Inspiration: Georgia + Armenia

The generosity of time and spirit in this pocket of the world is renowned, and with good reason. Georgia is where Europe begins, not where it ends. 

Tbilisi, its capital, has the feel of an intimate European city with quirky and cutting-edge architecture, ancient thermal bathhouses, and boutique hotels in re-purposed Soviet printing press factories. On par with the Swiss Alps, the lesser-known Northern Kazbegi region offers stellar hiking and Heli-skiing. 

Georgia is where winemaking started, and all 8,000 vintages are made in a traditional qvevri (clay amphorae). The hearty cuisine they pair it with includes savory shashlik (lamb kebabs), khinkali (dumplings), and khachapuri (bread), complemented by aged cheese, dried apricots, and pomegranates.

Armenia, Georgia’s southern neighbor, is in a state of rebirth. Its complex and rich history, roughly 2,500 years, offers some of the most beautiful churches anywhere in the world. The rustic delights of the Armenian table, and overwhelming hospitality, create a memorable experience. It is the new vanguard of religious tourism and is also home to a very cosmopolitan, young, and "with it" society of deep thinkers (more chess masters and nuclear scientists per capita than any other country!).
 
A visit to Georgia and Armenia is invigorating and full of surprises … go now before it is re-discovered.