After five months, I made my way from Asia to Israel and then to Dubai. While serving in Peace Corps Armenia, I flew to Dubai three times. The first was to see an old Peace Corps Kenya friend who lived outside of Dubai. The next time was a layover, on my way to Sri Lanka. Then, the final time was before a flight to Nairobi, while on my way to Tanzania and the Mount Kilimanjaro View Lodge. On the way back, the flight from Tanzania was late. I missed my flight from Nairobi to Dubai. Once in Dubai, I was running for the security checkpoint, with twenty minutes to spare. But … I wasn’t allowed to enter. I was told that it was too late and to check with the airline. The line was short. I still had fifteen minutes, when the airline said it wasn’t too late. I ran back to the security checkpoint. Once again I wasn’t allowed to enter. I missed the flight and was informed that my ticket was now invalid. I would need to purchase another one, for $850.00, on a flight leaving the following day.

I booked a $235.00, same day, flight to Yerevan via Moscow. Then, told myself that I would never return to Dubai. A cheap flight, from Tel Aviv, along with a hotel room, for $12.00, using Expedia points, this April, changed my mind. The hotel was near the airport and had a free shuttle. What could go wrong? Needless to say, Dubai and the IBIS Styles Dubai Airport Hotel will forever remain on my permanent naughty list. I arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia and began my usual banking routine. I keep my debit card turned off, while traveling. So, once I’m in a new country, I need WiFi to turn it back on. I purchased a GlocalMe hotspot, but it always takes me a minute to get it going. Once my phone is set, I turn on my debit card and find an ATM for local currency. This entire process drove one of the taxi drivers at the airport crazy. “Sister, let’s go! I give you good price!” He repeated this over and over, while I went through all my steps.

After getting cash, the taxi driver told me his crazy price. It was late and almost all of the other taxi drivers were gone. This guy had clearly been waiting for me. I caved and just went with him. Then … He needed money to exit the toll booth at the airport. He wanted a little extra cash for gas. Finally, he wanted to be paid the fare upfront, so he could drop the money off, at his home, on the way to my hotel. It was like paying to be part of a comedy skit. IBIS Styles Tbilisi Center had work to do, after that IBIS Styles Hotel in Dubai. It did not disappoint. Located down a side street lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes, it was everything I needed. The lobby was incredible, with free coffee and tea. The rooftop bar/cafe, if no one was smoking, was a good spot for food and had amazing views of Tbilisi. My room was nicer and larger than most of the IBIS Styles hotels I’ve stayed in. The restaurant directly across from the hotel saw me three times, during my short five day stay. And the best part about being in Tbilisi, I have a former Peace Corps Armenia friend living there. She came over and gave me her own tour of the city. It was the perfect introduction to Georgia. I can’t wait to get back there again.

I purchased an overnight business class train ticket from Tbilisi to Yerevan. They put two people in each of the rooms and I ended up bunking with a twenty something young man from Ireland. The train pulled out around 8:00 pm and arrived eleven hours later. After arriving, I took the stairs, down to the metro, rather than paying for one of the overpriced taxis, waiting in front of the station. A few of my fellow passengers followed me. My Tbilisi friend had given me the 100 dram needed for the fare. Two stops later, I exited at Republic Square! I can’t even count the number of times I made the trip from that Sasuntsi David metro station to Republic Square, while in the Peace Corps.

My hotel was a short ten minute walk from the metro station. After four years, Yerevan has changed, a bit. But, it was still familiar enough, for me, to find my way back home. XOXO — GGT