Day 19: A Split Itinerary, Classic Sightseeing, and a Cheap Seafood Feast

Thursday brought a bit of a shift in our daily dynamic. While Kai headed out to the school for a standard workday, I got to transition into full-on tour-guide mode. My mom had just arrived the night before, so it was the perfect opportunity to show her the ropes and explore Tbilisi through the eyes of a classic tourist.

Here is how our day of sightseeing and massive food contrasting unfolded:

1. Typical Tourist Sightseeing with Mom

With Kai handling duties at the school, my mom and I hit the streets. We did the quintessential tourist loop: walking through the winding cobblestone alleys of the Old Town, admiring the historic balconies, and checking out the major landmarks. It was so much fun watching her take in the unique atmosphere of the city for the first time, especially after my own two weeks of getting used to the layout.

2. Lunch at Madezka

When lunchtime rolled around, there was only one logical option to introduce her to Georgian cuisine: Khinkali. We headed over to Madezka to get our fix.

Eating these giant soup dumplings is always an experience for a first-timer, and she absolutely loved them. There is nothing quite like teaching someone how to bite the side, slurp the hot broth, and devour the filling without dropping a single piece.

3. Dinner: A Steal of a Seafood Boil

For dinner, we decided to try something a bit different from our usual cheese-and-carbs routine. We went out for a massive Seafood Boil at Mussels Place X Irinola(https://maps.app.goo.gl/jcwnNDckBQ7FJPtM9) —a big pot filled with crab, shrimp, corn, and potatoes tossed in seasoned butter.

It was unbelievably delicious, but the real shocker was the bill. Coming from Germany, we are used to Munich's steep seafood prices, where a meal like this would easily break the bank. In Tbilisi, the entire feast was incredibly cheap by comparison. Getting to indulge in premium seafood on a student budget felt like an absolute victory.

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Student to Student Tip: While traditional Georgian food is incredible, don't overlook the international dining scene in Tbilisi. Because the cost of living here is much lower than in major German cities like Munich, you can eat high-end meals like fresh seafood or specialized international dishes for a fraction of what you’d pay back home.