What is the meaning of your name then, Nino? What does it mean? I asked the gorgeous Georgian lady who had become friendly with me and would be taking me around the country as my interpreter and guide.
Well, most girls in Georgia are called Nino. It means godly woman, pious woman, Nino replied with a faint giggle in her voice.
Hmm. So you are like a nun, a holy woman then, I retorted.
Well, you can say that, I guess, she replied sheepishly.
The scene was set. This was my third day in this wonderland, and I was ready to step out of the capital, Tbilisi. We drove towards the outskirts of the city, and breakfast was Poori and cheese.
Mera Joota Hai Japani, Meri Patlun Englistani
You know, we also call bread Poori in India, and this cheese we call Paneer, I said as I tucked into some local cheese with soft bread. The previous day, we had taken the ropeway to the Botanical Gardens, where I had the great joy of dancing and singing with a local Georgian who was playing the accordion and singing the famous song from a famous Raj Kapoor film. The song was “Mera Joota Hai Japani, Meri Patlun Englistani, Sar Pe Lal Topi Rusi, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani.” The old man kept singing, and I kept dancing to the old tune from Shree 420, the super hit film of Raj Kapoor and Nargis.
We all took a ropeway to the top of a hill and back again. My fondness for Nino was obvious to her brother, as I would take any opportunity to take pictures of her and put my arms around her, to the irritation of her brother.
You see, Anuj, I am taking you around Georgia, but don’t grab my sister by the waist and take her pictures. I am her brother. I didn’t like it. If you keep doing that, I will cancel the tour,” he said to me curtly.
It was obvious to me that Nino’s brother was possessive about his little sister and was just being protective of her. So, I took it as a point to keep a healthy distance from Nino for a few days as I did not want to jeopardize my trip.
After the tour around the Botanical Garden, our next stop was going to be the city of Signagi. We walked through the old city. Due to its gorgeous view across the Caucasus Mountains, magical atmosphere, and unique architecture, the city of Signagi is also called the City of Love. Lovers can come to the city and get married here instantly, and it is a famous honeymoon and holiday spot for lovers.
The city of Signagi is in the easternmost region of Georgia, called Kakheti, located in the Alazani Valley. It is a picturesque town with its cobbled streets, and it indeed deserves to be called the City of Love. Its name comes from an old Turkic word which means Asylum, which makes perfect sense as love is a type of madness and lovers are truly mad.
The settlements were first established in 1762, and the city was ruled by King Heraclius II of Georgia. It is a small town, and in the 17th century, there were only about 100 families of merchants in Signagi. It soon grew into a major wine-growing region of Georgia, famous for its vineyards.
The city has a mix of Armenians and Georgians who make up the local population. Signagi is about 113 km from the main capital, Tbilisi. There are two major orthodox churches in the city, one dedicated to St. George and the other to St. Stephen. The ancient Bodbe Monastery is located 2 km off Signagi, and that was going to be our next stop.
