# @kirstenalana on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CaEJ44XLyA9
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/122909-kirstenalana-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/52a34a338c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-02-17T04:25:05.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Kirsten Alana (@KirstenAlana) — https://gondola.cc/KirstenAlana

## Caption

We arrived in a blanket of whiteness that consumed everything below and everything above. As the light changed and the temperature rose, four villages emerged from their slumber beneath Shkhara - one of the highest summits of the Caucasus - to welcome us into their midst. Ushguli (უშგული) is the label for Chazhashi, Chvibiani, Jibiani, and Murk’meli that make up the Upper Svaneti UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe. As the hours passed from beneath pillowy drifts of snow emerged rusting Land Cruisers, friendly locals, cows, dogs, horses, ancient churches, carved doors and stone walls with crevices inhabited by lichen and moss. We wore out our legs, our lungs and our camera batteries before settling in for one of the best meals I enjoyed during our entire visit to Georgia. Dish after dish arrived so hot that even inside the tavern, the crisp mountain air made their steam rise like ghosts above our plates.

I don’t count or cross off UNESCO sites like some travelers do. Even though I enjoy them when I do get to visit. But in Ushguli, I thought I could see the appeal. There’s a magnetism in villages where time appears to have almost stood still. I have no interest in replacing this world with a virtual one when there is still so much to discover from the past. It made me realize I am not disinterested in the future but neither am I ready to give up on all the wonder and awe that still exists when we seek out places that we haven’t made in our offices or living rooms on a tablet or desktop. But that were made long ago, and will last long after we are gone. No outlet required.

#WarmestEmotions #EmotionsAreGeorgia #TravelToGeorgia #DigitalDaysOfGeorgia usaidgeorgia usaideconomicsecurityprogram georgiatravel stellerstories

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 472
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 87

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Steller | Epic adventures start here! | @StellerStories | https://gondola.cc/StellerStories | Media Company |
| Kirsten Alana | @KirstenAlana | https://gondola.cc/KirstenAlana | Photographer |

## Tags

traveltogeorgia, emotionsaregeorgia, digitaldaysofgeorgia, warmestemotions, stellerstories

## Events

digital days of georgia

---
Copyright (c) Gondola