18th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
The Magic of Mestia

Captivated by stories and photos of the Svaneti region in remote Georgia, deep in the Caucasus Mountains along the border with Russia I set out to see how much of the region I could discover in 10 days. I photographed this random scene just behind a small B&B I stayed at in Mestia. The area is home to incredibly warm and friendly locals, brutal winters, and incredible nature. This is an old working truck parked in the nearby field with the local pigs at rest, behind it you see some of the highest peaks in the mountain range as you look across towards Russia. Most homes in the area still keep livestock, and its common to see the milk cows wander home and stand at the gate mooing until they're let in for the evening.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2020
Photo Location: Mestia, Georgia
Camera: ILCE-7RM3
Copyright: © Alex Berger