COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Georgia with its high valleys, wide basins, health spas with mineral waters, caves and waterfalls is a land of striking beauty. The capital, Tbilisi, stands on the banks of the River Mtkvari, in a valley surrounded by hills. It is best seen from the top of Mount Mtatsminda. With its stone houses built around vine-draped courtyards and winding streets, the city has a lively and Mediterranean atmosphere. Sukhumi, the capital of Abkhazia in the far northwest of Georgia, was until civil unrest a port/resort, renowned for its beaches fringed with palms and eucalyptus trees, open-air cafés and cosmopolitan population. The official language is Georgian. Russian, Ossetian and Abkhazian are also spoken.Area: 69,700 sq km (26,911 sq miles). Capital: Tbilisi.

GEOGRAPHY
Georgia is a mountainous country bordered by the Russian Federation in the north, Turkey in the southeast, Armenia in the south, Azerbaijan in the east and by the Black Sea in the west, which forms a 330km (206 mile-long) coastline. It includes the two autonomous republics of Ajaria and Abkhazia.

CLIMATE
Hot summers with mild winters, particularly in the southwest. Low temperatures are common in alpine areas. Heavy rainfall exists in the subtropical southwest.

GOVERNMENT
Under the Constitution of August 1995, the President of Georgia (who is Head of State, head of the executive and Commander of the Armed Forces) is directly elected for a five-year term (with no more than two consecutive terms). The Government (headed by the Minister of State) is accountable to the President. The supreme legislative body is the 235-member Sakartvelos Parlamenti (Georgia Parliament), which is directly elected to serve a four year term.

POPULATION
5,411,000 (1996). Christian majority, mainly belonging to Georgian Orthodox Church. Also Eastern Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish and other Christian denomination minorities coexist.

TIME
GMT + 4.

ELECTRICITY
220 volts AC, 50 Hz. European-type, two-pin plugs are used. The supply of electricity can be intermittent between November and March, and visitors are advised to bring flashlights.

TELEPHONE
Phone: IDD is, available. Country code: 995. Some outgoing calls from Georgia, except to other parts of the CIS, must be made through the operator. It is possible for visitors to set up an account with the local telecom company that enables them to make direct long-distance calls without the operator's assistance. The Metekhi Palace Hotel is equipped with its own satellite phones.
Mobile telephone: GSM 900 and 1800 networks. Coverage extends over the lower lying areas and on the coast.
Internet: Local ISPs include Sanet (www.sanet.ge).

POST
International postal services can be severely disrupted. Long delays may occur and parcels should be registered or delivered through courier services such as DHL and Air Express, based locally.

CURRENCY
Lari (GEL) = 100 tetri. Notes are in denominations of GEL500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1.
Currency exchange: US Dollars, Deutschmarks or Roubles can be exchanged at special exchange shops, while other currencies must be exchanged in banks. Cash is the preferred method of payment, and visitors are advised to carry notes in small denominations. There is unlikely to be a substantial difference between rates offered by banks or bureaux de change.
Credit & debit cards: Credit cards are accepted in certain hotels. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: US Dollars or Deutschmarks/Euros are recommended.
1 USD = 1.67GEL (feb 2009)
Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is unrestricted. The import of foreign currency is permitted. The export of foreign currency is limited to US$500 or equivalent.

PUBLIC HOLYDAYS
Jan 1 2002 New Year's Day. Jan 7 Orthodox Christmas. Jan 19 Epiphany. Mar 13 Mothers Day. May 5-6 Orthodox Easter. May 26 Independence Day. Aug 24 Constitution Day. Aug 28 Mariamoba (Assumption). Oct 14 Svetitskhovloba (Georgian Orthodox Festival). Nov 23 Giorgoba (St George's Day). Jan 1 2003 New Year's Day. Jan 7 Orthodox Christmas. Jan 19 Epiphany. Mar 13 Mothers Day. Apr 27 Orthodox Easter. May 26 Independence Day. Aug 24 Constitution Day. Aug 28 Mariamoba (Assumption). Oct 14 Svetitskhovloba (Georgian Orthodox Festival). Nov 23 Giorgoba (St George's Day).

TRAVEL-INTERNATIONAL
AIR: Airzena Georgian Airlines (A9), the national airline, operates regular flights from Athens, Frankfurt/M, Kiev, Moscow, Paris, St Petersburg, Tashkent, Tehran, Tel Aviv, and Vienna. British Mediterranean, a franchise partner of British Airways, operates three direct scheduled flights to Tbilisi from Heathrow Airport in London, UK. Other airlines serving Georgia include Turkish Airlines, Swissair and Austrian Airlines.
International airport: Tbilisi (TBS) is 18km (11 miles) east of Tbilisi city centre. Recently, a new airport has been constructed. At present, there are few facilities (no restaurants or public telephones). In winter, there are frequent power failures, which may affect the airport. Taxis and buses are available.
SEA: The main ports are Batumi, Poti and Sukhumi. Batumi and Poti provide international connections with the Black Sea ports of Odessa, Sochi, Trabzon and Istanbul, and the Mediterranean ports of Genoa and Piraeus.
ROAD: Highways connect Georgia with the Russian Federation in the north via the Caucasian Road Tunnel (currently closed) and the Georgian Military Highway to North Ossetia. Other main routes connect with Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. At present, visitors are advised not to cross the Georgia-Russia border in either direction by vehicle.

SOCIAL PROFILE
Food & Drink: The cuisine makes extensive use of walnuts, which are used to thicken soups and sauces (anything including the word satsivi will be served in a rich sauce flavoured with herbs, garlic, walnuts and egg). Walnuts also feature as desserts, coated in caramelised sugar (gozinaki), or in churchkhela, when they are threaded on string then dipped in thickened, sweetened grape juice which is subsequently dried into chewy, flavoursome 'candles'. Cafés, restaurants and street-food traditions are all better established in Georgia than in many of the other former Soviet republics, and the markets are full of locally grown fruit and vegetables. Local dishes also include pkhali, made which spinach leaves and spices.
Both red and white wine is produced in Georgia. Kindzmareuli, a fruity, red wine, is reputed to have been Stalin's favourite tipple. Tsinandali is a dry white wine, as is Gurdzhaani. Akhasheni and Teliani are two of the commoner red wines, fruity and dry respectively.
Nightlife: Nightlife in the republic is to be found primarily in international hotels. The Georgian State Dancers are highly praised but only occasionally to be glimpsed in Tbilisi, being almost constantly on tour. The Rustaveli Georgian Drama theatre also has a good reputation and is particularly renowned for its Shakespeare productions.

SHOPPING
Georgian ceramics, embroidery and jewellery are all distinctive, and may be bought in art salons or special tourist shops. Visitors may also develop a liking for locally produced wines and brandies. Antiques such as rugs and icons attract a heavy export duty and must be licensed for export by the Ministry of Culture. Goods acquired in markets or from private individuals will not come with an export licence, whereas official tourist shops usually take responsibility for certification.
Social Conventions: Georgians pride themselves on their reputation for gregariousness and hospitality. Visitors sitting in restaurants are likely to be offered drinks by complete strangers. Appropriate clothing should be worn when entering a church; visitors should ensure they are not wearing shorts and women should cover their heads. Tipping: For service in restaurants, cafés or taxis, the bill is usually rounded up