Are we also not paying too much?

Hand on heart: When we are abroad, especially in a country whose language we do not understand and whose customs we do not know, we are always a little suspicious. Is this really the 'right' price that the locals also pay, or are we being terribly ripped off?

Here in Georgia, we have found the familiar Italian situation again, for example in a restaurant in Telavi. From the third visit onwards, we clearly belong to the regular guests. When asked how many of the filled dumplings (khinkali), which are ordered per piece, are needed to get full, 'our' waiter first says firmly: 5, then with a glance at Roby - 1.95 meters tall and otherwise rather sturdy: Maybe 6. I confidently state that ten pieces are enough for the both of us. There were eleven khinkali on the plate, but only ten on the bill. And we also got the glass of homemade lemonade, which we curiously asked for, for free. In the evening, on the fourth visit, the two glasses of wine were not on the bill. Regular guests here - just like in Italy - are not the locals per se, but those who are personally known - and repeated visits are enough for that. And yes, regular guests always pay a little less.

In Mtskheta, already on the second visit to the café right next to the magnificent, wonderful cathedral (enthusiastic post will follow), we were fed with complimentary cake after the meal - with espresso from Julius Meinl coffee. Who would have thought?

For the honey we bought at the roadside, the 10 lari (3.30 euros) were probably a bit too much. But I am happy to pay this little bit considering the poverty here, which is palpable everywhere.