Closing

I have left the Republic of Georgia. I was given a warm farewell by many many people. A farewell that is virtually impossible to forget. The only choice is to return, someday, sometime. The sooner the better.

I write to you from the Istanbul international airport.

My next stop is the Middle East.

I have a new blog now, you can visit it at www.yallahyallahyallah.blogspot.com it's called Yallah, for now.

Thanks for following my Georgia trip, there are exciting times ahead.

peace

The Middle East

Dear Friends,

I will be traveling through the Middle East this summer working on a film project. It is a film that will portray the stories of regular folks who live through daily conflict and violence.

If you're interested in the Middle East (and peace) and would like to learn more about and contribute to this trip (we need to raise $10,000), please contact me at: pidencioLD@gmail.com and I will give you the details.

peace

Hike #?

Malkhaz leading the way... on his cell A chapel and then a castle in the background
Me and the chapel
Parts of the chapel were made of this, click on it to see a larger photo
What is this called? A Water buffalo?
Approaching the Castle
Climbing around in the Castle and the Towers

Climbing into the Tower

Lunch

Snail on Grass

A Few Cool Guys

Me and Petre Mamradze (Head of Government Chancellery)

Me and Yuri Mechitov (Famous Georgian Photographer)
Me and Ghia Nodia (Smart dude on TV all the time, Director of CIPDD)
Me and Gigi Tevzadze (former Exec of the Educational Reforms Program, and current Rector of the Chavchavadze University)
Gogi Khutsishvili (Director of ICCN)
Gaga Nizharadze (Head Researcher for ICCN)

The Orthodox Cathedral in Tbilisi

Hike 3000

The first tulip

Goin' down the mountain... the first mountain
To the Castle
Then up another mountain
Following the path that St Nino took to Georgia

Sorry Campaign II

Lela Gaprindashvili (Gender Issues Expert)

Georgian Soldier addressing the audience

Former soldiers arguing against the panel's proposal to apologize to the Abkhazians
Ninia Kakabadze (journalist)
Debate participant
Debate participant

Sorry Campaign: "Should we apologize to the Abkhazians?"

This was the topic of debate at the Heinrich Boell Foundation. People from all parties were present, debating whether or not we (the Georgians) should apologize to the Abkhazians. Some said that the Georgians did not start the war but that the Abkhazians started the war. Some said that the Georgians started the war. Others said Russia started the war.

Some asked, "How can we possibly forgive those people who killed my family and my closest friends?"

Present were soldiers, activists, journalists, members of civil society, old people, young people, Georgians, Russians, Abkhazians, Germans, Americans, and more.

The room was packed

Debate Panel: Goga Kvakharia (film critic)
Debate Panel: Goga Heindrava (Former Minister of Conflict Resolution in Georgia)
Emil Adelkhanov (a very prominent Human Rights activist)
Ivliane Heindrava (Member of Parliament)

The Lada Special

... brought to you by David Wiegner.

The sad story of a Lada. View it on YouTube at http://youtube.com/watch?v=j3xoRQd0dLk&mode=related&search=

Crocs - A brief look

Crocs und Schnee

Gehen Crocs
Matsch Crocs

The Weekend Hike

On Friday and Saturday I went on an overnight hike. We hiked over several mountains until we found a nice place to stay the night, under the stars... under the clouds. It rained most of the night, and we had no tents. So we got soaked. But we had a fire to keep warm. I tried to dry my shoes, my Crocs, but that turned out to be a bad idea since I melted them. My feet didn't even feel the heat, and my Crocs suddenly became deformed. It was a pity. The hike turned out to be quite wonderful though. There was good company.

The pictures of the hike.

(L-R) Merab, Malkhaz, Davit, Shako, Giga, Zura, Misha

(Front) Nino, Mukmaniani

Davit, Malkhaz, MerabZuraMukmanianiNato, Tamuna

Through the forestAnd into the snow

Taking a break

As night approaches we make our final climb

Drying wet socks and shoes by the fire (and melting Crocs)