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Khor Virap is a historic monastery in Armenia, famously associated with Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the patron saint who brought Christianity to Armenia.

According to tradition, in the late 3rd century, King Tiridates III imprisoned Gregory in a deep underground pit (the "virap") at the site - because Gregory was a Christian and refused to renounce his faith. He was held there for about 13 years.

Eventually, the king went mad, and only recovered after Gregory was freed and prayed for him. Grateful, Tiridates converted to Christianity, and in 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation in the world to adopt Christianity as its state religion.

Khor Virap marks the place where Gregory was imprisoned and later emerged as a symbol of Armenia’s Christian faith.

Vintage ferry at Lake Balaton in 1960s Hungary with passengers, cars, and cyclist near the dock.

Udabno is a small village in the semi-desert of eastern Georgia, located near the impressive David Gareja monastery complex. We stayed at Guesthouse Gareji, a pleasant and peaceful place run by a kind and welcoming couple. The rooms are simple but comfortable, making it a great base to explore the area. At first, we weren’t sure where we could get something to eat, but with a view over Udabno, we quickly spotted a nearby restaurant. The first one, marked by a large logo, is Udabno Terrace, with Oasis Club just behind it—two popular spots for dining and accommodation. Udabno Terrace is a charming restaurant and guesthouse run by local Svanetians. It’s known for its warm hospitality, delicious traditional Georgian dishes such as kubdari (spiced meat bread) and khachapuri (cheese bread), and its beautiful open veranda overlooking the steppe. Svanetians are an ethnic subgroup of Georgians from the mountainous region of Svaneti in the northwest. They speak their own language, Svan, which is related to Georgian but not mutually intelligible. They are known for their strong cultural identity and close-knit community. Oasis Club is a lively combination of restaurant, hostel, and seven wooden cottages, located in the heart of the Georgian semi-desert. The restaurant serves a unique blend of Georgian and European cuisine, prepared by local chefs from Udabno. On weekends, the venue often hosts live music by local performers. Both locations offer a unique experience and serve as excellent bases for visiting the David Gareja monastery complex.

Udabno is a small village in eastern Georgia’s semi-desert, close to the remote David Gareja monastery. We stayed at Guesthouse Gareji, a simple but pleasant place run by a warm and welcoming couple. Just a short walk away are two popular spots: Udabno Terrace, a friendly restaurant and guesthouse known for its home-cooked Georgian meals and sweeping views of the steppe, and Oasis Club, a lively venue offering food, music, and cabin stays. One of the highlights at Oasis Club was the cozy evening campfire—perfect for relaxing under the stars after a day of exploring.

Udabno is een klein dorp in de semi-woestijn van Oost-Georgië, vlak bij het indrukwekkende kloostercomplex van David Gareja. We verbleven in guesthouse Gareji, een prima verblijf gerund door een vriendelijk echtpaar dat ons hartelijk ontving. De kamers zijn eenvoudig maar comfortabel, en het was een rustige plek om te overnachten in deze bijzondere omgeving. We hadden geen idee of we ergens konden eten, maar met dit uitzicht op Udabno zagen we al snel dat er een restaurant niet ver weg was. Het eerste restaurant met het grote logo is Udabno Terrace, en daar direct achter ligt de Oasis Club – twee populaire plekken om te eten en te verblijven. Udabno Terrace is een charmant restaurant en guesthouse, gerund door lokale Svanetiërs. Het staat bekend om zijn warme gastvrijheid, heerlijke traditionele Georgische gerechten zoals kubdari (kruidig vleesbrood) en khachapuri (kaasbrood), en een prachtig uitzicht over de steppe vanaf de open veranda. Svanetiërs zijn een etnische subgroep van de Georgiërs, afkomstig uit de bergachtige regio Svanetië in het noordwesten van het land. Ze spreken hun eigen taal, Svan, die verwant is aan het Georgisch maar onderling niet verstaanbaar is. Ze staan bekend om hun sterke culturele identiteit en hechte gemeenschapsgevoel. Oasis Club is een levendige combinatie van restaurant, hostel en zeven houten cottages, gelegen in het hart van de Georgische semi-woestijn. Het restaurant biedt een unieke mix van Georgische en Europese gerechten, bereid door lokale koks uit Udabno. In het weekend zijn er regelmatig concerten van lokale muzikanten. Eén van de hoogtepunten van Oasis Club was het gezellige kampvuur 's avonds – perfect om te ontspannen onder de sterrenhemel na een dag vol ontdekkingen. Beide locaties bieden een unieke ervaring en vormen uitstekende uitvalsbases voor een bezoek aan het kloostercomplex van David Gareja.

photo rights reserved by Ben

The church in the village of Sno, located in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of Georgia, is known as the Vakhtang Gorgasali Church. This cathedral was built in 1987 on the foundations of an older church and is named after King Vakhtang Gorgasali, a prominent 5th century ruler who played a crucial role in the spread of Christianity in Georgia. The church is located about eight kilometers from Stepantsminda and is an important religious and cultural monument in the region. The village of Sno is also known as the birthplace of Ilia II of Georgia. Ilia II is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Georgian history. Respected as a moral and spiritual leader not only in Georgia but throughout the Eastern Orthodox world. His childhood home is located opposite the Vakhtang Gorgasali Church, which adds to the historical and spiritual significance of this location. Georgia. In addition to the church, Sno is home to other attractions, such as the famous monolithic stone heads and the historic Sno Fortress. Visitors can enjoy the rich history and the picturesque landscapes that this mountain village has to offer. Sno is a popular base for trekking and mountain climbing in the Kazbegi region of northern Georgia. Hiking trails to the Chaukhi Pass attract adventurers. This pass leads to Juta, another mountain village that serves as a starting point for treks to the impressive Chaukhi peaks.

Vakhtang Gorgasali Church is located in the picturesque village of Sno, in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of Georgia, about eight kilometers from Stepantsminda. Sno is situated in the valley of the Snostskali River, surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Greater Caucasus. The area is characterized by green meadows, mountainous landscapes and traditional Georgian architecture. Near the church stands a statue of King Vakhtang Gorgasali, the 5th-century ruler after whom the church is named.

De kerk in het dorp Sno, gelegen in de regio Mtskheta-Mtianeti in Georgië, staat bekend als de Vakhtang Gorgasali Kerk. Deze kerk werd in 1987 gebouwd op de fundamenten van een oudere kerk en is vernoemd naar koning Vakhtang Gorgasali, een prominente heerser uit de 5e eeuw die een cruciale rol speelde in de verspreiding van het christendom in Georgië. De kerk bevindt zich op ongeveer acht kilometer van Stepantsminda en is een belangrijk religieus en cultureel monument in de regio. Het dorp Sno is ook bekend als de geboorteplaats Ilia II van Georgië. Ilia II wordt beschouwd als één van de meest invloedrijke figuren in de moderne Georgische geschiedenis. Gerespecteerd als een moreel en spiritueel leider, niet alleen in Georgië maar in de hele Oosters-orthodoxe wereld. Zijn ouderlijk huis staat tegenover de Vakhtang Gorgasali Kerk, wat bijdraagt aan de historische en spirituele betekenis van deze locatie. Georgia. Naast de kerk herbergt Sno ook andere bezienswaardigheden, zoals de beroemde monolithische stenen hoofden en het historische Sno-fort. Bezoekers kunnen genieten van de rijke geschiedenis en de schilderachtige landschappen die dit bergdorp te bieden heeft. Sno is een geliefde uitvalsbasis voor trektochten en bergbeklimmingen in de Kazbegi-regio, in het noorden van Georgië. Wandelroutes naar de Chaukhi-pas trekken avonturiers aan. Deze pas leidt naar Juta, een ander bergdorp dat fungeert als startpunt voor tochten naar de indrukwekkende Chaukhi-pieken.

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Budapest, Hungary

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It’s Cycling to Hel, not Cycling to Hell – Hel with one “l”, and it wasn’t hell, the cycling, that is. Where is Hel? It is at the tip of a thin, 36km-long peninsula projecting into the Baltic Sea, more accurately into the Gdansk Bay of Poland. Bicycle touring across Poland may not be one of your epic cycling trips. Cycling to Hel, Tomas Belcik didn’t have to cross the Andes, the Himalayas, or the Alps, as he did on his other adventures, but that’s not why he chose to tour Poland. It was not the challenge of the route he chose. It’s all flat, all the way to the Baltic. Cycling to Hel is a travelogue and a guide for an avid road cyclist and a touring enthusiast. Included are GPS tracks as well as en extensive photo essay of each stage. If you ever thought of cycling in Poland, the book will inspire you to go. As Tomas says, ‘Stay light to nil on preparation, and you shall discover what is worth discovering!’ All else will take care of itself.’

In Odessa.

This door doesn't fit the frame properly so it was hard to decide how to line up the picture!