Everyday practical information for Georgia

• Power: Type C and F sockets, 220V, 50Hz - the same as continental Europe.
• Time: UTC+4 all year. Georgia does not observe daylight saving, so the offset from Europe shifts by an hour twice a year.
• Language: Georgian, with its own alphabet, which you will not be able to read. Russian is widely understood by older people, English by younger people and in tourism. Street signs in cities are usually transliterated.
• Tap water is safe and good in Tbilisi and the mountains.
• Public holidays: Orthodox Christmas on 7 January, New Year, Easter by the Orthodox calendar, Independence Day on 26 May and Mtskhetoba in October. Government offices and many businesses close.

Things worth knowing socially

• The supra is not just dinner. A Georgian feast runs on toasts led by a tamada, and each toast is drunk in full. Guests are pressed to keep up. It is entirely acceptable to say you are not drinking - say it early and clearly rather than trying to keep pace.
• Hospitality is intense and sincere. Being invited home by someone you just met is normal and usually exactly what it appears to be.
• Churches: women should cover their heads and wear a skirt (wraps are provided at the door), men should not wear shorts.
• Photographing the occupied-territory boundary lines or military installations is a bad idea.
• Toilets in public buildings and markets often cost a small amount in cash.