Surprise Trip!

All of my “intercultural education” teachers have been talking non-stop about the Georgian concept of time. I think, though, that the Batumi trip taught me more than any lecture could have. We spent about nine hours travelling by bus, had about -10 minutes to change into fresh dress-clothes for the musical, and then were off to the opera house. The building is beautiful and brand new. I really enjoyed the view from the observation deck, although walking in a dress across a glass floor can make one very self-conscious. We had some famous company in the audience (insert link), which was startling, and we also had a chance to meet volunteers who have been in the country for a few months already.

After the musical—around midnight—we all went out for dinner. Then finally I had a chance to swim in the Black Sea, my goal for the trip. A large group of us went at night, but then I stayed up all night with some new friends so that we could have an early morning swim as well. It was lovely! The water was warm and calm and blue! I only wish the shore hadn’t been quite so rocky (or that I had brought shoes for it). But the rocks were dark, which made the sea seem even more blue. It was breathtaking.

The other reason for the all-nighter was, of course, the hope that we would then be tired enough in the morning to sleep though the whole bus-ride back to Tbilisi. In reality, I woke up enough at one rest stop to go run around on the side of a mountain. In heels. Through thorns. And then I slept the rest of the way home. For two days mostly spent in-transit, that was quite an excellent trip.