Stalin

After travelling through the wooded gorge we stopped at Borjomi to sample the sulphurous mineral waters and walk in the grounds of the Romanov’s holiday home. (One of).

After reaching the dual carriageway we reached Gori the birthplace of Stalin. The temperature was 36 degrees today. We were treated to a guided tour of the Soviet style museum, saw his house and railway carriage, and many photos of him. The information given by the guide was cursory and there was no time to look at anything on our own. Our guide says they say in Georgia that Russia is their mother, Stalin their father and they wish they were orphans.

After a light lunch of a mushroom dumpling and Greek salad with another couple, Marion and Chris, we got back on the bus for the 3 hour drive up the Military Highway. This is only 2 way traffic and was very busy as it is the only road crossing the Greater Caucasus in over 1000 miles. Most of the trucks were Armenia - the are cut off politically as their Turkish and Azerbaijan borders are closed so reluctantly they have to trade with Russia through Georgia.

We stopped to look at Ananuri Fortress and church overlooking the reservoir.

As we headed north into the mountains the scenery became more dramatic. Yellow azaleas were still in bloom as the altitude of Gudauri, a ski resort, where we stay for the next 2 nights, is 2196m.