It didn’t take long for us to become completely enamored with Tbilisi during our first visit to the city. From the moment we boarded our departing plane we continued to dream that one day we would return. With a little bit of planning and a lot of luck, we found ourselves touching down in Georgia just days before the country shut its borders in hopes of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Thanks to the unexpected quarantine, our return trip to the city looked a little bit different.
The blurb below, written in April 2020, is just a short insight into what our days of a Tbilisi quarantine looked like, especially the first few weeks. With none of our personal belongings like puzzles, crafts, or closets to organize, we had to rely solely on our own companionship to pass the time.
I wake up to the sound of the water boiling. Its final robust gurgle signaling it is ready to be poured is what lures me out of bed.
It’s instant, but it will have to do. He sips his too loudly. The noise can only be drowned out by the competition of the horn repeatedly honking just below our window. The neighbor is furious she cannot get into her garage. Doesn’t she know we haven’t finished our first coffee yet? We take turns peeking our heads out of the window in disdain.
The blaring of the horn fades into the clanking spoon spinning honey into a cup of afternoon tea. The menthol breathes life into my nostrils while the otherwise quietude of the day steals the very essence of my soul.
Silently we read our respective books. We type, delete, and retype another line to our pending for far-too-long now blog. Will we ever hit publish? I look up from my screen to see his arm extended into the air vying for my attention. He is proud to share with me that he has “exciting” news from the land of the Tbilisi expats Facebook page. It’s not that exciting but we smile softly, acknowledging that life does still exist outside of these creeping-in-on-us walls.
“It’s time!” He clutches his watch and notifies me that the hour of the sweat is upon us. Our daily workout is comprised of pushups, squats, and various exercises only the devil himself could dream up.
We’re now laying on the floor. A puddle of sweat, pride, and relief that another workout has come to pass. We never subjected ourselves to such atrocities before becoming trapped in our apartment. It’s a healthy way to pass the time we reassure ourselves with a metaphorical congratulatory pat on the back. And then we are off to the shower. A mix of shower and tub that is as strange to us as the quarantine itself. The curtain periodically molests us. At least, today, the water is tolerably warm.
The sun begins to fade behind the buildings reminiscent of a war-torn era. That is our signal to fire up the stove. This one, it requires a match, something akin to camping. Although, that, we have never done on the 12th floor. It’s pasta again. There has been so much pasta. I feel fortunate one of us went to culinary school and is capable of arranging such simple ingredients in a magnitude of ways. Same, same, but different. I momentarily fantasize about the day we are welcomed into the restaurants once again.
We clean up quickly and then slink to our respective lounging spots in the living room. Robotically, we tune into the TV – one which is in short supply of channels. None of which we can understand. What we do understand, is the intrinsic need for chocolate. We abide by mother nature’s desires and a bar disappears with ease.
Before long, we are lulled to sleep by a combination of the howling street dogs and the glow of our phones. Darkness, darkness, darkness. Then – gurgle. Just like that, it’s coffee time.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
William Shakespeare, MacBeth
Final Thoughts
Not every day was this mundane. The eerily empty streets of Tbilisi made them surprisingly pleasant to walk. We used our five months of living in Tbilisi to explore every inch of the city, adoring it from every vantage point we could find. Who knew we could love it even more than the first time around?
How did you spend your quarantine? Was there anything that surprised you about your unexpected time at home? If you’re a long-term traveler, where did you ride out the long days of lockdown?
Cheers friends,
Megan & Matt
