If you don’t mind getting your feet a bit dirty, Tbilisi has some of the best natural watering holes around, and you really get the feeling of the city's unique relationship with nature.

Summers can be brutal in Tbilisi. It can easily get to the upper 30s (that’s around 100 in Americanese) and it has a touch of humidity or smog or whatever unregulated thing is hanging in the air, creating a kind of oven effect. Luckily, unlike most places in Europe, restaurants and cafes often have air conditioning, so it’s never too horrendous.

Belgian National Day, celebrated annually on July 21, is a vibrant public holiday marked by parades, family fairs, and either fireworks,...