbilisi funicular 1905
Tbilisi funicular 1905

The idea was to build a new district of the city on the top of Holy Mountain. A small tram was planned as public transport from Sololaki to the top of the mountain. However, due to revolutionary movements in Russia in 1905, the construction of the new district failed. The railway, however, had already been built, so it eventually became a city attraction instead.

To go back to the history of the funicular: construction started in 1900, and the main idea came from the Belgian engineer Alfons Robys. His company was also operating the Tbilisi Konka (horse-drawn tram) since 1896. Many other engineers and architects participated in the construction of the funicular as well, including the Georgian public figure Niko Nikoladze.

Finally, it started operating in 1905. According to early accounts, people were initially afraid to use the tram. The Belgian company even offered money to encourage people to ride it. However, this soon changed, and there was a queue for tickets. Since 1905, it has remained an important part of the city’s transport and history, with a major reconstruction carried out in 2012.

Today, only around 10 European capitals have

funiculars.

  • Tbilisi — Mtatsminda Funicular
  • Prague — Petřín Funicular
  • Lisbon — Bica, Glória and Lavra funiculars
  • Budapest — Buda Castle Funicular
  • Istanbul — modern urban funicular lines
  • Kiev — Kyiv Funicular
  • Zagreb — Zagreb Funicular
  • Vilnius — hill funiculars
  • Athens — Lycabettus funicular

Tbilisi’s is among the highest, located at about 727 meters above sea level. In terms of age, it is among the oldest, after Budapest (1870) and Zagreb 1891

Mukhran Guliashvili

Used sources:

1.https://www.scribd.com/doc/115292899/%E1%83%97%E1%83%91%E1%83%98%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%A1%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%90%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%A5%E1%83%9D-%E1%83%A2%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%A1%E1%83%9E%E1%83%9D%E1%83%A0%E1%83%A2%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%92%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%95%E1%83%98%E1%83%97%E1%83%90%E1%83%A0%E1%83%94%E1%83%91%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1-%E1%83%98%E1%83%A1%E1%83%A2%E1%83%9D%E1%83%A0%E1%83%98%E1%83%98%E1%83%93%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C

2.https://kvirispalitra.ge/article/40267-tbilisis-punikulioris-istoria-ras-cerda-1905-cels-iveria-kalakis-axal-girsshesanishnaobaze

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Story of Georgian Prince, Who Fought on the Side of the Boers in South Africa 🇬🇪🇿🇦

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When you see the headline of this blog, you might be surprised at how it was possible for a 19th-century Georgian prince to end up on another continent. However, his story is very interesting, and I am glad to present it in a simple way, accessible to ordinary readers rather than at an academic level.

Niko Bagrationi 1868-1933
Niko Bagrationi 1868-1933

Before moving to the main topic, I would like to briefly introduce the Georgian royal dynasty, the Bagrationi family. They ruled Georgia for almost nine centuries, from the 10th to the 19th century. We can say they are one of the longest-ruling dynasties in the world, after the imperial family of Japan.

In 1801, the Russian Empire abolished the Georgian Kingdom and exiled members of the family of the last king of Georgia, George XII. However, other branches of the Bagrationi family continued to live in Georgia. Niko Bagrationi belonged to one of these branches. Their residence was in the village of Mukhrani, so they were known as the Mukhrani Bagrationis.

Château Mukhrani Former Palace of Bagarationi
Château Mukhrani Former Palace of Bagarationi

Niko Bagrationi was born in 1868 in Mukhrani, (40 km from Tbilisi) where he also grew up. From childhood, he loved traveling and adventure. One of the influences on his imagination was the Georgian literary masterpiece The Knight in the Panther’s Skin by Shota Rustaveli, in which the main character travels across the world, including to India.

When he grew up, his first journey abroad was to Russia, where he attended the inauguration of a Russian emperor. He was physically very tall, almost two meters in height. While in Russia, he became acquainted with another Georgian nobleman, Orbeliani, who invited him to go to South Africa for lion hunting. Niko Bagrationi was inspired by this idea, and they traveled to Paris on their way to South Africa. However, Orbeliani enjoyed Paris so much that he changed his mind and decided to stay there. Niko, on the other hand, remained determined to continue his journey.

On the ship, he met a new friend, the French Count de Breda, who convinced him not to go lion hunting but instead to support the Boers. At that time, it was quite popular internationally for volunteers to join the Boer side, similar in spirit to modern foreign volunteers in conflicts such as Ukraine.

Niko and French Count de Breda
Niko and French Count de Breda

Before arriving, Niko learned that the Boer republics in South Africa were at war with the British Empire. His initial goal changed, and he decided to join the Boers in their struggle against Britain. In his mind, the Boers were similar to Georgia, which had also been colonized by a larger empire.

During his journey, he first arrived in Madagascar and was impressed by the country, reportedly saying that the sky there felt much brighter than in his native Mukhrani.

Finally, in 1899, Niko Bagrationi arrived in South Africa at the port of Lourenço Marques (today’s Maputo), which was then a Portuguese colony and an important gateway to Southern Africa. From there, he traveled to Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal Republic. He met President Paul Kruger and became a volunteer in the Boer army.

An interesting fact is that his unit reportedly captured Winston Churchill, who at that time was working as a military correspondent and was later Churchill managed to escape by the because they were relatively soft with prisoners of war.

Winston Churchill Who was captured by Nikos unit
Winston Churchill Who was captured by Nikos unit

In 1900, Niko Bagrationi was captured by the British. He was initially sentenced to death, but when British officers discovered he was a member of a royal family, his sentence was changed to exile on Saint Helena, the same island where Napoleon Bonaparte was once imprisoned.

When the war ended, he was released and went to France. Later, he returned to Georgia and wrote a book about his adventures before the Soviet invasion of 1921. He lived in a large palace in Mukhrani and was considered a wealthy nobleman. However, after the Soviets confiscated his property, the only way for him to survive was by selling tobacco at a train station in Tbilisi.

Despite all these hardships, he was not executed. He eventually passed away from natural causes in Tbilisi.

Mukhran guliashvili

used sources:

1.https://1tv.ge/video/adamianebi-istoriidan-niko-bagration-mukhraneli-igive-niko-buri-dimitri-silaqadze-istorikosi/

2.https://youtu.be/WAe5VNrCL1M?si=J3yY5lr8dS4eZRzW

3.http://www.nplg.gov.ge/emigrants/ka/00000009/

The Restaurant in Tbilisi Where Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev Had Their Reconciliation Dinner 🇬🇪🇨🇺

The Restaurant in Tbilisi Where Fidel Castro and Nikita Khrushchev Had Their Reconciliation Dinner 🇬🇪🇨🇺

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As a tour guide in Tbilisi and across Georgia, I always try to discover stories that help visitors see the country from a deeper and more interesting perspective. Nowadays, tourists can easily explore cities on their own and take photos of famous landmarks, so I believe the real value of a guide is sharing the history, legends, and hidden stories behind those places.

One of my favorite stories is connected to the famous Funicular Restaurant, located on top of Mtatsminda Mountain and visible from almost every corner of central Tbilisi. The building was constructed between 1936 and 1938 by Georgian architects. The project was carried out under the personal supervision of Lavrentiy Beria, who personally attended the restaurant’s grand opening in 1938.

Funicular restaurant Tbilisi
Funicular restaurant Tbilisi

Now let’s move to the main story.

In 1962, during the leadership of Khrushchev, the world entered one of the most dangerous moments of the Cold War — the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Soviet Union secretly deployed nuclear missiles to Cuba, bringing the world dangerously close to nuclear war. Eventually, the Soviet Union and the United States reached an agreement, and Moscow agreed to remove the missiles from Cuba without consulting Castro. This decision created serious tension between the Cuban and Soviet Castro

Castro and Khrushchev In Georgia
Castro and Khrushchev In Georgia

In 1963, Castro arrived in the Soviet Union, the goal of visiting is to reconcile, later he and Khrushchev traveled south to Sochi. From there, they continued by train to Tbilisi, where the local communist leadership welcomed them with great honor. During the visit, they were hosted at what was considered the finest restaurant in Tbilisi — the Funicular Restaurant, which still operates today.

According to local stories, Castro especially loved smoked sulguni cheese, and after leaving Georgia he reportedly took several pieces back to Cuba with him.

Over the decades, the restaurant has hosted many famous guests, including Raj Kapoor, 1954 Indira Gandhi 1976, Margaret Thatcher 1887 Today, the Funicular Restaurant remains not only one of Tbilisi’s most landmarks, but also a place connected to fascinating stories from the Cold War era.

Mukhran Guliashvili

Used sources:

1.https://kvirispalitra.ge/article/32531-qarthveli-qalis-silamazith-aghtacebuli-komunizmis-ukanaskneli-mebairaghis-fidel-kastros-ckhovreba-da-sikvdili-fotogalerea/

2.https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/a/kastros-mogzauroba-sakartveloshi/28152242. 

3.https://www.ambebi.ge/article/231045-raj-kapuris-sakartveloshi-vizitis-akamde-ucnobi-kadrebi-kaxetshi-rtvelshi-moilxina/ 

4.https://youtu.be/UW0xfMH8Sco?si=hSY_mhBi4fir5ip 

Georgians Who Contributed to the U.S. Military 

Georgians Who Contributed to the U.S. Military 

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This blog explores the historical connections between Georgia and the United States by highlighting prominent individuals of Georgian origin who made significant contributions to the development of the U.S. military and aviation.

Alexander Kartvelishvili

— Pioneer of American Military Aviation

Alexander Kartveli (born Aleksandre Kartvelishvili in 1896 in Tbilisi) was a pioneering aeronautical engineer whose work had a lasting impact on American military aviation.

From an early age, he showed a strong interest in engineering and aviation. After studying at a military academy in Georgia, he was sent in 1919 by the government of the First Georgian Republic to France, where he enrolled at ISAE-SUPAERO, one of the leading aeronautical engineering schools in Paris. He graduated in 1922 with a degree in aeronautical engineering.

Following the Soviet occupation of Georgia in 1921, Kartveli was unable to return to his homeland. In 1927, he emigrated to the United States, where his career reached its full potential.

Soon after his arrival, he met the renowned engineer Alexander P. de Seversky, also originally from Tbilisi. Seversky invited him to join his aviation company, marking the beginning of a highly productive collaboration.

Together, they developed several advanced aircraft, including the Seversky P-35 and SEV-3, which achieved world speed records in the 1930s. After Seversky’s departure from the company, Kartveli became vice president and chief designer.

During World War II, he designed one of the most iconic American fighter aircraft — the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt.

His major aircraft designs include:

  • Republic P-47 Thunderbolt — one of the most powerful U.S. fighter aircraft of World War II
  • F-84 Thunderjet
  • F-105 Thunderchief

Some of these aircraft remained in service for decades, shaping the evolution of modern military aviation. Kartveli spent the rest of his life in the United States and died in 1974 in New York City. He is buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. He had no descendants.

Alexander Kartvelishili
Alexander Kartvelishili

John Shalikashvili

— Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff

John Shalikashvili came from an aristocratic Georgian family originating in the Gurjaani region of Kakheti. His father, Dimitri Shalikashvili, served as an officer in the Imperial Russian Army and later in the military forces of the Georgian Democratic Republic.

Following the Soviet occupation of Georgia in 1921, the family emigrated to Poland, Dimitri merried to Polish lady, John Shalikashvili was born in Warsaw in 1936.

During World War II, the family experienced displacement in Europe. After the war, they immigrated to the United States in 1952, settling in Peoria, Illinois.

Shalikashvili graduated from Bradley University with a degree in civil engineering and later earned a master’s degree in international relations from George Washington University. In 1958, he became a U.S. citizen and voluntarily joined the U.S. Army.

He served with distinction, including deployment during the Vietnam War, and steadily rose through the ranks to become a four-star general.

House in Gurjaani where General’s father lived
House in Gurjaani where General’s father lived

In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed him Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, making him the first foreign-born officer to hold the highest military position in the United States Armed Forces.

Prior to this, he served as Commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) within NATO.

Despite frequent challenges with the pronunciation of his surname, he retained his Georgian identity throughout his life. He also contributed to strengthening cooperation between the United States and Georgia in military development during the post-Soviet period.

John Shalikashvili 4 star USA General
John Shalikashvili 4 star USA General

Georgian Contributions in Modern Military Missions

Georgia has also made significant contributions to modern international operations. During participation in NATO-led ISAF and Resolute Support missions in Afghanistan, the country paid a heavy price:

  • 32 Georgian service members were killed
  • Hundreds were wounded or injured

These sacrifices highlight Georgia’s long-standing commitment to international security and cooperation.

Mukhran Guliashvili

used sources

1.https://youtu.be/mwWSh40Zd8Y?si=Om36YHHUMtvC7iB1

2.https://youtu.be/wLeTKAAmmGM?si=eAQpA17GFKU5ZJXi 

3.https://kvira.ge/904251

Faits inspirants sur les liens historiques entre la France et la Géorgie

Faits inspirants sur les liens historiques entre la France et la Géorgie

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  1. La première représentation visuelle de la ville de Tbilissi appartient au voyageur français Jean Chardin. Né à Paris dans une riche famille de marchands, il voyagea à travers la Géorgie dans les années 1670 en route vers la Perse. Il écrivit plus tard un ouvrage remarquable sur son voyage de la mer Noire à Tbilissi. Plus important encore, il réalisa les premières représentations visuelles de la ville à une époque où la photographie n’existait pas, nous donnant ainsi une idée de l’aspect de Tbilissi au XVIIe siècle. Aujourd’hui, une rue de Tbilissi porte son nom — la rue Chardin.
  2. Le célèbre écrivain français Alexandre Dumas voyagea en Géorgie en 1858–1859. Il entra depuis l’Azerbaïdjan par Lagodekhi, y séjourna environ deux mois, puis quitta le pays par Poti. Il admira profondément la Géorgie et décrivit avec vivacité sa vie culturelle dans son livre Le Caucase, dont une grande partie est consacrée à Tbilissi. Il apprécia particulièrement les bains sulfureux, qu’il fréquenta souvent, ainsi que l’opéra.
  3. Roustam Raza, proche associé de Napoléon Bonaparte, était originaire de Tbilissi. De plus, le beau-frère de Napoléon, Joachim Murat, était marié à une femme d’origine géorgienne.
  4. La France fut l’un des rares pays à soutenir militairement la Première République démocratique de Géorgie (1918–1921). Les forces navales françaises bombardèrent même les positions bolcheviques avançant depuis l’Abkhazie.
  5. Après la chute de la Première République, le gouvernement géorgien s’exila en France et s’installa au domaine géorgien de Leuville-sur-Orge. Leurs tombes s’y trouvent encore aujourd’hui.
  6. La 5e présidente de la Géorgie, Salomé Zourabichvili, est née en France et descend d’un ministre du gouvernement de la Première République. Le rêve de sa famille était de revenir en Géorgie.
  7. Lorsque la Géorgie s’est qualifiée pour la première fois au Championnat d’Europe de l’UEFA, l’équipe nationale était entraînée par le Français Willy Sagnol.

Mukhran Guliashvili

Legacy of German Architecture’s in Georgia’s Capital

Legacy of German Architecture’s in Georgia’s Capital

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Germany holds a special place in Georgian history. It is such a broad and rich topic that not just one blog—or even one or two books—would be enough to cover it fully. Still, I will try to summarize a few stories that may be interesting not for historians or researchers, but for first-time visitors from Germany who come to Georgia as tourists. After hiking in the mountains, they may want to learn a bit more about the history of the city and the country they are discovering.

Of course, no visitor can avoid Rustaveli Avenue. Walking along it is a pleasant experience. Before moving to the main subject, it is worth repeating that Germany has always been a very special country for Georgia—consistently in a positive way throughout our history.

It all began in 1817, when the first group of German Swabians from Württemberg arrived in Georgia and founded settlements in Tbilisi and other towns. The reasons for their migration were varied, including religious and economic factors, though I will not go into detail here. Since 1801, Georgia had been part of the Russian Empire, and the emperor promised favorable conditions to settlers. Initially, around 3,000 Germans lived across different regions of Georgia, including Tbilisi. They brought elements of European culture with them—beer-making traditions, potatoes, and even cow’s milk, while Georgians had traditionally preferred buffalo milk and related products.

In the 1930s, during the Soviet period and around the time of World War II, approximately 23,000 Germans were deported from Georgia to Central Asia and Siberia.

This brief background helps us move toward the main topic. It may come as a surprise that there are very few capitals in the world where a central avenue was largely shaped by German architects—and Tbilisi is one of them.

One of the first impressive buildings you will see is the Tbilisi Opera House, rebuilt in 1896 by the architect Viktor Johann Gottlieb Schröter (1839–1901). His parents migrated from Wittenberg to St. Petersburg. He graduated from the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg and also studied in Berlin. From the 1860s, he worked in Tbilisi and is best known for his work on the opera house.

Let’s take a walk along Rustaveli Avenue, from Rustaveli Metro Station to Liberty Square.

As you continue walking, you will encounter another notable building designed by the German architect Albert Salzmann (1833–1897). He was born in Tbilisi into a Swabian migrant family and studied at the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. Salzmann designed many distinguished buildings in Tbilisi. He was buried in the German Lutheran cemetery in Kukia, which unfortunately no longer exists. One of his works is the former Caucasus Military Museum, today the National Gallery (Rustaveli Avenue #11).

Directly opposite the National Gallery stands another impressive building—Tbilisi’s First Classical Gymnasium (Rustaveli Avenue #10), designed by Otto Jakob Simonson. He was born in Dresden in 1829 and worked in Tbilisi from 1859 to 1909. He designed many significant buildings, including churches and private residences for wealthy Tbilisi families. In 1909, he moved to Riga, where he passed away in 1914.

At Rustaveli Avenue #9 stands Kashveti St. George Church, designed by Albert Salzmann and Otto Simonson.

Further along, the former Viceroy’s Palace (today the National Youth Palace, Rustaveli Avenue #6) was redesigned by Otto Simonson in 1870–71, who gave the building its current façade.

Finally, at Liberty Square, the current Tbilisi City Council building was redesigned by the German architect Paul Stern. He added a third floor to the central part of the building, giving it a stepped silhouette. He also replaced the existing fire tower with a taller, gazebo-like Rathaus tower crowned with a clock. The façade was decorated with Moorish elements according to his design.

What I have described above is mostly focused on the 19th century, but Germans also have many important stories in 20th-century Georgia, which I will continue exploring in another blogs

Mukhran Guliashvili

Used sources

https://german-georgian.archive.ge/ka/blog/62.

https://kvira.ge/598293

https://www.tbilisiarchitecture.net/ka/tbilisis-german-settlements/

https://german georgian.archive.ge/ka/blog/16

https://blueshield.ge/?p=6433&lang=ka

https://um.ge/news/tbilisis-germanuli-arqiteqtura

What connects David and Victoria Beckham to one of the 5★ hotels in Tbilisi?

What connects David and Victoria Beckham to one of the 5★ hotels in Tbilisi?

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have been a tour guide in Tbilisi since 2016. I also graduated from the Faculty of History at TSU. Tbilisi is a city that constantly surprises you. When I guide tours, I naturally share my knowledge with my guests, but in my free time I continue learning more and more. Tbilisi is full of interesting and inspiring stories. Every day we discover something new. Most of these stories are connected to famous writers, travelers, and historical figures who are no longer around.

In this blog, I want to share a story that I am sure will surprise many of you. It is connected to the famous English football star David Beckham and his wife, pop star Victoria Beckham.

This moment happened in Tbilisi. In one of his interviews with 1TVSPORT, Beckham recalled:

“It was November 1996. I was sitting in a hotel room. The next day we were supposed to play against the Georgian national team in a World Cup qualifying match. Gary Neville was lying on the next bed. Apart from matches, I don’t really like traveling and going away. In reality, you don’t see anything—you just live in a monotonous routine that becomes boring: you eat, you sleep, and you train. You spend all your time in rooms that all look very similar.

The hotel where the England national team was staying had been opened after the collapse of the Soviet Union and was the only hotel in Georgia at the time that met international standards. The interior was arranged in a circular layout, overlooking the lobby, bars, and restaurants.

From your room, you could see the door of the opposite room. Everything was made of metal and glass. From my window, I could see a half-finished highway along which a gray river sluggishly flowed. It was definitely not a landscape that would make you want to go outside in the evening.

In short, Gary Neville and I were sitting in the room talking. In the corner, a television was on, tuned to a music channel. A new Spice Girls video began—‘Say You’ll Be There.’ They were dancing in a desert; Posh (Victoria Adams) was wearing a black catsuit. I was watching and realized I had never seen such an extraordinary woman before.

But that evening, in the stuffy hotel room, something clicked in my mind for the first time. Victoria was fantastic, and I realized I somehow had to find a way to her. Clearly, I would need Lawrence of Arabia’s outfit. I would somehow also need to find a camel.

‘She’s so beautiful… I love her. Gary, I have to meet this girl.’

Neville probably thought I had gone mad. Even though we spent a lot of time together, Gary had never seen anything like this—I had fallen in love with a pop star I only knew from television. And now that was exactly what had happened—Victoria had taken my heart.”

of course you are interesting which hotel was it , it was Sheraton hotel Tbilisi

Mukhran Guliashvili

source:https://1tv.ge/news/1996-wlis-noemberi-tbilisi-devid-beqhemisa-da-viqtoria-adamsis-siyvarulis-istoria-saqartveloshi-daiwyo-1tvsport/

What Americans Should Know When Visiting Georgia? 🇺🇸🇬🇪

What Americans Should Know When Visiting Georgia? 🇺🇸🇬🇪

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1. George W. Bush Street in Tbilisi
Many Americans—even those who live in Georgia or have visited—are not aware that the country is one of the few in the world with a major street named after George W. Bush. This avenue is part of the main highway connecting Tbilisi International Airport to the city center.


2. A Unique Presidential Visit
George W. Bush remains the only sitting U.S. president to have visited Georgia (in 2005). During his visit, he famously enjoyed traditional Georgian cuisine such as khinkali and eggplant with walnuts, and even tried a bit of Georgian dancing.
His strong support during the Russo-Georgian War is still remembered in Georgia, and his role is one of the reasons why a street in Tbilisi was named after him.

3. Ronald Reagan Monument in Tbilisi
There is a monument to Ronald Reagan in Rike Park, opened in 2011. He is widely associated with policies that contributed to the end of the Cold War and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union, which led to Georgia’s independence.

4. Georgia in Afghanistan
Georgia was one of the largest contributors per capita to the mission in Afghanistan, deploying around 4,000 soldiers at its peak. This demonstrated Georgia’s strong commitment as a U.S. partner.

5. Donald Trump and the Batumi Project
Donald Trump visited Georgia in 2012. At the time, a major investment project—Trump Tower in Batumi—was planned. However, after political changes in 2013, the project was canceled.

6. Presidential Palace and the White House Comparison
The Presidential Palace of Georgia, located in the Avlabari district, was officially opened in 2009 during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili. The building has some visual similarities to the White House and is clearly visible from the Bridge of Peace.

Mukhran Guliashvili

The Story of Norwegian Nobel Prize Laureate Knut Hamsun in Tbilisi

The Story of Norwegian Nobel Prize Laureate Knut Hamsun in Tbilisi

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As part of my blog series about people who built connections between Georgia and their home countries, today I want to talk about the Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun (born 1859 in Lom, Norway), a Nobel Prize laureate, who traveled to Georgia in 1899 with his wife.

Hamsun traveled under various names to avoid attention. Rather than spending time with the elite, he wanted to experience ordinary Georgian life, meet local people, and immerse himself in the country. He fell in love with Georgia, and his impressions were later recorded in his book In a Fairy‑tale Land: Experienced and Dreamt.

Hamsun, a well-traveled man who often disliked the countries he visited, made an exception for Georgia. He even expressed a wish to spend his final days there.

The Route and Impressions

He first arrived via Dariali, from Russia into Kazbegi. He was immediately captivated by the view of Mount Kazbek:

“At a sharp bend in the road, on the right side, a valley suddenly opens before the eyes, and very close appears Kazbegi with its glacier shining in the sun. Tall, stern, and silent, it astonishes us with its power. We are filled with an indescribably overwhelming feeling: this is a completely different world, where Kazbegi, surrounded by mountains bound by an oath of loyalty, looks down upon us from above…

This country does not resemble any other country I know, and I am filled with the feeling that I would gladly spend my whole life living here.”

Afterward, he continued to Tbilisi, where he stayed at the London Hotel, the city’s finest at the time. Built in 1875 by German architect Richter and managed by his daughter, it was a private hotel until the Soviet era, when it became a police building. Today, the building still stands on Atoneli Street.

Former hotel London Tbilisi

In Batumi, Hamsun stayed at the Bel Vie Hotel, near the seaside.

Observations About Georgia

In his writings, Hamsun reflected on the slower, more harmonious life of the Caucasus:

“This world is unlike any other I have ever seen, and I still think that I could stay here for the rest of my life. We descended into the valley. Vineyards began to appear. In the forest, walnut trees grow…

The Caucasian knows nothing about the fluctuations of the New York Stock Exchange; his life does not resemble a horse race held at a hippodrome. He lives slowly and unhurriedly, nourishing himself with the fruits of trees and the meat of sheep.

Can it really be said that Europeans and Yankees are superior to the Caucasians in any way? God knows! It is such a debatable question that no one but God can answer.

Never again in my life will I experience a more astonishing and splendid fairy tale. Especially remarkable was the journey through the mountains from Vladikavkaz toward Tbilisi. People there are more beautiful, the wine is redder, and the mountains are higher. I feel that I could live for an entire year near Mount Kazbek.”

Legacy

Unfortunately, Hamsun never returned to live in Georgia. He died at the age of 93 on February 19, 1952, in Nørholm.

Hamsun was the only major writer to visit Georgia without meeting any local literary colleagues. There was no ceremonial reception or traditional supra (feast) offered—he preferred to remain incognito.

Despite his Norwegian fame, Hamsun remains relatively unknown in his home country. According to prominent Georgian professor Levan Berzenishvili, Hamsun’s controversial political stances—such as his support for Germany during the Nazi occupation of Norway—likely contributed to this

Mukhran Guliashvili

Used sources:

1. In a cultural history or travel narrative

The Hotel de Londres in Tbilisi stands as more than an architectural relic — it is a crossroads of history where European artists and thinkers once lingered. When Knut Hamsun paused there in 1899, he found not just shelter but a moment of reflection in a reading room cluttered with the travel guides of the age, underscoring how even ordinary spaces can shape extraordinary impressions of place.

2. To support a theme about Georgia as a cultural crossroads

As travelers like Hamsun, Tchaikovsky, and Curzon passed through Tbilisi, their experiences revealed the city’s position on the cultural map of Eurasia — a bridge between East and West where local character met global curiosity.

3. In an academic or reflective essay

Historical places such as the Hotel de Londres remind us that cities are living archives. The memories of writers and composers who stayed in its rooms continue to enrich our understanding of Tbilisi’s place in literary and artistic history