Autumn in Kazbegi vol.1

I enjoyed autumn leaves in Kazbegi of Georgia.
A marshrutka (mini bus) runs on Georgian Military Highway for an hour and half. Stepantsminda is a mountain village near Russian border. The village is my base in this trip. First of all, I get start a hiking to Sameba Curch (the trinity church) which is settled on the top of the opposite hill. For most of the tourist, the main purpose to visit Kazbegi must be the church and beautiful scenery of high mountains. So the small village is filled up with people from all over the world.
There is a paved road to the top and taxi drivers are busy for getting their customers. But I'm attracted by hiking because of the good distance and beautiful landscape. I walk through Gergrti village on the foot of the hill. Contrary to Stepantsminda village where many brand-new lodges are under construction, Gergeti still has traditional style houses. In front of the old stone and wood house, hay is loaded on the track. In the back yard, cattle are grazing. Autumn of mountainside village.

After the village, I get to the entrance of hiking course to the church. Walk among the autumn colored leaves. Beautiful contrast of the yellow and snow capped Mt. Kazbek (5047m) under the blue sky. When I look back, I see Stepantsminda far below on the foot of opposite mountains. Huge rocky mountains rise up behind the village. Oh, the mountains behind my lodge are such high... must be almost 4000m. The altitude itself does not have reality to me. But more over, the mountains suddenly rise up behind the houses is absolutely out of my usual sense.

I think I have accent 600m high from the village. I've never felt unsafe because I met many hikers on the way. However I've been walking almost for 2 hours. Out of breathing can be from lack of daily exercise or high altitude. It seems like the steep slope continue forever. Then suddenly my sight are opened.
The Trinity Church stands on the end of swelling grass field. A paved road are winding on the grass to the church. A picture on my guide book doesn't show the road. So maybe it's built recently.