17 August, Barhal
Karahan Pension 130TL (dinner and breakfast included)
A day of rest in a lovely setting. We had
originally planned an active day with a walk up the mountain opposite our hotel
to view the ruined Georgian church we could see on the ridge. When we could not
find the start of the hike, we abandoned this energetic idea, strolled down
into the village for Nescafe, then hitched a ride to the site of the weekend
festival, where locals had gathered to chat, eat, listen to live music and
dance. While in the village we were approached by two teenage girls who wanted
to know about us and our doings and tell us about themselves. During our
discussion a man in a red T-shirt arrived surrounded by an entourage of men.
“Big man”, the girls said and pointed to his poster hanging from the çay evi
eaves. A local politician... Barhal sits in an area that was once part of the
medieval kingdom of Georgia. The kingdom went into decline when the Ottomans
captured Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453, ending the protection the Georgians
had enjoyed under the Byzantines. The Georgian Valleys (and their numerous
churches and castles) were annexed by the Ottomans, and, later, imperial Russia
took the Georgia we know today.
Barhal
Barhal
Barhal
Barhal festival
Barhal festival
Barhal festival
Barhal - Georgian monastery
Barhal - Georgian monastery