Discover Ajara: UNESCO-protected forests, legendary Georgian hospitality and futuristic architecture

euronews (in English)

UNESCO-protected forests, legendary hospitality and futuristic architecture: Georgia’s Ajara region is a gem waiting to be explored

Transcript

00:00 The Ajara region of Georgia lies along the Black Sea coast.

00:06 Historically it's been a crossroads of civilizations where Europe meets Asia.

00:12 I'm going to be experiencing its rich culture and legendary Georgian hospitality.

00:18 Sampling the nightlife in Georgia's second city Batumi and exploring the stunning nature

00:24 just outside the city.

00:30 The nature here is incredible in its diversity.

00:32 You can find bamboo trees because of the subtropical climate.

00:36 In just ten minutes you're in the mountains and rainforest and all of this right next

00:40 to the beaches and the magnificent Black Sea.

00:46 Mitrala National Park is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

00:50 And I'm meeting a British forestry expert who's been living in Georgia for the last

00:55 two decades.

00:57 The forests here survived the ice ages.

01:00 The rest of Europe was covered by hundreds of meters of ice and all of the forests were

01:05 destroyed.

01:06 All wildlife was destroyed.

01:08 Here in Georgia everything survived.

01:10 And here there are species, we call them endemic species, that cannot be found anywhere else.

01:15 So Mike, you've lived in Georgia for 20 years now.

01:20 What kept you here?

01:21 Georgia's got a very rich, very proud history.

01:25 People are very warm, very family oriented and very hospitable.

01:31 There's a saying in Georgia that a guest is a gift from God.

01:36 Oh, wonderful.

01:37 And this is how people approach their lives.

01:39 It's how they approach visitors.

01:42 I'm about to find out for myself as I've been invited to take part in a supra, a traditional

01:48 Georgian feast, which I'm told can last for hours.

01:53 First, I'm being welcomed with traditional Georgian polyphonic singing.

02:05 The technique weaves together many voices, each with its own melody, and is recognized

02:10 by UNESCO as part of the world's treasured living heritage.

02:20 That was beautiful.

02:21 It's really very emotional music.

02:24 It brought tears to my eyes.

02:26 Next is the ancient ritual of opening the kvevri, an earthenware jar used to store and

02:32 age wine.

02:34 Now we are seeing the Georgian winemaking tradition.

02:37 It dates back 8,000 years and it's recognized by UNESCO as a grape type, katsitele, Georgian

02:47 white dry wine.

02:51 It does smell good.

02:54 Ajarian cuisine is renowned for its mouthwatering flavors and variety of dishes, the most famous

03:02 of which is this boat-shaped Ajarian hajapuri, a delicious cheese-filled bread.

03:08 My host, Nikheil, is a tamada, or toastmaster, whose important role is to lead the supra

03:15 with a series of toasts, often poetic and philosophical and always heartfelt.

03:22 And I hope to see you in our beautiful country again.

03:26 Ciao, marjos.

03:33 My next stop is Georgia's second city, Batumi.

03:37 The history of the city dates back to ancient times and is mentioned in the works of the

03:42 Greek philosopher Aristotle.

03:45 During the 19th century, it became a port of international importance on the Black

03:50 Sea.

03:51 In the last 10 to 15 years, the city has been transformed with modern high-rise buildings

03:56 and futuristic architecture.

03:59 The skyline of Batumi is really changing quite fast and at the same time it copes with the

04:06 nature, it copes with the old authenticity of the city and the charm.

04:12 It's something that is really appealing to all kinds of travelers.

04:16 We have quite ambitious projects coming up.

04:20 Amongst those projects are plans for the region's first World Trade Center and an artificial

04:25 island in the shape of a palm tree.

04:29 As the sun goes down over Batumi, the city lights up.

04:34 I'm heading to one of the many stylish rooftop bars for views across the city.

04:39 While there may be these new fancy high-rise buildings in Batumi, what struck me while

04:46 I've been here is the richness of Georgian culture and traditions that's so present here

04:52 and how Georgians want to share this with you when you come to visit.

04:57 (whooshing)

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