Western Georgia * Sixtyexpress

September 18, 2026
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936 words

You have been in the East, mountains and now you are in the west. Today you are not going to churches. Did I hear a cheer? You are going to Stalin’s Museum. Stalin was born in Gori , a Georgian village.This does not mean he treated his birthplace differently to the rest of the occupied countries, He was named something unpronounceable (Loseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili) to poor parents. Now if we were kind, we could excuse his cruelty as coming from a broken home but this would not be the reality. He was a man who had an ideology, a desire for power and no respect for his fellow man.

Unfortunately although the museum details Stalin’s life honesty, I am finding it boring being just series of pictures. The guide is struggling with the big group and seems bored. Can you hear her? I gathered Stalin, (Russian word for steel) started out to be a priest but got expelled. Became a Bolshevik and bank robber( money for the cause), was jailed and then ended up rising to power with Lenin.In Georgia, the collective farming practises disrupted Georgian traditional life. He systematically killed of priests,and murdered anyone who had studied or was political and tortured millions. Many who survived were used for forced labour in the Gulag.

Even children couldn’t escape his meanness. Eldest son died in a concentration camp because his father refused to trade a German officer for him. His daughter was estranged by his behaviour and so defected to USA. His youngest son developed a drinking problem because of his father and his mother’s supposed suicide. No not a person you wanted to know or cross.

Moving on to a happier place. We are going to Uplistsikhe. This was a thriving township in the 2nd millennium BC. Have you got your walking shoes on…good, stairs ,yes a few…..100’s.

Yes you are climbing up to a city that was carved from the sandstone mountain. It was a popular caravanserai and still has an active church at the top.

Watch your footing, it’s tricky in spots.

It narrows at the bottom. Not exactly how you want to be punished so be careful.

There was a wine cellar, theatre, a herbalist and thriving community. Being alongside the Mtkvari river it was great for boat traffic.

The view from the top of the Cave village

More caves today…..but more the caves you think of with stalactites and stalagmites. We are off to the Prometheus caves. They are 1.2 kilometres long and there is even a river I am told. Will there be stairs? Of course, it is a cave so up and down….but only about 900🤣😅😀.

Specacular, isn’t it. The lighting as we came to the last chamber makes it feel so magical and the boat ride….

I think this was a highlight of the trip, what about you?

Do you remember that hot springs were found in Tbilisi? They were also found at Tskaltubo near Kutaisi. Soviets set up hot water sanitariums.It seems these were very popular with Russians during the Soviet era. If you were lucky you could be sent here for your health to enjoy the benefits of a few weeks of therapy enjoying the mineral baths. Many of these were owned by the upper echelons of the Soviet and even Stalin owned one. No 6 Spring was his. It is now restored. Do you want to go?

The majority were abandoned when the Soviet collapsed. As there was competition between the Sanitariums, most were opulent with beautiful decorations and fixtures.Some were occupied by refugees and ransacked of anything of value. A sad reminder of a different time.

You must be wondering where is today’s church. Wonder no more, we are here at the Bagrati Cathedral. This one has been destroyed, and rebuilt multiple times.The latest renovation took place in the 1994 following the damage during the Soviet period.

Part of the original structure. Where possible the original walls have been kept and new bricks are filling in the gaps.

It is popular for weddings especially on days where dairy and meat aren’t restricted ( fasting days). I think I have counted 5 brides so far . The singing as they leave is interesting.