Why I live on New Boulevard

Sometimes people ask me why, out of all Batumi’s neighbourhoods, I chose New Boulevard.

I suppose my answer begins with the sea. It is a two-minute walk from my home. There is no need to plan anything, get in the car or wait for the right kind of day. I can simply step outside, walk down to the water, skim a few pebbles and spend a little time alone — with my thoughts and with the sea.

I really need that feeling. The sea asks no questions, does not hurry me and offers no ready-made answers. Sometimes a few minutes by the water help me hear myself better than an entire free evening.

But for me, New Boulevard is not only about quiet by the shore. The large Lech and Maria Kaczyński Park is nearby: a promenade, a skate park and a space where someone is always skating, walking, meeting friends or laughing. Here I can be alone with myself and, a few minutes later, find myself among people again.

And I like that combination.

I love being at the centre of life. I love having a large community around me — familiar faces, chance conversations, people from different countries, and the feeling that the neighbourhood is not living somewhere nearby but right outside my door.

Everyday life here is quite simple, too. There is a large supermarket nearby where I can take care of almost every practical need. That may not sound very romantic, but a home is made of more than sunsets and sea views. It is also about being able to buy what you need quickly, without turning every small errand into a separate trip across the city.

New Boulevard is often described in terms of high-rises, construction sites and its modern seafront. To me, it is about something else entirely. About being two minutes from the sea. About pebbles flying into the water. About the lively park nearby. About the people around me and the rare freedom to choose: to be alone, or to step back into the very middle of life whenever I want.

That is probably why I live here.