Things to do in Gogasheni

格鲁吉亚这个被誉为上帝后花园的国家拥有众多中世纪古迹，瓦尔齐亚遗址是其中不可忽视的一处。它是世界上现存的最大规模的洞穴城市，始建于12世纪下半叶格鲁吉亚黄金时代，当时的国王建立了军事要塞，他的女儿建造了修道院，后来逐渐发展成了一个城市，可说是垂直城市的鼻祖了。洞穴有13层楼高，安息教堂在最中心，西面有40个洞穴群，东面有79个洞穴群，繁盛时期最多可以容纳5万人，个人认为最精彩的部分是安息教堂，参观过程不亚于一次探险，你永远都不知道洞穴深处有什么，也不知道尽头通往何处。

The most striking feature of the church is undoubtedly its pure gold-clad dome, dazzling in the sunlight and exuding a gentle solemnity when illuminated at night. It's worth noting that the church's construction was primarily funded by donations from ordinary citizens—it's not just a building, but a symbol of Georgians rediscovering their faith and solidifying their national identity after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

This church, unlike any other in Europe, sits nestled among the hilltops. It's truly a journey of pious beauty. The century-old stone statues remain as fresh as ever. Practicing Taoism here offers a deeper sense of purpose.

On the way to Kazbekistan, almost everyone stops here. After crossing the bridge, Ananuri Fortress stands beside the reservoir at the bridgehead, looking from afar like a stone castle stranded in the middle of a lake. I stopped the car and took some photos from the bridge. As soon as I pressed the shutter, it suddenly dawned on me—wasn't this the same angle as on the cover of *Lonely Planet*? The same bridge railings, the same gray-white stone walls, the same blue-green water. So the "cover-style shot" mentioned in the travel guides was just an ordinary roadside spot, not at all pretentious. The reservoir behind the fortress is called Renvali Reservoir, surrounded by concentric circles of mountains, its water a medium-deep green. Standing atop the fortress, the view is indeed the best—the reservoir, the bridge, the mountains, and the winding mountain road in the distance, all spread out below. But getting up there wasn't so easy. The left entrance was blocked off. A local offered a small tip to enter from the right; the fee wasn't much, more like a "gateway fee" for this centuries-old fortress—payable by soldiers six hundred years ago, and by tourists six hundred years later. The internal staircase was narrow and the steps slippery. Every step was taken with extreme caution. My friend slipped while going down, so safety first. This view is best seen in photos :D