The way to Mestia, the centre of Svaneti region, didn’t seem to be simple. First I had to arrive to Zugdidi by a Marshrutka(vans with several seat rows like a minibus), from Zugdidi I had to get a 4WD or a Marshrutka to Mestia. This part is not always done in the afternoon and takes 5 to 6 hours mainly by a dirt road.

I was lucky, as soon as I arrived to Zugdidi I got on to a Marshrutka saturated with bags, luggage, cases, undefinable stuff, cafés and people and I arrived to Mestia. On the way I met a couple from Catalonia with whom I searched for a guesthouse. It’s a great place to stay in the village as they feed you as well.

The music is from Mike Oldfield, from his second LP, Hergest Ridge. There are some moments where the symphonic rock doesn’t seem to blend with the scenery too much but as Mike Oldfield is one of my favourite I’ve felt like putting it.

I’ve been three days around here and I’ve edited a little video about it for you to judge how beautiful the place is. Just one data for you to get an idea of how extreme the mountains are here, out of the 2100 glaciers of the Caucasus 30% are in Georgian land

It’s a pity not having taken the mail of the two Canadian girls that recommended me the place, I’d tell them thank you. Even they disrupted all my days and plans I’m happy to not miss this place. Seems that a ski resort is being planned so they’ll do a road and fill up the village with hotels and the atmosphere won’t be the same.

Fortunately, even in the video I say that Ushguli is the end of the road, this is not totally true. The road continues, the thing is that it is nearly impassable. In this area there are still more isolated villages then even if Mestia gets spoilt the Svaneti essence will still be there for whoever ventures to find it.

See you soon.

Fernando