Today we backtracked from Kazbegi, driving south, back over the Jvari Pass, then off to southeastern Georgia. So we are going back over the Georgian Military Highway, only this time, in bright sunshine instead of fog, rain, and blowing snow. We had several stops planned going over but we never made them due to the weather, but we did manage a few of them on the way back.

Our first stop was simply along the road at a place where hot mineral water washes off the mountain. It exposes the colored rock underneath it. It was a peculiar site to see, especially with the snow.

Next, we passed over the Jvari Mountain Pass which is 7,800 feet elevation. It had acquired a blanket of snow since we passed over it.

The mountains were beautiful after passing Jvari Pass. We stopped at the Treaty of Georgievsk Monument, or the Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument. It was built in 1983 to commemorate the Treaty of Georgievsk, signed in 1783, or 200 years earlier. You can't beat the Russians for building monuments, even if it takes 200 years to do it.

The monument overlooks the Devil's Valley. Inside the monument is a large tile mural that spans the whole circumference of the monument structure and depicts scenes from Georgian and Russian history. In the top center of the mural, you can see the 1783 and 1983 dates.

Lunch was outside at the Green Tianeti Restaurant. We had potato-cabbage borsch - which was excellent, white and black breads, meatloaf, a tomato and onion salad, a chicken and corn salad, mushrooms, and a walnut roll and tea for dessert.