... Official reasons by the Azerbaijan officials range from not having parking space all the way to too much international traffic at an airport. From a Arzeri friend we learn the true reasons: Sorry but it's not going to happen. Firstly you were originally flying from Armenia. Secondly you have been changing the plan and requesting permission way in advance. Unfortunately, they are suspicious and nothing can be changed... Reason being first flight from Armenia. As you are aware, there is an ongoing conflict...

Back to the hotel and check in. There we learn that Tom has to go back to the airport to reposition the airplane.The reason is that Monsieur „Le Président“ arrived with two Airbus 330 and needed the parking space. So the remainder of the crew decides to do another old city walking tour. We take a taxi up to Mother Georgia on hop of the hill with great views. From there it is just a short walk over to the Nariqala Fortress. It dates back to the 4th century when it was a Persian citadel. The tower foundation and most of the present walls were built in the 8th century by the Arab emirs, whose palace was inside the fortress. Subsequently Georgians, Turks and Persians captured and patched up Nariqala, but in 1827 a huge explosion of Russian munitions stored here ruined not only the fortress but also the Church of St. Nicholas inside it. In the 1990s the church was rebuilt.

The views are spectacular again and we climb through the ruins to take pictures. More and more clouds are coming up, so we decide to had down and have lunch. As we sit down it starts to rain. And it turns into a thunderstorm with heavy rain. Happy to be inside we wait till it’s all over and head back to the hotel. Some reading and working on webpage before heading for a Georgian dinner with show. Both is very good but not very Rohner-like. A glass of the best Georgian Brandy in the hotel; we all agree that the Armenian one is liked better.

Georgia became a kingdom about 4 B.C. and Christianity was introduced in A.D. 337. During the reign of Queen Tamara (1184–1213), its territory included the whole of Transcaucasia. During the 13th century, Tamerlane and the Mongols decimated its population. From the 16th century on, the country was the scene of a struggle between Persia and Turkey. In the 18th century, it became a vassal to Russia in exchange for protection from the Turks and Persians.
Georgia joined Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1917 to establish the anti-Bolshevik Transcaucasian Federation, and upon its dissolution in 1918, Georgia proclaimed its independence. In 1922, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan were annexed by the USSR and formed the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1936, Georgia became a separate Soviet republic. Under Soviet rule, the country was transformed from an agrarian to a largely industrial, urban society.
Recent history has been quite dramatic with fighting in Tbilisi taking place less than 20 years ago.