Tbilisi Photos

Tbilisi is known for its churches and fotresses. This fortress sits at the top of the mountain overlooking the city. The openings that you see were used in old times to pour out hot oil on the enemies who were tring to take over the city.

Restaurant "Khvervshi"

We only went out to one restaurant while we were in Tbilisi. Mom wanted to go to this particular restaurant since they had Georgian folk group singing each night.

Our menu was very originally displayed




Our chairs were crafted woodwork

Visiting Sameba (Trinity)

Levan, Anna's distant cousin, took us on the tour of the city. We got to visit the largest Orthodox church in the world which is located in Tbilisi. The donkey pictures below was grazing in the church garden-the animal reminded me of Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

We even got to observe Georgian wedding and the baby baptism. Just in time for Stephen to taste the Georgian culture.

City and Dogs

City was full of dog

They even knew how to cross busy streets




It was ok of a dog to be near the plane at the airport grounds


Buba (our neighbors dog) would wait at the bottom of the apartment system until somebody would get into the elevator with him. He was so old that he could not walk up the steps to the 4th floor. So, here is a shot of Buba with us in the rundown elevator

Old Tbilisi

We were amazed at the beauty of Old Tbilisi
Here are some pictures

Georgian Puri (Bread)

While visiting Georgia we ate enough bread to keep someone in business for a very long time! Georgians make there bread like no other country in the world...at least from what we have researched. They begin by making a special yeast dough. They spread this dough onto a tool that looks like a small pillow covered with stretched leather. This allows the baker to reach inside of this kiln-like oven (made of clay and shaped like a dome with an opening at the top and a fire built inside on the bottom) and plop the dough onto the inner oven wall. The dough hangs on for "dear life" as it rises and bakes. When the bread has finished baking, the baker than grabs two sticks, one with a hook to grab the baked bread and the other with a blade to help pry the bread off the inner wall. The timing of baking is especially important since the bread will fall off if overcooked and can be undercooked if taken out too early. If taken out too early, the bread cannot be simply stuck back in the oven...unless there is cooking glue?!

As far as taste, consistency and texture...the bread is slightly chewy, risen due to the yeast, lightly crusty on the outside and tastes AMAZING!

Check out the pictures that we captured as we experienced this unique and original way of baking bread....Sorry we did not capture photographs of us actually eating the bread since our hands were very busy and our brains completely overtaken by our olfactory glands: ) You'll just have to take us at our word!

Visiting the Turtle Lake and the Ethnographic Museum

As a little girl my mom would often take me to the Turtle Lake which is located in Tbilisi in the mountains. So one morning, Stephen, Tommy, Deda, and I headed toward the lake. We traveled up the mountain in Deda's rundown old Ford hoping that it would not break down on its way. We made it and we had a wonderful time. We even stopped at the Ethnographic museum which is the open air museum first of its kind in the Caucases founded in 1966. The museum represents natural, cultural, and intangible heritage of Georgia. It represents a miniature model of the country displaying Georgia's ethnic culture in its diversity. The museum represents 70 exact copies as well as original dwelling houses and subsidiary buildings from the several regions of Georgia.

Trip to Tbilisi, Georgia Part 1

Our trip to Tbilisi was unforgettable. So man memories made....and so many pictures taken. Here are some highlights....

Tommy and Deda (mom) at the restaurant

Deda and Bebo (grandma) at home

Stephen and dad

Anna and her friends from the elementary school

Our Fourth Wedding Anniversary

Wow, it has been four years since our wedding...

September 4, 2004




Lots have changed since then.
PA school, green card, Wilson Fullbright, Stephen's event planning, Zuka, planning a trip to my country (have not been there for 9 years), etc.
But God's Goodness and Grace has always been abundant!

We celebrated our anniversary by going out to the lovely restaurant and then to the beach

Of course, Stephen wanted to test his photography skills here...

Zuka and Meg

Zuka is thinking: "I cannot wait when Meg drops the ball"

oh, she still has the ball...

oh, I think that i can get it now...Yahoo...

Meg was very smart in learning how to feed Zuka when nobody else was watching..No wonder my child was smelling like salmon one night....

Sprunger Family Photoshoot

Mark Tubing

More Pictures from the Lake House Vacation

At the Lake House with the Sprunger Gang

Lakehouse vacation has been adventurous....

Fairy Land----I would have loved one of these homes when I was a little girl!



Stephen having fun in the water!



Zuka being our boat captain~



and fishing....But did we catch anything? No Does Stephen seem to be bored? Yes


More pictures to follow!

A Visit from a Wonderful Sister!

So the company keeps coming and Stephen's Sister Faith came for a 3 day stay! Outings consisted of a trip to Beufort, SC; hitting the beach on Sullivan's Island; and much discussion of life in between; ).....it was nice to spend time with Faith since she will only be able to attend one day of the Sprunger Family Vacation. Here are some pics of us at Sullivan's Island.