Interesting Facts about Mestia, No. 10

Autumn is WET, though beautiful, as the trees change colour.  But that means great mushroom-hunting, as I've shown already.

'shroomin' in th' Forest, 2, Mestia, September 2010

 Some of them are almost big enough to be hats.  These were great finds - new enough not to be wormy, big enough for a whole meal.
Bottom shot - Lali picking another local item, rosehips, from which she'll make a drink.  This was the first Georgian beverage I ever tasted, in the Tbilisi Restuarant in St Petersburg, Russia, in the mid-1990s, long before I ever thought I'd live in Georgia...

'shroomin' in th' Forest, 1, Mestia, September 2010

 Our hosts' son Giorgi knows all the best local mushroom places, amongst many other things, which impresses my wife.  Usually steep mountainsides which get little sun but enough rain.  After a good sprinkle or downpour, off the 3 of us trudge with our bags, to find the silently-emerged treasures.  Alone, I would die of poisoning, but the family also knows how to test, as well as which kinds to avoid altogether.  NB I make no claims about what is edible or not in these and all other mushroom photos - pick at your own risk!