On the outskirts of Pitsunda, in the village of Ldzaa, there is a private museum dedicated to the history and ethnography of the peoples of Abkhazia. The museum's creator, folk craftsman Georgy Khetsuriani— devoted his life to creating and collecting unique exhibits.
The son of peasants from Zugdidi, at first he worked with his hands — drained the Pitsunda marshes, built mills, and then connected his head to his hands ... In 1965, George was the first in Abkhazia to begin photographing tourists on the famous Blue Lake (a small pond with turquoise water in the mountains on the way to Lake Ritsa). On the tourists' way up, I took a picture — in the company of a live peacock, a bear, or riding a horse — and on the way back I handed out the finished photos.
Two years later, a resort was established in Pitsunda, and George began to earn a lot of money during the season, which he spent on antiques and materials for his own products. Hetsuriani made models of mills, wineries, hunters' dwellings, collected pottery shards, coins, and silver sabers.… In 1978, the Ministry of Culture of the Abkhazian ASSR issued him a certificate with the following content: "Khetsuriani was given to Georgy Yasonovich that he really is a folk craftsman and is registered at the scientific and methodological center of folk art."
When the collection could no longer fit in the old house, a new two-storey one had to be built. It's unmistakable.
I liked the House museum very much. George Hetsuriani made many wooden exhibits with his own hands. Every thing in the museum is special, each one is like a living thing. This is not mass production, but things with a soul, their own personal history. The hospitable hostess lovingly continues the heritage of the museum, rejoicing for it. She met the two of us with her son and told us a lot of interesting things. You can touch each exhibit as a living history. Turn the handle of the ice cream maker or sit in the prince's carriage). Once this carriage was used by zebras)). How much before it was necessary to know, be able and learn, learn, learn. What a rich, fulfilling life. Work - which, as George praises, makes a person worthy.
There are so many thoughts and ideas in the subjects.. I really liked the phrase: "Children are not born for war." It is necessary to bring excursions to the museum. To advertise. To support the museum! It must be preserved, it is a unique place.
I advise fans of antiquities and flea markets to visit. You can get an idea of the way of life and life of the people in whose territory you are. Of course, an excursion conducted by a knowledgeable person, and not a schoolboy, would be more informative, because the collection was collected by a man who selflessly loves his homeland.Self-examination does not give a complete picture. The cafe on the territory was not impressed, the toilet is in terrible condition, you can only get to the house museum by taxi. It's a pity, this museum needs to be included in sightseeing tours, and not endless wine and honey tastings.