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So this is my challenge. I think, it is not easy. I would like to basically know, what COUNTRY is that region in? (and a bit more). THIS IS A SERIOUS CHALLENGE. And please, DO NOT JUMP THE GUN! Maybe, what you would think is wrong, wrong, very wrong. :-) All this is true about the country: 1) In the native language it begins with the sound "S", there is also "A" and "E" in the word. 2) It is in Europe, the capital of the country has a "B" sound. 3) The language native script is not latin, but there is a latin transcription which become increasingly popular. 4) The country is close to a sea - it used to have a large shoreline until well... it did not kinda fell apart. 5) It was ruled by a ruthless communist dictator whose given name was equivalent to "Josephus". He was rather known by his nom-de-guerre tough. He is the native of that country. His nome-de-guerre has a "t". 6) The country itself also was belonging to a much larger country - but that also fell apart recently 7) Orthodox Christian faith is typical for the country. The country is fully loaded with Orthodox monasteries. One of the most important monasteries, founded by important local saint begins with "S". 8) About food: grilled meat, vine, herbs, vegetables is typical. Also both "western" and "oriental" sweets So far so good. Now the challenge (besides naming the country): ALL what I did say above is true. Because of that, *** SOME *** candidates are WRONG candidates. They do not meet some important criteria. :-) Challenge/1: You have to show me a word written the native language of that country I cannot read. I was born and went to school in Russia. Challenge/2: While the country is in Europe, you can also see it on the map of United States of America. Where? Challenge/3: (If you are so far correct, this is easy) What is the real family name of the dictator "Josephus" I did mention before? Challenge/4: Who is the most important saint of that country connected to the monastery beginning with "S"? I think, I tried my best to fool everyone... I know, everyone has somewhat in mind - but make sure, it's correct! Let's see, how you can fool me! :-)
Well, I almost added "that country used to border Albania" which is true. But that would be EXTREMELY mean from me. OK, I added. So "The country in question used to border Albania". But: this sentence - while true - does NOT help you at all, rather opposite! This is extremely mean sentence and I put it here just to make things worse. :-)
I think I know most answers:) The problem is Challenge/2. I also don't know can you read this word: ЖВPЉOTИHA! I also have to tell you that it still has the border with .Albania..still..don't know in the future...
OPS, this site doesn't suport cyrillic :(
Vesna, you walked nicely into my trap. :-) I did REALLY my best to fool as much people as possible. And Albania was the worst of all.... So... "used to border" to Albania khm... :-) Also mean: was Tito ever native to Serbia? I am a bad guy. No, not Serbia.
Because medieval kingdom of Albania is several thousand kilometres from Shquipëria.
Yes you are bad!!!:):)
Yes, as I see two sets of "Rash" regions, two Josephs, two Albania - and realised the rest how many parallels are out there between S*** and Serbia, a very mean plan was born. Here it is.
But we have to ask Giampiero to correct the placement of the country, I just noticed, VT put it out of Europe - IMHO incorrectly.
I guess it went in Asia as one of ex SSSR countries?
Aha, yes, "Sakartvelo" is the native name. See, I did not lie! "S" is there, "E" is there, "A" is there. And the worst dictator of 20th Century was born there, in the city of Gori. His name is "Ioseb Besarionis Dze Jughashvili". So "Josip", but not "Broz".
Very clever indeed!
Can you please tell me the name of that georgian Saint ?
And the main monastery is of course "Svetitshoveli", not Studenica. rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~ci... About being fully loaded with Orthodox monasteries is true. rzuser.uni-heidelberg.de/~ci...
Nino (not Sava!), monastery is Svetitshoveli (not Studenica)
Darn, I forgot to say, "the name of important saint connected to most important monastery which begins with "S" has only four letters", oh my, oh my. I should really say that. And just add "Albania" without comments... yes, indeed S-A-V-A and N-I-N-O, 4 letters each.
Yes, I guessed Georgia as well but principally from the appearing on the map of America clue.
You can post foreign words by writing them on Word and then Copy and Paste, I believe. Anyway it works sometimes. Here I am trying in Hebrew: שלום
No, it didn't work. :(
Yes, of course, but not the one with Atlanta in the middle :-) The three main "issues" with Serbia: - Tito was not native of Serbia - Serbia is still bordering Albania and hope, it will be for a while. But if not, than not. Do not want to go into controversy. In that topic 10 people will say 20 opinioins, no one can see the future wat is eventually better. There are two Albania-s: a) a medieval kingdom ca. in the place where today Chechnya is b) a country called Squipäria - And finally, if one goes in the school in Russia, showing a word written in Serbian he cannot read is tough, very tough. Maybe in Latinica.... but I am writing with latin characters. So it's a "mission impossible". Otherwise the parallels are indeed stunning. I noticed it before, but as I learned, there is a region in western Georgia pronounced as "rash" - that was the last drop. There is a famous dance from that region called "Rachuli", often performed by Rustavi ensemble. youtube.com/watch?v=7XpZpf5K... It begins slow, but as at ca. 1:10 the singers will call "rasha, rasha" the things will speed up a LOT :-) Also here: (at ca. 1:58), Notice, what will happen at 4:50 - a very... "YOUNG" guy will jump out and run like mad, with a "feet work" a 20-year old would be jealous. youtube.com/watch?v=7EhMRYwy... Sakartvelians tend to live longer than average, they have very high number of people with three-digit age.
@Pupulainen, yes I am guilty to do dirty tricks. As said, "Albania" and of course, "Tito" was the reason Serbia is disqualified. Than, only one country remains. Here is the railway station of Gori: (do you see any familiar portrait?) railfaneurope.net/pix/ge/imm... OK, a bit better view: railfaneurope.net/pix/ge/imm...
Much better thing than Gori is here: youtube.com/watch?v=lS9aCTmU... At ca. 2:54 you will see Svetitshoveli, few seconds later (3:01) Dzhvari (one of the oldest church on Earth) zoomed to on the hill with Svetitshoveli in foregorund as the camera zooms out. Not sure, what is at 3:35, probably Alaverdi - on of the highest Orthodox churches. Not the highest, of course but probably the highest MEDIEVAL one. At 4:25 it's Dzhvari again. 4:57 it's tBilisi (of course, there is a "B" in the capital. Did I say, it's beginning with "B"? No, just that there is a "B" sound...) Not sure, what church is on 5:39, Balnisi??? It seem to be in Tbilisi, but I never was there, so don't know. In second part: youtube.com/watch?v=dPay2iTZ... for a while you see jewelry, than some church interior (not sure, wher it is) than around 2:40 or so Dzhvari again. It seems, they really like Dzhvari... I remember, there is somewhere a "church inside a church", you see it breifly around 3:06. Not sure, where it is. OK, yes, at 3:33 is the Balnisi. I was wrong, at 5:39 of the previous one it was NOT Balnisi than. 3:33 of this one is Balnisi. At 4:29 is the Kartvelian alphabet. At 7:05 an other church interior - WOW!!! Hmm.... any VT meeting there soon? :-)
Spectacular! Many hanks. Makes me want to visit!
Yes, it used to be an easy 30-hour trip from Moscow in the train, was very cheap, under 40 Rbl in 1st class. We decided not to go because "we can visit it anyway anytime we want later". That proved to be a wrong calculation. Now to go there the best is to go "around", so first you reach Kars in Turkiye, than take bus. Airplane ticket cost is prohibitive and train is safer in the region than airplane. For Kars for us it's Budapest-Beograd-Sofia-Istanbul (one change in Beograd or Sofia). Than take Istanbul-Kars train. From Kars on bus/marshrutka.
... and just noticed (because not enough parallels): Moreska from Korcula is not unlike Khevsuruli. (Of course Korcula not Serbia, but close enough). korculainfo.com/video-korcul... But Rustavi ensemble can also pull out some swords: youtube.com/watch?v=lTTefIY8... That is an other thing I forgot.... to mention "sword dance". And let poor victims of my scam complain, "Korcula is not in Serbia". :-)
Here we have the black king versus red king - but not on Korcula. youtube.com/watch?v=He45z3aD... This is not plagiate as it was very popular motive earlier... it's as I did read, only Korcula and Georgia where it still remains.
Smart job. But I can't figure out no.3 "3) The language native script is not latin, but there is a latin transcription which become increasingly popular". In Georgian there is not latin transcript unless you mean that latin is placed next to the Georgian to make it more comprehensible for non-georgians who do not know Georgian. and yep.I do not know why we were placed in Middle East :-) by VT... Asia maybe yes but for ME, I think it is too much... Rati from Tbilisi
I seen many transcripts into Latin - for silly foreigners or if there is no Kartvelian keyboard. (out of interest just looking, is Kartvelian kbd on the Mac Os or not). I am sure, no native would write Latin. But sorry, this (as well as the minor Rash-->Rashka) difference had to be a bit smoothen up, to make things "worse" for challenge. I regret, I did not put the saint with 4 letters and Albania right in the begin :-)
yes, I just found it - the MacOs is fully Kartvelian-aware. Neat, thanks Apple!
and I would rather have taken out the hint on Atlanta, Georgia which makes quite easy to figure out which country is implied.
It's nice of you to think of us petruta but lunch is better not to book in advance as there are so many different ways... more
