Friday, August 12, 2016

Georgia is a hidden gem for tourists



Local tour operator Vanilla Sky setup a full tourist program spanning over four days for our 44 person group. It included a visit of visit of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, but also a visit of the Khazbegi castles. It further included a flight high in the European Caucasus whilst a two day tour in Svaneti with overnight stay in Mestia. And finally, the eastern part of Georgia (the Kakheti wine region) was visited as well.

The food we enjoyed has always been amazing! A great farewell dinner was organized in the “Shadow of Metekhi”, overseeing the valleys of Tbilisi. We’ll always remember the great cultural heritage and absolutely exceptional hospitality and friendship one finds everywhere in Georgia. This is unseen!

The official part ended on August 12th. Some teams extended their stay in Georgia for another week and discovered the country with rented jeeps, some other crews flew to Antalya, where the local authorities offered free half board hotel stayover for several days. Some other crews flew home over the Black sea.















































Tuesday, August 9, 2016

welcome event setup by Vanilla Sky and the Georgian government

A formal welcome for the European aviators was setup on August 9, in presence of multiple TV and radio crews. Georgian State Minister for EU and Atlantic integration David Bakradze as well as Giorgi Chogovadze, head of the Georgian National Tourism Administration held warm speeches as Georgia feels itself as a part of the European house. A further speech was held by Guram Jalaghonia, head of the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia, who’s team helped a lot to facilitate flying in to Georgia was private pilots
We distributed the rare bottles of “Chateau de Schengen” wine we brought from Luxembourg. This was highly appreciated as Georgia is preparing to join the European Union.

Amiran Ivanidze , Peter Sodermans and Niko Tsiklauri 

Peter Sodermans and Jean Birgen

The Peterzelka family

Peter Sodermans, Jean Birgen, Georgia State Minister David Bakradze and  Giorgi Chogovadze (head of Tourism in Georgia)

State Minister David Bakradze talks about Georgian's EU and atlantic integration

Peter Sodermans and Jean Birgen with the picture of Minister Goebbels of Luxembourg

Speech Peter Sodermans and Jean Birgen


Georgia State Minister David Bakradze and  Giorgi Chogovadze (head of Tourism in Georgia) actively supporting to attract general aviation into Georgia

some 120 persons attended the welcome event

Peter Sodermans hands over the (very rare) Chateau de Schengen wine to Georgian State Minister David Bakradze 
a memorable event