As he nears Kushairi, he spots a cool castle with a stone tower with the Georgian flag waving on top... would be nice to check it out. Then, a kilometer later, the minibus stops for a lunch break where he enjoys a big bowl of delicious stew. Looks like they do serve good food here in Georgia--you've just got to know where to look.

Afterwards, he decides to just grab his bags and head back to the castle ... he figures he can either walk from here to Kushairi, or hopefully catch some other transportation. So back to the castle he goes.

It's at the end of a dusty country road with the same "rural village feel". There's an SUV with Russian plates heading out, so he guesses there are other people who visit this castle as well. He barely manages to take my video clip when 3 boys approach--I guess wanting to be "guides". Shouldn't be a problem, I have experience negotiating with these kinds of people.

He goes inside, where there's a little shrine tucked into the wall. They tell him he needs to buy a candle to light inside... OK... I suppose I can do that... I'll consider that my "entry fee"... Then they insist that he should leave some money there at the shrine.

Yeah... right...

Outside, he pulls out his camera to take a few more shots. They rush at him angrily saying he can't take pictures--demanding money again ... the Traveler starts walking out briskly as they follow aggressively.

He weighs his options. He might be able to fight them all off--they're all pretty small... but that's a dangerous route to go... give them money? already did that.

He walks faster.

As he gets down the hill he spots an adult who sees what's going on.

"Ruski?" the man wants to know if he is Russian.

"American" the Traveler responds.

Apparently that was the right answer, as he tells the boys to back off and the Traveler is on his way. He wonders what would have happened if he had said he was Russian.

He continues on across this village like town, determined to not let this incident mar his very positive experience with people in Georgia. he does a quick solitary concert under a tree at the edge of town, then continues on on foot to Kushairi