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Where It's At
Although the Black Sea Coast is not usually the first
place you might consider when planning a beach getaway, the
sub-tropical attractive sea-side resort and port town of Batumi
in the far southwest of Georgia, 12 miles from the Turkish
border, is steadily growing in popularity. Further north,
Abkhazia's coast was once known to boast Georgia's best beaches,
but is now out of bounds since it has been scarred with the
reality of war and the danger of landmines.
The Black Sea was coined Pontus Euxinus (Hospitable Sea)
over 2500 years ago by the renowned Argonauts, and if the
local Georgian hospitality is anything to go by, it still
lives up to its name today.
Batumi is the capital of the picturesque ancient Adjaran
Province of Georgia, and is significant as a port town and
terminus to the Trans-Caucasian Railway. Its close
proximity to Turkey gives it an evident Turkish influence
and sets it apart from other Georgian areas.
Nature Attractions
Bordered by mountain ranges, Batumi is surrounded by an exotic
array of palm trees, bamboo forests, wild azaleas, cypresses,
magnolias, oleanders, fruit trees, and great bird life. If
you are traveling to Batumi from Tbilisi, the scenic
trail will take you via tea plantations and century old mature
Eucalyptus trees rivaling any specimens found in Australia.
Things to See and Do
Weather permitting, a great way to start the day is with a
wake up dip in the sea by Batumi Beach. During the
summer months, locals can often be spotted soaking up the
sun on the beach's white pebbles or sipping Batumi's famous
coffee in the outdoor cafés along Gogebashvili Street
in front of the fishing port, where old sailors often congregate
to swap anecdotes. Beachfront restaurants provide a good vantage
point to kick back and enjoy well-priced kebabs, chips, salad,
and beer.
The town centre, easily covered on foot, has a mixture of
architecture ranging from facades of iron filigree, stucco
and aged brick. Horse-drawn carriages work the tree-covered
parks and the restaurant-lined promenades, with various shopping
areas, markets, and sights to check out. There is a 'new rich'
development in Batumi which is evident from the some of the
flashy BMWs, yachts, and modern apartments in the area.
The locals are particularly proud of Batumi's main attractions,
including a Dolphinarium housing dolphins and the stunning
Botanical Garden. It's also quite popular to rent out
paddle boats at Batumi Beach, ride beachfront funfair
rides, and play tennis.
The kitsch night life around Batumi buzzes after dark. In
nearby Ninoshvili, you'll be sure to spot DianaLand
- a glitzy night club often misquoted as being a shrine to
the Princess of Wales, but is apparently really just named
after the club's owner, who also happens to be the daughter
of the Ajarian leader, Aslan Abashidze.
Where to Stay
Good news for visiting tourists is that many new hotels have
sprung up in Batumi offering competitive rates, which is a
welcome relief compared to the prices in Georgia's capital,
Tbilisi. Some of the large seaside hotels are now full of
refugees from the war in Abkhazia. Generally there are plenty
of good modern places to stay, but be wary of hotels with
heavily made up women in evening dresses loitering around
the foyer, run by heavies wearing dark sunglasses, as several
hotels offer certain services to businessmen and expect their
guests to comprehend.
Getting There
Batumi can easily be reached by road from Turkey, and is one
hour by air from Tbilisi. For budget travelers there is also
an overnight sleeper train, or if you find it difficult to
sleep on trains and prefer a scenic route, you can travel
by marshrutka (inexpensive vans that travel between cities)
which takes about eight hours including a stop for food. Be
prepared for bus drivers that decide not to take you all the
way to the final bus stop, and if traveling to and from Turkey,
politely refuse customs officials if they ask for a tip.
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