It's a Rainy Day in Georgia

 03-04-2022

It was a late night and, consequently, a late morning!  But breakfast is available until eleven o'clock, so all's right with the world.  Before we go to breakfast, though, I have a small problem.  I used one of the hotel's Q-tips and one of the cotton ends came off in my ear! I can't feel it in there;  but it's not on the end of the stick and I can't hear.  Ammar has a look and I can feel something moving in there;  but he tells me that I need to go to a doctor or clinic!!  Then he produces it!  Sneaky little beast!!  He's got such big hands, I don't know how he managed to get ahold of it - but I'm sure grateful!

I just discovered that there are chocolate croissants and chocolate-filled rolls!  Good think Ammar is such a bread eater or I would never have known! They go well with the hard-boiled egg and veggies.

Most of the people in the hotel are Israelis.  Apparently
there is a direct flight from Tel Aviv to Batumi.

I come back upstairs while Ammar gets his espresso, and check the mail and the news.  I eventually go downstairs and we borrow an umbrella to go exploring and shopping a little!  I'm looking for the little shop I found the other day that was closed, despite its "open" sign.  Ammar's never been there;  but he finds it for me anyway! I don't know how that works!  And it's closed!  Never mind!  We find another little place that has almost the same things and I'm a happy camper.  We also stumble upon a little hole-in-the-wall that sells hats and socks and those long-sleeved clingy shirts that you can wear under anything to keep warm.  I got one at the Dollar General before we left and it's kept me toasty;  but Ammar desperately needs one, too.  He gets colder faster than I do; Jordan is both hotter and colder that Florida.  We each get a hat and he gets the shirt.  The lady is five lari short of giving us our change and, instead, she gives him a pair of socks!  Everything works out!

interesting wall treatment near the elevator

Outside the Circus Hotel

yellow and blue are everywhere

Such amazing street art everywhere

love the stained glass

and always the mosaics

My new hat!  Wish I could do selfies!

During our walk we have a fascinating discussion about the differences between Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.  Also, God, and reincarnation. I guess the weather brings out the philosopher in us both.

Before going home we stop at a little market to re-provision ourselves - bananas, chocolate, chips, cookies, the necessities of life! Sometimes it's just not practical to raid the casino!! But they sure do have good cappuccino! 

See how some of these things actually sail up and around?  There isn't that much wind and I think that it's snowing!!  Of course nothing sticks, or even, really, makes it to the ground!

We never had to use the umbrella and return it to the reception desk and go upstairs to get warm! Then Ammar goes off in search of the barber and I start to work on the blog.  We'll meet downstairs at 5:30 and to back to the seafood market. Finally!  Looking forward to salmon and shrimp and Georgian salad!

I love playing hide and seek with the mountains!  Ammar told me today
that I made a good choice asking for a room with a mountain view!

When you're on vacation, time stands still, just like this clock.

As I step out of the elevator, Ammar is right there! We don't have far to look for a cab; one of the hotel's is right there and ready to take us to dinner.  When we look down we realize that it actually did snow!! It doesn't feel any colder but the evidence is on the ground and the cars!

I had read a review of places to go in Batumi and the writer said that the best fish restaurant is Fishlandia!  Don't we feel smug! We choose a large salmon and two kilos of shrimp and deliver our swag to the kitchen before selecting a table.  We'll eat inside tonight!  Here's a look at the weather outside!

snow!

First Ammar goes outside for his vice break, then I go out with my phone.  We each have our addictions! The restaurant is keeping the sliding-glass doors shut, of course. Getting out is easy, but I can't get one to open up to let me back in!  I tap on the glass and as Ammar comes to rescue me, two guys who are closer beat him to it!

so cheap!

We're having salad and white sauce to go with our seafood, and I'm having a local draft beer called Kazbegi, which is also a place name.  It's a light, lovely pale ale.  The shrimp and salmon are outstanding, as we've come to expect!

Our driver had offered to wait for us, although that wasn't necessary.  Or desirable, since he kept peeking in to see if we were through!  In the past I would have felt obligated to hurry and leave;  but I'm older and wiser now, and I go back outside to get some sunset pictures first!

It's good to be home.  After a while I blog and Ammar goes for his espresso.  As soon as I'm done I'll join him. (Spotify sure does a lot to mitigate the quiet!)

I just can't get enough of the mountains!

So here's a giggle!  I finished up and published, got dressed, and went down to the casino.  I couldn't find Ammar, so I texted.  In the meantime he was trying to video call me.  It wouldn't go through.  I finally got his text that said he was in the room!!  How could that be when I had both key cards?? I start to giggle like a mad food and take the elevator back upstairs and there he is coming back down the hall!  What a comedy of errors!  But all's well that ends well and I'm just as happy that he is done for the evening.  And, he finally connected with the barber, so that's another plus!