UPLIS-TSIKHE AND GORI

The cave-town of Uplis-Tsikhe, built in the first century BC, is a prototype of cave monasteries. The three-church Basilica, built in the ninth century proved to be an interesting visit.

The cave town grew over hundreds of years in the first millenium BC. It stood on an important trade route that linked Byzantium with India and China (the Silk Road(. It once had 20,000 inhabitants, primarily merchants and artisans.

The Fortress of Gori offers a wonderful view overlooking the Mtkvari River. The existing walls and towers date from the Middle ages and from Turkish and Persian occupations in the 16th and 17th centuries. Gori is the birthplace of Josef Stalin. To this day, Stalin is regarded by many citizens of Gori as a hero, a favorite son. The first toast of the evening is always made to Stalin.

We toured the Josef Stalin museum and stepped into his birthplace. It was a guided tour, but, you know, all those Russian names are hard for me to remember. So you will have to suffice with some of the pictures that I took. Our guide was knowledgeable and pleasant, and probably somewhat pro-Stalin. The museum was built during the Russian occupation and so it does not cover any of the terrible things of the Stalin regime.

On the way to the Stalin museum in Gori, we traveled along Georgian territory occupied by Russia (of course, not entering it) and a fast flowing river fed by melting snows.

A refugee village built in 2008 at the time when Russia was occupying Georgia.

There's not much to the houses, but by now, almost all of them have planted grapes or fruit trees in the backyard - it's just the way life is.

Along the expressway. The land here in central Georgia (between the mountains) is mostly agricultural. There are also large areas for cattle and sheep grazing. Both the cattle and the sheep run freely, guided by herders.

The land is pretty and seems to be well kept. I'm thinking that some of it, at least, is irrigated.

The Josef Stalin statue standing outside of the Stalin Museum.

Stalin's picture on a carpet.

Stalin gifts from around the world.

Stalin home - one room.

The bedroom side of Stalin's birthplace home.

Stalin's rail car he used to travel (never traveled by plane). The car is protected by armour and bulletproof glass. Inside, two bodyguards rode with him wherever he traveled. This is the rail car in which he traveled to the peace talks at Yalta (1945).

The conference table in the rail car along with our museum guide.

 After touring the museum, at the recommendation of our guide, we ate at a new restaurant directly across the street from the museum. The restaurant serves Georgian food.

The plate is brought in this fashion. Jon says that very often, since most Georgian meals are served family style, a dinner might use up to 7 or 8 plates.

A toast to a FINE wife and an upcoming great Georgian meal. The beer was Georgian.

Salad, a kabob (wrapped in a tortilla), eggplant, cornbread, and the potato dish.

A great tasting potato dish.