Family of Sites 
Tbilisi, Georgia
Included within Travel Program for
Policy and Conflict in the Post-Soviet Space
for Spring, 2017
Photojournalism by Rebekah Welch
Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia is known for its unique (and un-regulated) architecture and cheap cost of living. In a few short days I discovered both are true, but also that there is much more to the city than some weirdly shaped iconic buildings and inexpensive cafes (of which there are many).
At the end of my travel for Policy and Conflict in the Post-Soviet Space, I chose to spend a few extra days in Tbilisi, because its quirkiness intrigued me, and maybe a little bit because if I went back to Kyiv any earlier I would overstay my 90 lawful visa-free days in the country. Thus, I spent five extra days in Tbilisi doing what I always do: wandering and trying to understand the place through the lens of my camera.
No matter how far I ventured from Fabrika, the very hip hostel that I stayed at (a very hip, converted Soviet sewing factory), I was always fascinated by Tbilisi. From priests to grandmothers and skeptical children and gaggles of teens, I saw every type of Georgian on the streets. And the further you get from the swanky hills on the edges of “Old Tbilisi,” where the former president spent a fortune renovating decaying old buildings into fancy hotels and restaurants, the better. The real Georgians are in the markets, at the produce or khachapuri stands that line streets, or near the churches. Here, let me show you:
