Sighnaghi, Georgia

This town's name has several ways of being spelt which served to confuse me (easily confused) but we arrived at the walled city without any problems.

The road from Tbilisi was initially a two lane road in quite good condition.  The further we rode the narrower it became until we turned off to Sighnaghi, Signagi, Sigani or however it is really spelt.  After that the road narrowed further passing through small villages.   

Venders were trying to sell their wares on the side of the road as is common everywhere we have been since Italy.  This is one of the few times we have stopped.  I thought they were trying to sell dried sausage meat it turned out to be crushed walnuts wrapped in a honey tasting product with the consistency of rubber.

The town is built on top of the mountain overlooking a vast plain towards Azerbaijan.  It has a history which involves just about everyone in the region controlling it at some stage.  In more recent times Mongols, Persians, Ottomans and Russians have had an influence apparently.

This area is known for it's wine but views are spectacular and worth a visit just to see them alone.

 

The photograph above was taken from our room window - just two hours later this -

 

 

The rain set in for several hours but we managed a walk around the town before it did.

 

 

The town is built around and into remnants of the ancient wall that once protected the town.

 

We are about forty kilometres from the Azerbaijan border here.  With an early start we will be at the border crossing with plenty of time to get through and still get to our accommodation.