Abkhazia is only recognized by Russia and was born of a savage conflict in the early 1990s where Russian backed forces seized territory from Georgia and having forced out most of the population (who live to this day as refugees in Georgia) declared a republic. In 2008, a further war ended the role of UN peacekeepers and the border with Georgia is uneasy to this day. Thus best to enter from Sochi in Russia. The 2016 trip followed a 2015 trip when we tried to enter from Georgia and were detained for a week by Georgian authorities in Batumi before being ejected. In terms of dereliction, there is no where better on this planet and the country is relaxed so long as you avoid the border areas (we did not!)
Kicking off at the Gagra sanatorium, this Old Skule Soviet sanatorium is in its dying days but will sell you a room for £5.
Sukhumi airport is closed as under international law, the Georgians control the airspace still.
Close to the Georgian border is Tkvarcheli, a former coal mining area with the bulk of the population forced into exile in Georgia.
Up the valley on a 4x4 route is Akamara, the coal mining hub with a current population of perhaps 20 who signify their occupancy by running a 40 watt bulb outside their front doors to discourage looters.
Back to Sukhumi and the 1970s hotels which served the Soviet nomenklatura are now empty, save near the Russian border where new money is creeping in.
The residential area in New Town (Novi Rayon) had clearly been blasted by tank rounds.
Thanks for looking and I will leave you with a last of the line Lada 2107 to prove that de-badging is the thing,even on the Black Sea coast!
OK: there may be other numberplate perverts out there so here is a VW from the Donetsk Peoples republic spotted in Sukhumi next to a Republic of South Ossetia Porsche which I could not get as the fat Beezneysman owner took exception to my interest.
Kicking off at the Gagra sanatorium, this Old Skule Soviet sanatorium is in its dying days but will sell you a room for £5.
Sukhumi airport is closed as under international law, the Georgians control the airspace still.
Close to the Georgian border is Tkvarcheli, a former coal mining area with the bulk of the population forced into exile in Georgia.
Up the valley on a 4x4 route is Akamara, the coal mining hub with a current population of perhaps 20 who signify their occupancy by running a 40 watt bulb outside their front doors to discourage looters.
Back to Sukhumi and the 1970s hotels which served the Soviet nomenklatura are now empty, save near the Russian border where new money is creeping in.
The residential area in New Town (Novi Rayon) had clearly been blasted by tank rounds.
Thanks for looking and I will leave you with a last of the line Lada 2107 to prove that de-badging is the thing,even on the Black Sea coast!
OK: there may be other numberplate perverts out there so here is a VW from the Donetsk Peoples republic spotted in Sukhumi next to a Republic of South Ossetia Porsche which I could not get as the fat Beezneysman owner took exception to my interest.
