A bit of a walk throughout the city today around some of the former industrial and more pivotal areas of Tbilisi. Around the current and rapidly crumbling astonishing modernist central station. Where the smoke stacks no longer spread toxic fumes into the air and the factories that are slowly demolished are home to the many stray dogs. Soviet fears of nuclear Armageddon in the scattered and quiet locations of strategic nuclear bunkers beneath the ground. Present day silence and signs of poverty as the area holds fading texts on buildings and the walls hold cracks like a thin tree's ascend into the sky.
There's not a lot of signs of culture within the main areas of Tbilisi. The Soviet symbolism is often scraped off. Anything with a hint of communism is likely tucked away and replaced with something modern and capitalist. Nothing that shows much of the current nor former Georgian identity before it. Just a little south of the central train station is a district that holds many beautiful buildings at least 100 years of age. Themselves either in poor shape or having had something catastrophic done to them in the form of supposed reconstruction. It's a beautiful area but one that seems like it has been a bit forgotten. As if nobody around really understands the age and history present before them. I consider this the older Old Tbilisi. It really speaks of another era. I supposed this building showcases the history aforementioned. The different ideologies. The signs of a different way of thought that is somewhat still present in the minds of the people despite their preference in believing it's no longer there.
Parks have changed massively all over the place, not just here in Tbilisi. It feels like the modern concept of a park has shifted into something that rejects nature. Instead of fountains and trees you have perfectly orchestrated categories for each type of person with the odd tree around. You've got your skatepark, your USB charging hub area, your gym that nobody really uses. A park is more of a playground rather than a place to escape the chaos of the city. To stumble across an old park now feels like a hidden gem tucked away and forgotten. Three parks stumbled across as of late really show their ages in comparison, and I felt so much more at peace in these areas that are so hidden, so much more quiet. Void of endless tobacco smoke, void of loud music and the attempts at providing a bit of everything to everyone due to that modern concept of utilising space. Though even here people reject their history and culture, statues are not immune to modern day scribbles.
It's still nice to peek out into the world and look around at how strange it all feels. Though sometimes it feels like you're facing a wall that couldn't possibly comprehend the emotions one feels about the way a space is changing. Blank expressions and eyes that couldn't be read. We shrug off the changing pace of our times as we're told we're all getting richer somehow.
