Street Protests in Tbilisi
Tbilisi, Georgia
April 25, 2009
Tbilisi, Georgia
April 25, 2009
I found Georgia to be an overwhelming welcoming place. It’s the oldest of traveler’s cliches to claim the “people were great” everywhere you go. From experience I can say that it’s not true and there is great variety in the welcome a traveler can expect around the world. On the grand scale of things though Georgia is pushing the limits of hospitality. Even their protests were cordial.
While in Tbilisi, anti-government protesters had taken over Freedom Square setting up “cells” where they’d been camped out for days. In the evening crowds gathered to hear protest speeches but while I was there all was peaceful. I roamed the “cell” city by day smiling at the occupants who huddled together drinking endless cups of tea. At night the gatherings had an air of festival with street vendors selling hot drinks and snacks.
Inevitably as the weeks dragged on some of the demonstrations did turn to violence.
