Financial Times UK publishes an extensive article about the mountain resorts of Georgia. Journalist Simon Usborne was in Mestia in 2022 at the invitation of the National Tourism Administration of Georgia. In an extensive article, Simon Usborne talks about Georgia's mining resorts, gastronomy and local population.
The Financial Times UK begins the description of his trip to Mestia from Natakhtari airfield, "which sits opposite a chocolate factory just outside the Georgian capital Tbilisi, the airport’s dog snoozed in the seat next to mine". The article enthusiastically describes the mountains and beautiful landscapes of Svaneti.
The Financial Times UK article entitled "Deep snow and dumplings: heli-skiing in Georgia" tells the story of two local residents, Misha and Alexei Margiani, who are brothers in their early thirties.
“Mestia, which lies in a steep-sided valley about an hour to the north, is best known for its medieval watchtowers. More than a dozen of the structures still rise above cobbled streets like fortified skyscrapers. The town of no more than 2,000 people sits at the heart of the Svaneti region, home to the Svans. They proudly guard an ancient culture and language — and some of Europe’s greatest mountains.
Skiing is much newer to Svaneti. In the past decade, a few grizzled tourers, as well as sponsored ski movie crews, have begun to travel to the mountains in Ushba’s shadow. There have been recent investments in local ski resorts, too, and some heli-skiing run by a German operator, but much remains unskied; a Slovakian adventurer only made the first descent of Ushba in 2017“, - the article reads.
The Financial Times Uk journalist also focuses on the Georgian gastronomy - the charming cobbled main street of Mestia is full of restaurants that offer guests mainly Georgian cuisine, including wonderful khinkali and khachapuri, a cheese-filled bread, the publication writes.
Mestia’s charming cobbled main street, where scrawny cows nibbled at the thawing grass verges, is full of restaurants offering mainly Georgian cuisine, including its wonderful khinkali dumplings and khachapuri, a cheese-filled bread. The town wears its cultural heritage on every corner. The watchtowers are protected, and one of them, which is part of the Margianis’ old farmhouse, or machubi, has been restored as a small museum. Misha led me to it one cloudy afternoon, up a steep winding road — and back in time about 1,000 years,” - the article says.
Sourse link: https://www-ft-com.ezp.lib.cam.ac.uk/content/e2241256-996f-4d74-b52b-3d5f6415787b
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