We drove back to Tbilisi yesterday. I watched the Georgian traditional Christmas Alilo Parade that was close to our hotel on Shota Rustavelti Avenue. Like many things here in Georgia, the traditional procession dates back to the 400s AD as a way for people to express their faith and the joy of the season. The name comes from the ancient form of “alleluia” that was sung in a Georgian Christmas Carol. Loudspeakers on a truck played Georgian polyphony music, a UNESCO-recognized tradition. This was banned during the Soviet era and came back in earnest in the year 2000, where it was made a national event. The parade today is a fundraiser for charity and is led by the church.
Nadia loves the Rooms Tbilisi Hotel / Stamba Hotel, where we are staying for our final two nights in Georgia. Developers renovated the old state printing press and transformed it into a hip, retro vibe hotel and office workspace with several cafes, restaurants, bars, and shops. She spent the afternoon watching Netflix on the couch in the lobby. After the parade, Oliver, Ocean, and I went to the Galeria Tbilisi and bought him a PlayStation 6 at Game Zone. The salesman said they sold 50 units on the first day they arrived at the store, with people coming from Turkey to purchase them. He didn’t have the special anniversary edition of the console, which is going for up to $2000 on the black market. Oliver was very happy, but he can’t play it until I collect the 18% refund on the Value Added Tax tomorrow at the airport. They are hard to find in the USA because of the demand, and the price is actually lower here in Georgia for the unit. He was over the moon with happiness.
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