Mtskheta: Monasteries, Merging Rivers and a Meal

Today's adventure took us outside of Tbilisi to Mtskheta, the ancient capitol of Georgia. Tbilisi is the current capitol.

First stop: Jvari Cathedral, built in 586-604 AD on the site of the Mtskheta Cross Monastery. Jvari is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. 

Jvari is impressive, even from a distance.

How many feet have travelled these steps?

Something even older and more beautiful can be seen from Jvari. 

The estuary of two rivers: Mtkvari and Aragvi. 

Second stop: Check In Garden, a restaurant in Mtskheta, recommended by a friend of Deborah and David's. Absolutely delicious and I got my first taste of authentic Georgian food, Lobio, a bean dish. We also shared Georgian salad, several kinds of potatoes, pepperoni pizza, cheese pizza and vegetable soup.

Lobio

Third stop: Svetitskhoveli Cathedral which has been the burial site for Georgian kings. This was a much different experience from Jvari Cathedral. We saw a few Monks on site and Svetitskhoveli is much larger, newer, more ornate and the walls around it are intact. 

Another thing off my bucket list: visiting a monastery.