Day 6 (July 16, 2022): Peeling back the layers of Batumi

[It’s 1:30AM in Georgia, and I’m wiped out!  Intro to today’s blog to follow tomorrow.]

Let me take a moment to explain something very core to understanding Batumi: what is Batumi Boulevard?  From the entrance to the port of Batumi, a 7km pedestrian park and boulevard runs the full length of the Batumi beach which, as you can see from the photo above, is itself extremely wide.  It all started in 1881, as a 150m-long boulevard.  Over the last 139 years, it has been widened and lengthened, to the point that it serves as the main artery for most resort activity in Batumi.  There are multiple pedestrian lanes and bicycle lanes.  It is truly a landscaping wonder.

Public art near the Sheraton, where we are staying.

This futuristic reception hall is located at the start of Batumi Boulevard.  Brilliant design!

Pam, looking relaxed at the start of Batumi Boulevard.

The start of Batumi Boulevard is lined with pillars, each topped with a musician, such as this one.

 

This is Batumi Tower, located at the start of Batumi Boulevard. Originally built as a technical college, it was purchased by Meridian Hotels and now operates as Le Meridian Batumi.  It is often referred to as Batumi’s version of the Empire State Building.  One of its most unique design features is a Ferris wheel, imbedded into the structure.  Look up… waaaaay up!

Love it or hate it, this is Alphabet Tower, located in Miracle Park, at the entrance to the port of Batumi.  The Georgian alphabet has 33 characters and is one of the 14 most ancient alphabets on Earth.  The tower, which displays the 33 characters in the alphabet in a “DNA’ design from bottom to top, was built in 2012 at a height of 130m.

At the top of Alphabet Tower, you can try on some traditional Georgian clothing.  It would sure keep a person warm in winter!

So, on Wednesday, we rode an 80m Ferris wheel on top of a 727m mountain in Tbilisi.  And we both said we would never do it again!  Clearly, we are either not very smart, have short memories, or we conquered our fears on that earlier Ferris wheel ride — because we took another 80m Ferris wheel in Miracle Park.  To the left above, you see drama personified!  It really wasn’t that bad.

The view of the port of Batumi from the top of the Miracle Park Ferris wheel.

“Ali and Nino” is a 2010 statue by two Georgian sculptors is one of Batumi’s most popular attractions.  At first, we thought it was a bit kitschy.  However, it is truly well done.  A male and a female figure move slowly away from racha other and then toward each other, ultimately merging into a single entity without touching. The statue tells about the love between the heroes of a novel by Kurban Said - Ali, an aristocrat from Azerbaijan, and Nino, a Georgian princess.

Berries and fresh fruit, the likes of which we have never seen, in an abundance you have to behold to believe.

In Tbilisi, we reported on the fact that books are sold along the sidewalks.  Well, here in Batumi, they are sold from the trunks of vehicles!

Chacha Tower in Miracle Park.

The Piazza City Clock Tower, located in Piazza Square, in Old Town Batumi.

At 150 years old, Saint Nicolas Greek Orthodox Church is one of the oldest in Batumi.

The Armenian Apostolic Church.  Every church we have seen to this point has been an Eastern Orthodox Church.  Unlike the Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Chuch actually has pews to sit on!

A typical street in Old Town Batumi, where balconies are the norm.

A statue of the Colchian princess, Medea, holding a golden lamb’s fleece, located in Europe Square in Old Town Batumi.

 

Europe Square in Old Town Batumi.

Everywhere we go, we see great ideas that one doesn’t see elsewhere.  Like this dog-leash-pole outside a pharmacy.  Brilliant!

For a small city of 150,000, the Adjara Arts Museum really punches above its weight class.  A wonderful collection of Georgian artists’ work, and some 19th and 20th century European artists’ work.  

I have been waiting for months to try Khachapuri, a Georgian bread, filled with cheese and - usually - an egg, that you stir into the cheese.  A local baker offered to make me one, and it did not disappoint!


Nurigeli Lake is a natural lake along Batumi Boulevard.  It features a nightly laser show.

The Octopus is quite an elaborate public art and kids’ playground installation along Batumi Boulevard.


The new Marriott Batumi, at close to 50 storeys, is nearing completion.  

Another section of Batumi Boulevard, showing its width.

The Batumi Summer Theatre is a theatre on the Batumi Boulevard.  It’s where we took in the most amazing spectacle this evening:  a Georgian Dance and Singing Evening, featuring the State Choreographic Ensemble and the Folk Song Men’s Ensemble.  Think “Riverdance for Georgia”.  We were simply blown away by the performance and the talent of these two groups.  It is so good, it should be on international tour, just as Riverdance has done.  Unbelievably amazing!

Some scenes from the performance this evening.

Enroute back to the hotel, we saw a long line of ping-pong tables along Batumi Boulevard, and young people were playing quite seriously.  Another brilliant idea from Batumi!