"Sighnaghizatsia" is a play on the word "signalizatsia", which means an alarm system in Georgian. Sighnaghi (have to love those two "gh" consonants) is a magnificent old town in eastern Georgia which recently got the facelift treatment, courtesy of President Saakashvili. You may like or hate its pretty new pastel colours. Mestia won't have the same look - here, stone and wood finishes are
de rigeur - but the idea is the same, to revitalise the community. New road all the way down to Zugdid (currently 3 hours away, soon to be 2); new town centre, renovated ski resort, etc. Lots of noise from 24/7 trucks, and plenty of rock dust, but we hope a great result. Now, just gotta settle that scandal of many workers not being paid on time or to the amount of their contracts... And make sure the stone cutters all wear masks and ear protectors... And make all construction workers wear hardhats... And about that single-use skating rink which reportedly cost 80k euros for a certain VIP's visit...? Well, I suppose that no multi-million dollar project like this one is entirely free of its intrigues. PLEASE make the result worth it!
Middle shot - my host family's hotel is at far right. When I first visited Mestia 11 summers ago, it was the burnt-out shell of the Police Station, and the family were looking for investors to help them buy and do it up. Finally, it's open now, and getting its own refinishing by decree.
OFF with that light pink exterior, this ain't Sighnaghi!
ON with the stonework!
Bottom shot - some people
prefer old cracked paint as a finish. I know I do. But I'm weird that way.
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