Batumi
As we stumbled off the bus in Batumi, our stomachs were still feeling queasy from the last leg of our journey. But we weren't about to let a little sickness ruin our beach day! We hit the sandy shores and I eagerly swam in the Black Sea for the very first time. Unfortunately, the waves were more like a stomach-churning rollercoaster ride than a gentle dip, so we quickly retreated to shore to nurse our ailing bellies. After the beach, we took it chill, grabbed some light dinner (just rice from a Japanese restaurant), and went back to the hostel.
As we woke up feeling slightly better after a rough night's sleep at the hostel, we knew we had to explore Batumi. And boy, were we in for a surprise! We were surprised to see an important port and modern city in between old and new architecture (check the pictures below!). But that wasn't the only thing that caught us off guard. We discovered that Batumi is a top destination for gambling tourism. With permissive gambling laws, the city attracts tourists from Russia and other thrill-seekers looking to test their luck. Who knew that a beach destination could have such a lively gambling scene?
But Batumi has a rich history too. Once part of the Ottoman Empire, it was annexed by the Russian Empire in 1878. During the Soviet era, it was a favored holiday spot for the Soviet elite and an important port. Today, it continues to be a vital port and a thriving tourist destination.
Accomodation
Our hostel, Hostel Voyage, was cheap but, let's just say, not exactly a five-star resort. Our room was a sweltering sauna, and we were rudely awoken not once, but twice in the middle of the night by other people coming and speaking loudly in our the shared and very small room. We definitely wouldn't recommend it, but hey, it was an adventure (especially when sick...)!
Bronze statue of the legendary Greek sorceress Medea, who is said to have fled to Georgia after helping her lover, Jason, steal the Golden Fleece
Batumi seen from the port
Alphabet Tower - a 130-meter tower that represents the Georgian alphabet and is made up of 33 letters
Batumi port
The "Ali and Nino" statue depicts the characters from the famous novel of the same name by Azerbaijani author Kurban Said, which tells the story of Ali and Nino, a Muslim Azerbaijani and a Christian Georgian, who fall in love and overcome the challenges of their cultural and religious differences during the tumultuous times of the Azerbaijani independence movement and the invasion of the Red Army.
The statue was designed by Georgian artist Tamara Kvesitadze and was unveiled in 2010 and represents the two lovers in motion, moving towards each other and merging into one.
