Mikhail Khergiani, the Georgian Tiger of the Mountains. Mestia, Svaneti

On a visit of a 10th century Svan tower house in Mestia, we were pleasantly received by the nephew of Mikhail Khergiani, the word class alpinist, reknown as the Tiger of the Mountains. He tells us his story, and the story of his ancestors, how the Svan language differs from the Georgian language like English differs from Russian, and how the Svan people never surrendered to any power, even the Soviet.

Svaneti is a much recommended destination, with wonderful mountains, and millennial old traditions. Nowhere around the year 1000 did normal people live as comfortably and safe as in a Svan "machubi".

The great singer/composer Vladimir Vysotsky wrote the included song К вершине (To the summit), in memoriam to Mikhail Khergiani's fatal accident in the Dolomites, fair use of    • Владимир Высоцкий "К вершине" ("Ты ид...   on the channel Эпоха Владимира Высоцкого