MilliOnAir Magazine July/August | Page 232

MilliOnAir | TRAVEL with alison lowe mbe

Tbilisi loves you …. and we love you right back!

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you arrive in the airport in Tbilisi, Georgia the first thing you will notice, when you open your phone, is that there is free WIFI network across the city called “Tbilisi Loves You.” That is the start of what will become a mutual love affair, as Tbilisi we love you right back!

I have been travelling to Tbilisi for four years as a guest of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) Tbilisi and each time my love of the city, the country, the fashion and the people grows. It is hard to decide where to start to share the many elements of this country that I love, as Georgia is a land of endless discovery and wonders.

Georgia is currently being credited by all the international travel press as being the coolest ‘hipster’ hotspots to visit. The capital Tbilisi is changing and adapting to meet the needs of international tourists, however throughout the country there are still areas unspoilt by tourism which are full of authentic character. Nestled in the Caucasus Mountains between Europe and Asia, Georgia has a unique culture, with elements from east and west that results in an experience like no other in the world.

Georgia is one of the crossroads on the Silk Road, an ancient network of trade routes that connected China with the Mediterranean. Formally known as the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, the country declared independence from Russia in 1991 and is now known simply as Georgia. It is a small country with a big personality and its passionate residents are welcoming and hospitable, encouraging visitors to come and share their inspirational landscapes, delicious foods and wines, and discover their fashion.

By Fashion & Travel Contributor Alison Lowe MBE