Tbilisi metro

For those who are used to Italian metro system, especially Milan or Rome, former Soviet countries metro systems are definitely uncommon. First thing that one realises is their depth, as they are usually three times deeper than Italian ones, with extremely LONG escalators and basically no regular staircase. To make a comparison, Milan's Duomo yellow track is 25 mts. The deepest here, Rustaveli station, is 60 mts. deep.

I never checked how long does it take for an escalator in Milan to reach one end, but can we guess around 10-15 seconds max? Good, because here...

Two minutes and counting. It is not uncommon to see people sitting on escalators, here.

It is really a lot, but that's not the only thing that puts the Tbilisi metro apart. Unlike Milan and Rome, each station is different. Sure, it doesn't reach the opulence of Moscow metro, but in each there is something connected to the name and purpose of the station. I will take some pics of the metro station as I use them. In the meantime, here is Technical University station.

Fabrika - Place to be

I already mentioned Fabrika, the multifunctional space located a brief walk from Marjanishvili metro station. Since a few days, I moved here, as there is air conditioning, which is essential in this heat, but I had no idea how awesome this place is.

 

 

The place is an old Soviet sewing factory (hence the name, Fabrika), transformed in such a way that it brims with pop culture and urban mood (graffiti and wall art), but keeping the old style alive (concrete, pipes and industrial furniture).

 

 

 

 

 

The rooms are amazing, spacious, clean and cool. The toilets and the showers are directly out of a 80's American teen movie and the breakfast just amazing. If I wasn't going to rent an apartment, I'd probably try to bargain a long-term private room for my entire stay, beat style.

 

 

 

 

 

To this you have to add the yard, where anyone can gather, where you can drink, eat and socialise. And attend gigs to, like the Tbilisi-based Iranian duo NUM, who will play here tonight.