In brief: A bit of whimsy and a lot of reverence characterize two very different parks in the city.
Mziuri Park
We were about to explore Georgia’s Caucasus Mountains and the countryside west of Tbilisi. But first we found a large greenspace to explore in the city, built on the natural cliffside where Tbilisi drops toward to the Kura River.
Georgians love their parks and there are formal ones in the city. But Mziuri Park offers young and old a different kind of oasis, with pleasant walking paths winding up and down its hillside, plus playgrounds of various sorts including a skate park, gathering places and picnic spots, and a duck pond – as well as some very whimsical sculptures and structures too.
Woodland creatures throng the entrance gate to the park.
One of several statues to ponder or play on in a section of cascading paths and staircases.
The green heart of the park
This may look like a typical pond, but that duck apartment is just floating freely in the pond while a gleaming silver hippo nearby seems to have just waddled out of it.
We were also delighted by a night heron near the shore. It was attracted to the fish gathering near the bread pieces tossed on the waters by a young woman.
As the stairs spiral up and around, just above a small amphitheatre, this hanging vine drips water into the blue tile basin below.
Chronicles of Georgia
It’s not a glib observation that Georgians are deeply proud and religious. Those we’ve met are quite proud of a cultural heritage that dates back to the craftsmen and warriors of Colchis as well as to Christian belief starting in the 4th century.
The glory of both lineages is grandly celebrated at the Chronicles of Georgia, a grid of 16 massive pillars about 33 meters tall (110 feet), mounted on the highest hill of north Tbilisi. In monumental fashion, they commemorate 3000 years of history through images of heroes and events as well as 2000 years of Christianity by retelling the story of Jesus and the saints.
A sense of the monumentality of the Chronicles, which we visited on our return from the Caucasus.
Panels about the ancient culture of the Georgians sit atop images of kings and queens, who stand upon key Biblical scenes.
Adam names the beasts in the Garden of Eden while that might be Saint Nino, the female founder of Christianity here, in the background.
A very somber depiction of the Last Supper, in an arc form.
Lastly, you don’t notice the Church of the Annunciation until you pass to the back of the huge pillars, but it is a wonder in itself. It seems to hover above the city below and displays fine bronze images of many religious sites.
(To enlarge any picture above, click on it. Also, for more pictures from Georgia, CLICK HERE to view the slideshow at the end of the itinerary page.)
