# @kirstenalana on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CbF0NR3LJaO
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/117462-kirstenalana-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/8dcb22394a.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-03-14T16:25:31.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Kirsten Alana (@KirstenAlana) — https://gondola.cc/KirstenAlana

## Caption

My last post shows Mestia, in the country of Georgia, at night. But it’s an equally compelling place by day. A world-class history museum, a cooking lesson with Salome and her mother [who welcomed us into their home for said cooking lesson] that makes my mouth water even now when I think back on it, adorable puppies roaming free, more incredible architecture specific to the region of Svaneti that both Mestia and Ushguli [see a few posts back] are part of, close to skiing and remote but still accessible by van… it’s a place I want to return to. One trip wasn’t enough.

And while I’ve been hesitant to post about my travels there in January while the world turns its eyes to Eastern Europe, two things occurred to me this morning: the first is that of all people, Georgians may be among the most relevant to talk about in this context of a conflict. After all, 20% of their country is still occupied by the aggressor in this current invasion. Yet they still live and laugh and love and celebrate the moments in life we should cherish all the more because we don’t know when they will be our last. Or the last we will have for a while. They know life can change in an instant.

And the second is the thing that has driven my need to travel - and report on it - for many years now. It’s that I hope every post and photo I share, in some small way, helps even one person to know or at least consider another place or culture or people with new eyes. I don’t have an answer for how we stop hate and stop war. But I believe it starts through learning about those who are different from us. Both at home. And abroad. ❤️

## Stats

- **Views:** 961
- **Likes:** 437
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 85

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Kirsten Alana | @KirstenAlana | https://gondola.cc/KirstenAlana | Photographer |

## Tags

traveltogeorgia, emotionsaregeorgia, digitaldaysofgeorgia, stellerstories

## Events

digital days of georgia

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