{"id":1825,"date":"2020-04-06T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mircorp.com\/?p=1825"},"modified":"2021-04-22T20:53:53","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T20:53:53","slug":"timeless-appeal-of-republic-of-georgia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/timeless-appeal-of-republic-of-georgia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Timeless Appeal of the Republic of Georgia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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MIR Vice President Annie Lucas has traveled to the Republic of Georgia<\/a> countless times over the last 30 years, and is MIR\u2019s resident Georgia<\/a> travel expert. Her first trip to Georgia was in the early 1990s in the dead of winter. In spite of some chilly nights spent bundled in all her clothes when the old government-run system experienced electrical shortages \u2013 commonplace back then \u2013 she was totally taken with the congenial generosity of the people, the joyous feasts, free-flowing wine, spontaneous songs, and the incredible beauty of the country\u2019s soaring mountains and sheltered valleys. Since then she has been back many times, cementing her love for and knowledge of the rural villages, urban centers, promising restaurants, and natural wine bars of gorgeous Georgia.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Annie
Annie Lucas with MIR President and co-founder Douglas Grimes in Annie\u2019s favorite country, Georgia. Photo credit: Douglas Grimes<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Location, location, location\u2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The little country of Georgia, where Jason once sought the Golden Fleece, is set along the eastern Black Sea shore just above Turkey<\/a>. Its lush lowlands extend upwards into the dizzying heights of the Caucasus Mountains. With its South Caucasus<\/a> companions Armenia <\/a>and Azerbaijan<\/a>, it fills the rugged spaces between the Black and the Caspian Seas.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A crossroads of civilizations, Georgia has everything a traveler could ask for in a destination: fabulous feasts, ebullient hosts, fervent toasts, harmonies that grab you by the heart, razor-sharp mountain peaks whose valleys are dotted with medieval watch-towers, contemporary museums filled with evidence of a succession of ancient cultures, flourishing cities where you can find glowing glass high-rises next to old stone churches, and a populace who will likely dive straight from small talk to the deep concerns of their hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where else in the world can you:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n