Classic hotel

We three British middle aged guys were on our last two days of our three weeks in a Georgia, leaving Kutaisi on Thursday 5/10. This is the first review on TA for this guest house which is surprising as it has lots on b.c.. We booked this very cheap guest house on the Tuesday morning before leaving Gori's GH Elene (which was very good and cheap). I could not find any reviews or pictures on TA but my friends said b.c. gave it a very high rating. We arrived in the dark at 21:55 via a (12 but should have been 8 local price as Uber style Maxim cabs) taxi from Rhioni train station. The map app we had showed two locations and the fact that the road split and there was no sign confused the taxi driver. We eventually arrived at the correct address and could not open the big gate and there was no bell. We'd given the taxi driver a good tip so he stopped to help us, shouted a lot in Georgian but no response then managing to force the very stiff bolt across but would not go in as he heard dogs. We went up the steps ready for guard dogs if need be. None appeared and a old man was sitting in a lit room ahead. He got up, came out, greeted us and took us upstairs to a kitchenette, large lounge and dining room with a grand piano, and to a double room. Confusion ensued then he took us to the smaller triple room with three single beds which we settled in. Our host spoke no English offered us a litre of red Saperavi wine for 10 which we accepted. Not quite as free as in Kakheti but the place was the cheapest we have stayed in all holiday. We had no qualms about putting extra money into their koffers. Our host's wife joined us and also spoke no English so she phoned her daughter which clarified a few things. We ordered three breakfasts for 10 each and I tried to explain no omelette (their usual style) only fried eggs and also all veggie. I later got mum to phone her up again to say two veggie one meat as I am not a strict veggie and did not want to look at yet another plate of salty cheese (I think I have a milk intolerance although seem to be fine with fresh cow's milk). This caused more confusion. The next morning Breakfast was a generous spread but all veggie with very salty cheese, an omelette and instant coffee (not a recognised brand so a bit poor) from the kitchenette with no milk, oh well! It was tasty though, including heavy brown rye bread and smoked mackerel too. The room was medium size with three single beds in, a glazed door and windows with skimpy curtains as usual overlooking an orchard, no big view as the shared terrace has. No TV, A/C or mod cons. Two chairs for putting clothes over. No bin (a common omission in Georgia!) Shower-room was a large tiled wet room with dual function shower, toilet and sink and mirror/cupboard unit with shaving/makeup lights which was the first we had encountered! There was a two pin unswitched electrical socket almost under the shower! Beware!! There was an extractor fan too with switch by the shaving light switch by the door (well away from the shower). There were hooks! We found the next day from the daughter that there was an extra shower-room by the terrace. That would have helped in the evening and morning. She also offered us an evening meal but we said we were eating out that evening as we could not guarantee a time back from the tour (we did not want to be rushed or have more of a breakfast selection). We did not eat out that evening as we had eaten well in Gori. Catching up on the internet, writing TA reviews included, with their efficient wifi and the wine in the comfortable lounge diner was all we needed, albeit a bit cold (as was the weather) and we could not operate the room gas heater. The beds were quite comfortable and warm so we decided to stay two nights there. We told the daughter in the morning over the generous breakfast, booking another breakfast for the second morning too. Showering was interesting (no problems with the socket) as the hot water took a while to come through and it was quite teed (we were the only people there). Only a bar of soap was supplied (same in other shower-room, but as he whole apartment was quite cold and the shower tepid I could not warm up properly. We left the house at 10:50 to catch the 11:00 mashutka to Gelati Monastery past the market behind the main theatre. We missed that found a taxi which ended up as a tour of the main two monasteries and the canyon all for 100/£30. We were dropped off directly at the Park Restaurant in the funfair park behind the dodgems which proved a very interesting evening eating, drinking loads of home made white wine and chacha! At 22:00 we walked the 600m back to find a party of Chinese/Korean/Japanese girls had jammed the kitchenette table against the door so we needed the help of the patron to get us in. They were quite surprised of our arrival but we got in OK. We crashed on the beds and slept well till the morning caught up with us. Outside the glazed door I could see a tall figure hovering. It was our elderly host awaiting our emerging at 09:00. The girls were already awake, taking over the entire lounge/diner and kitchenette, frying their own food. Our breakfast had been laid, for 09:00 sharp again, directly downstairs in the host's dark lounge dining room. The thudding of the girls upstairs, the huge volume of food (some different dishes this time) and a sort of hangover were not a good mix. My friend stayed in bed, quite ill, and our friend could not eat anything but a slice of warm cheese katchapuri. I also had a quarter of that (it really set my allergy off!) and had the three cold fried eggs (at last) and a bit of green peppers and tomato and cucumber salad so as not to offend our hosts. The instant coffee was Jacobs this time, better but still no milk. The daughter arrived and I explained the evening before and lack of breakfast attendees and appetite. The girls left as the driver had arrived and I took my plate of food to the sunny, warm and windy balcony to sort some internet out too. Checkout time was up to noon. The grandmother was cleaning the girls' rooms with the daughter. I went for a walk to the amusement park with my friend, took pics of Park Restaurant and their menu (my iPhone had died at the canyon, typical!) and I returned to the house alone to pick up the bags and our friend. It was evident he was not rising and I explained this to the daughter who said it was no problem and no rush. Just as well as I could catch up with the TA reviews and upload pics, have a tea and use the loos. We two left after I played a bit of Beethoven on the ropey grand piano at about 14:00. Pick up our friend, down the cable car (0.5 each) and grab a taxi at (20) to Bob The Builder's Airport for the 15:55 WhizzAir flight to Luton. The taxi driver originally asked for 50 but we walked so then he ran after us saying he was still learning English! He nearly killed us all three times in his old Merc AMG (not well looked after) and did the 20km on a busy road with lorries in 25minutes (he did not overtake the police car!).