Three Days in Tbilisi, Georgia

Established in 479 A.D, the 1,500 year-old city of Tbilisi is an urban tourist's paradise, offering a taste of Georgian culture, history, and vibrant nightlife.

Strategically situated in the in the central Caucasus region, Tbilisi is sometimes considered a gateway between eastern Europe and western Asia. As a result, Tbilisi experienced a turbulent history, often the target of rivals and ambitious empires. Ancient, medieval, and modern empires gained control of Tbilisi at various points in the city's history, resulting in an unique and fascinating urban cultural landscape.

Touring modern-day Tbilisi was an exiting experience.  The city is always bustling with activity, especially at night. During our brief tour, we tried several traditional Georgian dishes, visited Old Town, took a night stroll along Shota Rustavelli Avenue, and walked the grounds of Holy Trinity Cathedral.

A dramatic view of Tbilisi from Narikala fortress. Narikala fortress can be reached either by climbing the staircase up the foothill, or take the cable car for 2 Lira ($0.87) per person.

Day Hike in the Canyons of the Kopet Dag Moutains, Turkmenistan

The canyon hike within the foothills of the Kopet Dag Mountains is one of many potential adventures we took advantage of in Turkmenistan. It was also another opportunity to experience Turkmenistan's unique natural beauty.

Our "road" to the start of the river walk. We drove in the shallow stream for about 15 minutes before being dropped off, to hike the remaining 3-4km to narrow canyon.

At the start of the hike, we were flanked by mountains and cliffs on each side of the stream, but there was still a significant divide between them. In the background, a local continued to drive his minivan through the water, with his family, to a camping spot farther up stream.