Ashes in the Light

Not every memorable afternoon in Tbilisi involved historic landmarks or centuries of history.

Sometimes, it was simply about finding a different view of the city.

One afternoon, we made our way up Mtatsminda Mountain, curious to see what waited at the top beyond the famous TV Tower.

To get there, we took another cable car — different from the one we had taken earlier when visiting the Mother of Georgia.

What we didn’t expect was just how lively it would be.

Because it happened to be a Sunday.

And it seemed like half of Tbilisi had the same idea.

At the top, we discovered more than just panoramic views.

There was an entire amusement park.

Families wandered between rides.

Children ran excitedly from attraction to attraction.

Game booths lined parts of the park, while larger rides catered to older children and adults.

Some of the water rides were still closed during our visit, likely waiting for the warmer summer months to arrive.

Even so, the place was full of life.

It felt less like a tourist attraction and more like a gathering place where locals spent their weekends together.

Of course, the views didn’t disappoint either.

From various points around the mountain, we could look out across Tbilisi and see the city stretching into the distance.

The winding river.

The clusters of buildings.

The hills surrounding the capital.

It was the kind of view that makes you pause for a moment and appreciate just how much of the city you’ve already explored.

But perhaps the most unexpected part of the afternoon came in the form of a cup of coffee.

Or rather, a coffee cup.

We had heard about Kvarts Coffee Art, a café known for turning photographs into hand-drawn portraits on coffee cups.

Naturally, we were curious.

So after spending some time on the mountain, we took the funicular back down and made our way to Kvarts.

The café was packed when we arrived.

Most people seemed to be there for the same reason we were — waiting for their portraits to be drawn.

After placing our order, we were told to come back later for our turn.

Much later, actually.

Nearly two hours later.

So we did what travellers often end up doing best.

We wandered.

Explored a nearby shopping mall.

Took our time.

And eventually returned later that afternoon.

When we finally saw the completed artwork, it felt like such a unique souvenir.

Not something mass-produced.

Not something purchased from a gift shop.

Just a simple coffee cup carrying a small memory from our time in Georgia.

Looking back, that afternoon wasn’t filled with famous landmarks or major attractions.

It was a cable car ride.

A crowded Sunday afternoon.

A coffee break.

A portrait on a cup.

And a beautiful view over Tbilisi.

Sometimes, that’s more than enough.