After more than twenty years of legal practice, I discovered that an entire life could fit into a few cardboard boxes, provided you did not ask yourself too many questions about why an old business card, a book you had not opened in ten years, or a photograph of someone whose number had long since disappeared from your phone had seemed important enough to occupy space in your office for so long.
A taxi ride in Tbilisi is rarely just a journey. Before you arrive, your driver may explain the traffic, the government, the neighbourhood - and possibly your own life.
Why walk downstairs when a basket can travel instead? In a Tbilisi courtyard, salt descends from a balcony - and the basket always seems to know where it is going.
A Tbilisi balcony is never just a balcony. It is a pantry, a wardrobe, a workshop, a storage room - and sometimes the most honest portrait of the people inside.
Fresh shoti exists in two states: before the first corner is torn off - and after. For the first twenty steps, you still believe the bread might reach home whole.
In Tbilisi, “I’ll be quick” is not a measure of time. It is a promise made with complete sincerity - just before the city quietly changes your plans.
Some cities announce themselves at once. Tbilisi takes its time. This is where the story begins - with a temporary arrival that quietly became a life.
How much does it really cost to live in Tbilisi in 2026? A realistic look at rent, groceries, transport, utilities and the monthly budget you actually need.
Planning a move to Tbilisi? This practical guide covers what to prepare before you arrive, how to approach housing, documents and your budget, and which decisions are better left until you are actually here.
I moved to Tbilisi expecting to stay for a little while. What followed was a lesson in apartments, neighbourhoods, everyday life and becoming a beginner again in a city that eventually became home.