Exploring Turtle Lake in Tbilisi

There are a few lakes here and there around Tbilisi, though I don't think they're natural. Most likely created by the Soviets and given significant attention during that period, while now somewhat fading into irrelevance. I had visited another lake in Tbilisi when summer was just starting to end, the weather was still hot and storms were strong. Lake Lisi had a bit more of a newer feeling to it, though it had an abandoned cable car station that clearly was once used to help people transport to and from the area. Today, the cable car station to Turtle Lake remains active. A Soviet station and still with its old cable cars in use, as rustic and scary as they feel. The ride is about four minutes in length and costs about 2 GEL which comes to less than a dollar per trip. Yes, that means you have to purchase a ticket for each ride. Up and back down. Though that's easily done with booths at the stations which allow you to top up a travel card for the city, allowing access to the bus, as well as metro. I took my first cable car trip up to Turtle Lake, with little knowledge of what the lake actually featured at the top. I'd say it was rather lack-luster for the most part, and perhaps that's due to needing the cable car to get up there. No bus runs to the location. So you're either relying on the cable car or having to drive there around the mountains. 

I don't think the lake really sees a lot of attention even in the height of summer in comparison to Lake Lisi. It doesn't hold a little beach, most of the attractions are dead and empty. And the older buildings from the Soviet Union seemed empty and holding items. Some of those buildings probably do see some more life during the height of summer, but it's likely short-lived. So, this is to already say that Turtle Lake isn't a lake really worth checking out if you're looking for a sport by the water to relax at. It's certainly inconvenient to get to and from and without a whole lot of things to do. When I arrived, there were mostly stray dogs, a couple having wedding photography done. And the odd group of people, mostly young, running around with their bikes. The mountains nearby definitely serve as an interest to younger people with an interest in cycling. Turtle Lake has a few poor quality cafes and restaurants around it, but I wouldn't trust them to have decent prices to match that quality. The main building by the lake was clearly made in the past to house people for a short while. Little rooms for short stays where people could rent them out for a few nights. A getaway from the more dense parts of the city. Though it seemed as if these rooms were no longer in use. A lot of decay around, and plenty of wasp nests forming.

There was a bit of a depressing feeling in the area. The old fortress tower in the distance stood idle, ignored and without much interest. I did somewhat like that though, it was harder to get to and clearly left alone for the most part. A place you could likely check out on your own without anyone bothering you, though likely surrounding the area would be stray dogs, so that's something to consider if you go alone or in a small group. It sits in the mountain a little more away from the lake, a short walk to get to and what I'd consider a more interesting scene to check out. That and the view of the city from this height. Where Tbilisi with its Vake districts are seen. The views are genuinely stunning, and it's a great place to come to for photography with a tighter focal length on your camera. Though it'd absolutely recommend a drone. There are a few spots like this throughout the city, and each one tends to give a different perspective of the city from its surrounding mountains. To come to the place around sunset would be more ideal to get those really beautiful colours in the sky. But I wouldn't recommend coming just for a regular view during the day, there are much more interesting spots that won't take up so much of your time commuting to and from.

The weather wasn't the best on the day that I arrived. But I think that's relatively normal for the height you end up at. I flew my drone around for a little bit. Relaxed in one of the overpriced little row boats in the lake for 30 minutes. To which then nothing more was really left to do but get the cable car back down to Vake and figure out the next thing. All in all, I wouldn't say it's the best location in the city, nor would it be one of my top 5 recommended areas. But still a bit of fun to escape the chaos of honking car horns and motorbikes all day. I'll probably return another time just to fly the drone there a bit more anyway.