Day 10: Remote Work, Crafting a Silver Ring, and Lunch with Stray Cats

Tuesday was a bit of a mix-and-match day. Instead of heading into the school, we got to work remotely directly from our apartment. It was nice to change up the workspace, power through our tasks in peace, and save some energy.

Once the work was wrapped up, I headed out solo for an incredibly cool, hands-on workshop and a relaxing afternoon exploring nature in the city. Here is what a perfect independent afternoon in Tbilisi looks like:

1. Melting and Forging My Own Silver Ring

I booked a custom jewelry-making workshop through Airbnb Experiences(https://www.airbnb.de/experiences/4298883). It wasn't just a basic assembly class—I actually got to experience the entire process of making a ring from scratch.

I took raw silver, melted it down with a torch, hammered and formed it into shape, and then sanded and polished it until it was completely shiny. It was super fascinating to see how much work goes into a simple piece of jewelry, and now I have a completely unique, self-made souvenir to take back home to Germany!

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2. A Peaceful Walk Through the Botanical Garden

Right after finishing the ring, I headed into the National Botanical Garden of Georgia. It sits right in the valley behind the old fortress and is absolutely lovely. It’s incredibly quiet, full of massive green trees, waterfalls, and hidden paths.

While walking around and enjoying the nature, I even spotted a super cute spider chilling on a bridge. It’s the perfect place to go if you need a quick break from the loud traffic of the city center.

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3. Late Lunch at Machakhela (Featuring a Cat Date)

By the time I left the gardens, it was late afternoon, and I was starving. Naturally, I headed straight back to our favorite spot, Machakhela, to get my fix of Georgian Food.

Eating alone turned out to be the best experience because the local cats decided to join me:

• One beautiful black cat jumped onto the bench directly opposite me and just sat there, quietly watching me eat every single bite.

• Another stray cat came over and decided it was the perfect time to cuddle up directly on my lap while I was eating.

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The stray animals here are so incredibly trusting and affectionate; it really makes eating out feel like a homey experience.

4. Wine Ice Cream and the Peace Bridge

To top off the afternoon, I walked back toward the river and tried a local specialty: Wine Ice Cream. Yes, it actually tastes like Georgian wine, and it is the perfect refreshing treat.

Holding my ice cream, I walked over the Bridge of Peace, which is this massive, futuristic glass-and-steel footbridge that lights up over the Mtkvari River. It's a crazy visual contrast to the old, historic buildings right next to it. After that, it was time to head back to the apartment to unwind and relax.

Student to Student Tip: Definitely look up the creative craft workshops on Airbnb while you're here. Doing something like forging a ring or making pottery gives you a great chance to chat one-on-one with local artists and creators, which is a totally different vibe than a standard city tour.