The Georgian city of Gori is synonymous with one man, Iosef Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili, better known as Joseph Stalin. I won't go into too much detail about the man here, there are plenty of web pages where you can read about him (wikipedia has a great page here). What is interesting is that the house in which he was born was enshrined within a protective building right outside of a museum that was built and dedicated to him. While other ex-communist and ex-Soviet countries quickly destroyed all visible remnants of communism (such as Lenin and Stalin statues, hammer and sickle decorations on buildings/bridges/buildings) and renamed all squares and streets that had soviet names, Gori proudly kept everything that was named after Stalin.

Main street in Gori, the Stalinis gamziri (Stalin Avenue)

Soviet military monument

Stalin's armor plated rail car, weighing in at a little over 83 tons. Stalin became increasingly paranoid, convinced that people were trying to kill him, he had a armor plated railway car constructed. He refused to travel by airplane, only trusting this rail car for protection. It was used for all of his trips for 12 years (including the trip for the July 1945 Potsdam conference).

Inside of the rail car, Stalin's samovar, desk and bed.

The very first air conditioning unit in the Soviet Union, custom made for Stalin.

Statue of Stalin in front of the house where he grew up

Entrance to the museum

Lady working in the gift shop, wearing a very nostalgic uniform

What would a gift shop be without tacky souvenirs for sale? I have to admit to indulging a bit myself, I bought a book called "Poetries by J.B. Stalin". That's right, early in his life Stalin fancied himself a poet. Here is an example:

To T.R. Eristavt

When driven to tears by the suffering peasants,

you, bard, devoted to the people of Georgia,

bemoaned their faith and justice demanded,

addressing the heaven above.

Moved by the passion for a prosperous future of our nation,

you sounded like a delightful lute, blessed by the lord.

Singing the praise of your country,

with glorious adoration

and the strings of your heart

resounded with joy...

But then some Georgians

are going to enthrone you

and your past troubles and sufferings

will be crowned in our days

Your words have taken root already

in their hearts, and now, venerable elder,

you will reap the fruits of your hard labor

Listen to the people's appeal

use it in your struggle as a sickle:

Long live Raphiel! May the nation have more sons like you!!!

29 October, 1895

In case poetry isn't your style, you can always buy a bottle of wine

The museum

Model of Stalin's childhood house as it looked when he was young

Museum

A copy of Stalin's death mask

Gifts he received from other heads of state

Statue at the entrance

His desk and personal belongings

The house where he grew up

This is the room which his father rented from the owner, Stalin lived here until he was 15

View of the house from outside, enclosed in a temple-like building

Gori fortress, built upon ancient fortified foundations, it dates from the Middle Ages 

Views from the top

Despite it being before noon, a local kid was already sleeping off some alcohol

Statue of Stalin standing proudly in front of the city hall, in the middle of the Stalinis gamziri (Stalin Square). The post communist government wanted to destroy the statue but decided to leave it intact after the citizens of Gori pleaded to leave it in place.