Ananuri Fortress. Georgia September 22

The complex dates back to the the 17th century, an idyllic spot on the banks of the Aragvi River.

Throughout the middle ages, due to the proximity to the Silk Route, this place saw much warfare, battles and threats. When the Tatar army lay siege to the fortress they believed that the inhabitants would not survive for a long time without a source of food and water and they would soon surrender.

However they did not know that the castle had a secret tunnel which led down to the river. A few days in and the fortress guards threw fish up in the air to annoy the invaders.

At this point, duh, what a give away, the tartars realised that the fortress was connected to the outside world by a tunnel; search and search again they did but were unable to find it.

They captured a local peasant, a woman named Ana, who hailed from Nuri, they questioned her about the location of the tunnel. When Ana refused to reveal this secret to the enemies, she was tortured and killed.

In respect and to commemorate this woman the castle was named Ananuri. She is a heroine amongst the Georgian population.

The remains of the fortress bit where pretty uninspiring, and also a lot of conservation work going on.... but yeee haw, there was another church.

The Church of the Mother of God was originally built in the late 17th C, renovated over the years, adjacent to the cross is the Georgian Cross, symbolised as a grapevine.

Inside was the usual mix of stuff

I love the way the afterlife is always pictured in these places, white fluffy clouds and harps for those that succumb to the indoctrination.
Whereas those that don't....... go to a dark place, seriously?

I know which one I would choose, but in reality it will be eternal darkness for us all.

One Life . Live it.