Greetings,

I have been living in Tbilisi for a while and I greatly enjoy many of the public baths in Tbilisi. I am curious thought about Georgian banya etiquette or more directly culturally accepted and unaccepted behavior. Sometimes when I am in the men's baths, a person or two start to masturbate and it seems like many accept it without a problem. Is this the standard reaction? If not, what would be the proper response? Furthermore, it seems common enough for unacquainted people to physically touch (e.g. brush several times, bump into some one's foot) those with whom they wish to masturbate. Is that normal? I am a Westerner, so that is why I am curious if it is culturally appropriate for people to do such actions in Georgia. Thanks for your advice!

Curious One