They even have a saying that a guest is a gift from God. Their reputation for generosity is well known.
So here is my latest example of Georgian hospitality.. I had to review a educational camp that was going on in the eastern region of the country. So a young Georgian woman and I took a taxi out to the town. (It was $6 each for us to go 2 1/2 hours, btw!) The taxi driver was so nice, that I took his number and called him when we needed a ride back to Tbilisi, the capitol.
He arrived at the camp and ran a few errands that the camp needed, which was very kind. As we finally headed for home the taxi driver insisted on stopping for coffee at his cousin's house. Honest. Fortunately I was with a local or I would have thought I was being kidnapped. The cousin was as nice as could be, with this unexpected company. She brought out coffee, beer, tomatoes, cucumbers, a bean salad, and several other dishes. Then, when I asked, she showed me around her garden for the next hour (!). It was impressive - every kind of fruit tree, fresh figs, apples, peaches, plums, and hazelnuts. Here is what hazelnuts look like just off the tree, in case you were wondering. They are really good too.
We have a joke in Georgia about Georgia Time ( GT), like being in Mexico. Everyone is always late. Now I'm beginning to see why; maybe their priorities are just a little different. :-)
Here is a picture of the cousin and niece, doing her daily chore, grinding the corn for feed I assume. And look behind the table at what still remains to be done. And they weren't complaining either.
Ah, life in Georgia...
