the kiss movement

I have finally made it to Sukhum! How does one get there you might ask?
It is quite easy actually. You transfer midway between GA and ABH by what is called 'the kiss movement'. A driver from Ga side meets a driver from Abh side on the middle of a bridge and you transfer everything into the opposite cruiser and off you go! On Friday I met my team and went to the TB hospital for the first time. My job is going to be interesting and challenging. . .

On another note, I have been trying the Abkhazian (or is it Abkhaz?) cuisine. On Friday night me and some of the other expats went out to eat at a restaurant overlooking the Black Sea. We had kachapuri (cheese impregnanted bread), shashlyk (Russian style kebabas), and a bottle of Abkhazian wine- sorry to disappoint, no vodka or cognac this time. It was very nice but the kachapuri was a little too dense for my taste. The wine was a white variety and not too bad. The shashlyk was delish.

The on Saturday, 2 expats and myself took an excursion to the Novy Afon Cave and Afon Monastery. We did not go inside the monastery, however, we did tour the cave which was really super cool (with the exception of Kenny G playing to demonstrate the amazing acoustics). We then trecked further north in our massive Land Cruiser to the National Park and mountain lake of Ritza. The water is glacier fed so it is beautiful and pristine. People were filling their water bottles at the waterfall. Tres magnifique!

Today I was able to get in a 7 miler and score some matsoni (yummy homemade yogurt) and lavash (artisan bread) at the market before a torrential down pour that left us without Aljazeera tv- or any tv for that matter. Also the rain took the water from the pipes in the house. Rain rain everywhere, except where it is needed.

Did I mention that everything grows, no fluorishes here? Pomegranate, citrus- tangerines, oranges, lemons, limes, grapes, tomatoes, corn, squash, cucumber, figs, walnuts, herbs- cilantro, basil, hazelnuts. You name it it grows!

Wednesday is victory day here in the big A. I have been told it is a huge celebration with fireworks and such- will get back to you on what the 'and such' means exactly. If it is not a security issue I am going with one of the other expats to celebrate with the locals.
Cognac anyone?