When I told people that I was going to visit Georgia, most thought I meant the South, “oh, like Atlanta?”

Um, nope.

Like, “the Republic of Georgia, in the Caucuses. The Georgia who has neighbors like Russia, Chechnya, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey.”

That description elicited a few nods of recognition that there was such a place, but most cocked their heads to the side in confusion…”there’s a country called Georgia?”

YES!

And it’s an amazing country at that! A country that I’ll admit I knew little about a few months ago, but that I can’t stop thinking and talking about now!

It’s ancient, but modern. Traditional, but uncommon. Strange, but awesome.

Having been under Soviet control for much of the last century, there are still remnants of a stark, stifled society, but Georgians are fiercely proud of their country, their history and their culture.

So here are some things that you should know about this little-known gem of a nation:

1. It’s the Cradle of Wine! The oldest known record of wine production in THE ENTIRE WORLD was found in Georgia – dating back over 8,000 years! Yes, really.

2. Georgia is a young republic, having only gained independence from Russia in 1991! However, they relied heavily on Russian energy and infrastructure until just nine years ago when they booted out Russian interests and truly became an independent nation.

3. That being said, tensions remain high between the two countries. Russia has officially recognized the contested regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (which are within Georgia’s borders); regions that claim autonomy. Given their instability, these areas are pretty much off-limits to travelers.

4. As one of the first regions in the world to embrace Christianity, nearly 85% of the population is Eastern Orthodox. The entire country (about the size of West Virginia) is dotted with churches and monasteries and religious holidays often stretch for daaaays.

5. It’s an incredibly safe country! In 2008, under the leadership of President Mikheil Saakashvili, nearly the entire police force (notorious for it’s corruption) was kicked to the curb. The system was completely overhauled, making current crime rates a mere shadow of what they once were.  And (BONUS) crimes against tourists carry heavy penalties – stealing an iPod can result in prison time!

6. The Georgian language is one of only 30 proto-languages in the world, meaning it doesn’t take its root from any other language; its characters and sound are wholly unique. For the linguistically inclined, that’s really exciting, but for your average bear it means that communicating and getting around can be quite challenging! (Russian is also widely spoken in major cities while English remains rare country-wide).

7. Tourism is on the rise having grown three-fold in the past five years. Many cities and national parks were favored vacation spots during Soviet times and still today, the vast majority of tourists are Russian and Eastern European.

8. The Georgian Table (known as a Supra) is a fabulous and dangerous thing. While Georgian food is diverse and delicious, there is no such thing as portion control. If you sit at a Supra, you will be expected to eat your weight in food – saying that you’re full is no excuse to stop eating!

9. The country is freaking gorgeous! Centered on the same parallel as Italy and Northern California (hence the great wine) it’s landscape varies from rolling green hills to dramatic, snow-capped mountains to rocky, palm tree-lined beaches.

10. The over 2000 natural mineral springs found within its borders are a major source of pride for Georgians. Water from each spring has a distinct taste and can be consumed straight from the source. These springs also fuel traditional bathhouses – can you say thermal mineral sauna?!

11. Georgia was a main thoroughfare of the Silk Road, providing access to the Black Sea. Ancient cave cities and monasteries, that used to be major hubs of society, can still be found throughout the southern regions of the country. These are seriously impressive and magical places!

Before deciding to visit this lovely little nation, I knew jack about its tumultuous history. Its sheer location has made it strategically appealing centuries and it has been occupied (at some point) by every major power in the region, from the Huns to Turks to Soviets.

What’s left today is a people determined as all hell to retain their independence and build their nation, in their own way.

As the fastest growing economy in Eastern Europe, with the lowest crime rates, things finally seem to be falling into place for Georgia.

I’m a massive fan and I think you should be you too!