Colin & Sylvia's record of their visit to Kutaisi: May 2007

Having heard so much about Georgia from people who have visited over the years, we were very keen to experience it for ourselves. And what an experience it turned out to be!

Surrounded by caring, intelligent Georgian friends from first to last, we moved through meetings, events, supras, visits and so on, seamlessly, delighted by the hospitality, the country and above all by the warm and interesting people we came to know.

We met civic, academic, commercial and religious leaders and the significance of our visit for the people in Kutaisi gradually dawned. Even visits to television studios for interviews were requested of us. Everyone wanted to speak to us.

A pleasant surprise occurred when we visited the LDA office in Kutaisi. Joseph Khakhaleishvili (Soso), connected to Skype, and had Davi d Mayer and Catherine Philpott in their Newport homes, waiting to hear all about our experiences. It was good to see the LDA office and hear Joseph discuss his plans.

Throughout the week we were told excitedly that the highlight was going to be the visit of the British ambassador. After the formal meeting with him at the university, we walked into the concert hall. The whole audience standing, we processed to the front seats with the ambassador, whereupon small boys in national costume presented us with bouquets while numerous cameras focussed on us. Run of the mill for him, no doubt, but overwhelming for us. The concert was varied and brilliant: children in national dress singing Georgian folk songs, a soloist singing an operatic aria, a violinist playing Mozart and many more. It was world class.

We also enjoyed our travels within Georgia enormously. The journey from Tbilisi to Kutaisi took all day as we stopped at various interesting sites and for a wonderful traditional lunch. Going back, we set off from our lovely guest house in Kutaisi before 5 a.m. and so we watched the sun rise over the mountains and plains of central Georgia, arriving in Tbilisi in time for breakfast at the glossy new airport.

Our lasting impressions are of the beauty of the country, how much it has to offer the tourist once the infrastructure and basic facilities improve, and, more importantly, of the interesting, new and valued friends we have made. Already we are exchanging gifts, letters and emails and hope before too long some of them can visit Newport to allow us to repay their very generous hospitality.

Many thanks to KNIA, especially Madonna Megrelishvili, for organising this fantastic week and to NKA, especially Catherine Philpott, for supporting and encouraging our visit. It was a truly amazing experience.