I was in Tbilisi on a Brutal Architecture tour (thanks Tornike!), and always lagging behind because of taking pictures and getting distracted by random things happening on the streets. At some point we passed by a cable car station and I was curious to peak into the engine room.

This is how we met Alexandr - The Cable Car Man. I was worried he would send us away, because most of the people don't like "intruders" into their personal space. But what happened was quite the opposite. 

The cable car is not a very busy one. It used to connect the students dorms - build in the middle of nowhere on top of a hill - with the city. 

So Alexandr has lot of time on his hands to welcome daring visitors.

And what a welcoming ritual! Wine and chacha climbed up from the center of the earth, steaming hot khachapuri, with simple cucumber, some salt. And the biggest, warmest, kind blue eyes. He literally gives us everything he has. Including the limited space of his tiny tall palace. 

He's a jolly man, yet sadness changes his entire physiognomy when he talks about Olga, his friend, who was sick and died just 2 weeks ago. They were very close friends. He misses her a lot. He has a picture with her on his desk. 

We ate. Shared a few jokes. Drank together for the good times but also for our dear ones who passed away. We shared a moment of honesty of emotion. 

And that was it. 

I could say a typical case of Georgian hospitality. But it was more than that.  We met Alexandr - The Man. Shining his honest light.