Trip to Tbilisi: Temporary Life in Georgia, the Journey, Saving on Homemade Food, and Winter Plans
Gamarjoba from sunny Georgia! After several years, we have finally come to Tbilisi for a temporary stay. It feels so wonderful and, above all, peaceful here. For the first couple of weeks, it was unusual to fall asleep in silence, far away from the continuous negative, destructive, belligerent, and hateful informational noise, periodic explosions from downed drones flying right near our roof, and the machine-gun bursts of air-defense systems at night and sometimes even during the day. What a relief to find ourselves safe, take a deep breath, and enjoy a measured rhythm of life.
The Road to the Border: A Test of Resilience
The trip to the border itself turned out to be exhausting and psychologically heavy. Over the final hundreds of kilometers before the checkpoints, we encountered numerous traffic police posts and an enhanced security control regime. Document verification procedures at every step, long waits, and questioning of passengers—especialy students riding on the bus—created enormous emotional tension.
When young people who have legal grounds and draft deferments were repeatedly asked for clarifying certificates at every stop, it caused deep anxiety for the guys. Documents were checked with bias, and the atmosphere near the checkpoint was extremely tense. Such trips require considerable emotional strength.
Customs and Human Support
All the more contrasting was the moment we crossed the actual border. To my joy and surprise, we passed the Georgian customs control quickly, calmly, and without unnecessary questions. The customs officer met us very warmly and kindly—it was one of the brightest and most touching moments of the entire trip.
Separately, I want to mention the atmosphere on the Russian side of customs, where we had to spend about five hours waiting while procedural talks with the students wrapped up. What struck me most was the reaction of our Armenian fellow travelers. Throughout all those long hours of waiting, no one showed irritation or aggression. People genuinely empathized with the guys, supported each other, and rejoiced when the situation was resolved safely. This display of sincere human solidarity commands deep respect.
Tbilisi, Everyday Life, and Social Media
Upon arriving in Tbilisi, we were warmly welcomed at our hotel. Throughout our stay here—up to the publication date of this article—we have never encountered any negativity or biased attitudes toward us as Russian citizens. We are sincerely grateful to the local residents for their hospitality and goodwill.
Almost a month has passed since our arrival on September 12, 2026. We are gradually getting used to a peaceful rhythm of life, dealing with household matters, making necessary purchases to optimize our budget, and simply discovering the city.
By the way, I periodically post photos and videos of our daily routines, walks, and various everyday moments on our social media—check them out to see everything with your own eyes!
Winter Plans: Christmas and New Year
We would very much like to celebrate Christmas and New Year right here in Tbilisi. It is very intriguing to see how these holidays are celebrated and conducted in Georgia, what atmosphere reigns on the streets, and what traditions are observed by locals during the winter season.
Useful Tips for Living in Tbilisi: Budget, Gadgets, and Health
If you are planning a trip or a temporary stay in these parts, you might find the practical details of our life here interesting:
- Budget and Homemade Food: To significantly save money on food, we bought a multicooker and the cheapest coffee maker. Now we cook hot meals and brew coffee at home. Homemade food not only protects our budget wonderfully, but it is also many times healthier than food from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and other similar fast-food restaurants. (By the way, later on, I plan to write a separate article where I will thoroughly compare receipt prices for grocery shopping versus fast-food dining—I think the obvious edge toward home cooking and real savings will become more than apparent!)
- Walks and Fitness: We regularly walk the streets of Tbilisi and go to the movies. To maintain physical fitness, every few days we hike up to the Narikala Fortress on the hill—an excellent workout for the legs and a wonderful cardio exercise for the cardiovascular system.
- Tech Upgrade: For working online, we upgraded one of our laptops by installing a fast 500 GB SSD and the Windows 10 Pro operating system. We bought the disk at a gaming store in Gldani Mall, costing around 400 lari.
- Gastronomic Discoveries: I tried yellow watermelon for the first time—unexpectedly juicy and delicious! In addition, we continued making healthy cottage-cheese-and-sour-cream mixes with berries, fruits, and nuts. Very nutritious and completely sugar-free.
- Vitamins and Care: We look after our health. Recently, we received our ordered skincare products and hair drops (I really hope my bald spot appreciates this care!). In our plans for early November is ordering a comprehensive vitamin complex on iHerb: D3, K2, magnesium, zinc, B-complex, vitamin C, collagen, and liquid stevia. The total cost will be around 600 lari. These are tangible expenses, but a course of quality vitamins is essential right now.
Conclusion
Since this trip is of a temporary nature, in the future we will most likely have to return to the Russian Federation. In the meantime, we continue to enjoy the moment, work, and study.
I wish you and myself as much peace of mind, success, and prosperity as possible!
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