We were lucky to catch up with Paul Rimple recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paul, appreciate you joining us today. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

I was happily working for really cool international culinary tourism company when COvid-19 came along. It was a very stressful time, as I’m sure you remember. Circumstances compelled me to start my own culinary tour business here in Tbilisi in the middle of the pandemic. So, from the beginning, adversity is part of my company’s DNA. Economics kept a lot of people from traveling the year after travel restrictions were lifted and then Russia invaded Ukraine, which kept a lot of people away from this part of the world. This was followed by a positive season, however, last year was slow all around. I’m not the only tour operator who complained of a bad year. I attribute the lack of American travelers to the economic policies of Donald Trump. The American and Israeli war against Iran pose another threat to travel in this part of the world.

I operate a tour company in a volatile part of the world and have to roll with it. It’s a small, local company. I can’t afford to keep all my eggs in one basket. Fortunately for me, I can fall back on my journalism, even if most all my strings have dried up, to bring in a bit of extra money, but mostly its my music that gets me through the rough periods, as I play regularly with my band.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I came to Tbilisi, Georgia in 2001 and worked as a freelance journalist, covering the Caucasus. By about 2015 I started burning out on chasing stories. That’s when Culinary Backstreets contacted me and asked me if I could cover the burgeoning food and wine scene for them. This led to designing and leading tours for them.

I started Meet Me Here Tbilisi in 2021 for people who love exploring the world through their taste buds. That’s how I love to travel. I design highly personalized private and small group day and multi-day food and wine tours in Tbilisi and around the country where we explore some of the city’s hidden gems and venture off the beaten path into private homes, kitchens and wine cellars for an authentic, insider’s travel experience.

I’m not much a group tour person myself – I love to travel to places my friends live to get insider’s perspectives on destinations. When I am somewhere short on time and friends, I understand how difficult it can be to get a rewarding experience, particularly with language being a barrier and Trip Advisor being an unreliable source. I view Meet Me Here Tbilisi less as a company and more of that friend you have here. We take you only to our favorite places to meet our favorite people – our friends. You arrive a visitor, but leave as a friend; you will want to return.

My most popular tour is the Tbilisi day tour of the Dezerter’s Bazaar. It’s a perfect introduction to Georgia’s gastronomic culture, as we visit the largest and oldest produce market in the city, meet the people working there and seasonal ingredients behind the remarkable dishes you will encounter, and we finish off with a fantastic lunch and exclusive tasting of natural wines.

I am also very excited about our Tusheti tour, a multi-day trip to explore the most isolated region in Georgia through its food. Tusheti is simply otherworldly, high in. Caucasus mountains, a land of horsemen and shepherds that time has nearly forgotten.

If you are curious about Georgian wine, I design custom trips around the country to visit natural winemakers at their homes and cellars. These aren’t degustations, they are deep dives into an 8000 year tradition.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I was first approached with the opportunity to lead a tour for strangers, I balked. “I’m a writer,” I thought, not a tour guide. Then I was invited to Istanbul, a city I was familiar with but not impressed with gastronomically. I went on my first food walk and I got it and discovered what a rich food culture Istanbul has. I had always taken people to the Dezerter’s bazaar because I’m a foodie and I love the place. I never realized I could get paid to do it and getting paid to do what I love has been my life mantra.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I started Meet Me Here Tbilisi originally as a tour design company to help supplement my income during the pandemic. I thought it would be compatible with the company I was working with. I had taken a cut in salary and was struggling. It turned out it was not compatible. My relationship with my employer soured and I left. I’d like to think I didn’t burn that bridge – I still recommend the company to anyone who is traveling and looking for a rewarding experience. They have an excellent team around the world and I admire them for what they do. But sometimes you have to go it alone. I still have a lot to learn. I’m a song and dance man more than a businessman.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.meetmeheretbilisi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meet_me_here_tbilisi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeetMeHereTbilisi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjrimple/

Image Credits

The portrait – personal photo by Justyna Mielnikiewicz (JM_TB_Portraits .001)
Paul%20with%20Cheese by Adrian Scoffman
Paul%20at%20the%20Bazzar by Adrian Scoffman
All other photos by Paul Rimple