What did I find in KGB sanatoriums and Stalin’s hometown?

I decided to travel the Post-Soviet space, and to talk to locals about their life in the Soviet Union and after its collapse. Let's visit USSR's former biggest spa resort, go to Stalin's dacha (countryside house), KGB sanatorium, and, finally, Stalin's hometwon.
Time codes:
00:00 What is Tskaltubo?
01:06 Expectations of a Post-Soviet country
02:11 Life in abandoned sanatoriums
07:32 Cleaning up a bath house
09:11 Crumbling heritage of the USSR
10:45 Stalin's dacha and KGB sanatorium
12:47 Stalin's private bath
14:30 Stalin's hometown
📌elinabakunova.com/russianclub - Russian Speaking Club where you can practice the Russian language. Join us from any level ;)
🔸What can you find on my channel?
👉🏻Russian culture explained! (facts that you won't find on google) • RUSSIAN CULTURE EXPLAINED
👉🏻travel vlogs to off-the-beaten-path and remote places of Russia
👉🏻 daily life in different regions of Russia
👉🏻 traveling elsewhere & discovering new cultures
📍 More videos:
• Life in Georgia now vs... - Georgia before and after collapse of the Soviet Union (Big trip through the country)
kzbin.infoOGLegTp-eBQ - Russia of the Soviet Union vs now | What has changed since the USSR?
• Life in the Russian ex... - Life in the Russian exclave Kaliningrad | German heritage, Russian people and Soviet buildings
___
📸 elibakunova?igs... - more content about Russia, traveling, and my daily life
🤍 / elifromrussia - if you feel like supporting my channel through Patreon

[@ElifromRussia]

I decided to travel the Post-Soviet space, and to talk to locals about their life in the Soviet Union and after its collapse. Let's explore Georgia with me :) 📍 Thank you for watching and here are more videos of mine on this topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5LOhWiPfLNlgbM - Georgia before and after collapse of the Soviet Union (Big trip through the country) kzbin.infoOGLegTp-eBQ - Russia of the Soviet Union vs now | What has changed since the USSR?

[@abdillahihollandis7481]

Thank you , Eli .

[@jimgordon1563]

Thank you Eli. I well remember listening to Radio Moscow here in Scotland at night broadcasting the exercise programs. It was fascinating to hear your interviews with local people concerning if they preferred the USSR to to Russia today.

[@syork4126]

He is a creep. She gets prettier alll the time. Interesting video.

[@Jesina_moved_to_Vojvodina]

​@@syork4126I don't think so, he is a nice guy and he he seem to know the Eastern Bloc rather unusual for westerners.

[@George-bq5uz]

Same place

[@jonk1370]

Now that Bald and Bankrupt is not doing too many videos in post-Soviet countries anymore, we are now lucky to have a native Russian do such videos! Thank you

[@minime7375]

There’s a stark difference between the two, tbh I never liked Bald and the way he was presenting the places he visited although I watched some of his videos. Eli’s content is much, much better, no matter the country she visits.

[@miriistina]

​@@minime7375 They're just different. Bald's is from the perspective of N outsider, and a blend of history, humour and wide eyed wonder and discovery. Eli's is more polished but presented with loving care and a more Russian perspective. To each their own opinion, but I like them both in their own way

[@minime7375]

@@Eric-ii9ce You see the name of the channel and comment w/o watching, right?

[@minime7375]

@@Eric-ii9ce 1. This isn’t a “propaganda video” so your comment is just petty 2. Plenty of journalists, including Western ones from left-leaning media freelanced or are freelancing for RT, the fact that youtube (and other non-free speech platforms) deemed it “Russian propaganda” doesn’t mean we’re all brainwashed. RT is available on Rumble and a lot of it has nothing to do with politics. 3. I don’t see why anyone feels the need to be nasty, if you believe her videos to be “Russian propaganda” scroll ahead nd don’t watch them, you wouldn’t want to be brainwashed into believing Russians are regular people and Russia is home to rich cultures. Leaving aside the fact that this video is from Georgia…

[@Rich_N]

Every single video she posts is propaganda. You’re blind if you can’t see it.

[@Cma2506]

19:49 Oh I jumped out of happiness seeing Liya 😀 The wonderful lady hosted me while I was in Gori.Liya melted my heart with the warm Georgian hospitality and took care of me.One of the best homes I have stayed so far anywer in the world🥰

[@Jesina_moved_to_Vojvodina]

g(e)orgeous, non bourgeois Caucasus

[@gj6674]

Do you have a link, please? I intend to visit, and might like to stay with her.

[@4thMG]

My favorite composer is Sergei Prokofiev who died on the same day Stalin did. Apparently there weren’t any flowers available because they were all used for Stalins funeral so they ended up using flowers made of paper for Prokofiev.

[@jesseknox9322]

I'm a proud American, but I when I watch your videos in a weird way I feel like I'm in the room with you visiting your family or the people you visit. So I want to be respectful to the people even when I'm watching it on my phone. So I hang my ego up like a hat at the door and just listen. Always enjoy listening to other people's side of history. I think you do a beautiful job telling the stories of a place and people

[@joycehaines2055]

When you comment it helps her logarithms. Interactive is interesting as others can communicate easily.

[@oswinhull4203]

It bothers me that people can let such a beautiful building turn into a ruin.

[@markpribyshchuk4918]

Its legacy is being the home of Soviet Hitler lmao let it be a ruin

[@user-gr3wy4ks7g]

Война.Грузии с Абхазией 1992-1994г.Грузии с Южной Осетией 1992-1993г.и 2008г.

[@shazza160]

Gawd so uninformed

[@Shurikova666]

In the USSR, my father worked as a carpenter at a small enterprise. He had two vacations in similar sanatoriums. And both times at the expense of the company, with a very small surcharge. We probably judge the USSR by the stereotypes created for us by Hollywood.

That is success :D, two vacations in whole misarable life spent in cue for the meat and banana. :D I have two vacations a year and I don't need and state support because I earn enough money to pay for that like most of us. Not like your father's misarable salary in some kind of "kolchoz".

[@mob-kw9hz]

​@go read the declassified CIA document on soviet food consumption. Stop posting bs and do some reading

[@kappy-nf6uh]

I think you're right. At least for my generation, in the 1950s and 1960s. But thank you for sharing. So much to learn.

[@user-hi5ph8pb1x]

That tune wakes up my husband to go to work 😅. He's in his forties and misses USSR a lot. I remember this tune on my granny's radio when I was visiting her (I was growing up in Greece).

[@BeogradskiPlatan]

Beautiful story - time machine. Very similar, to ex Yugoslavia and their nations living together, with a difference of being able to travel abroad. Thank you very much, and keep up great travel adventures Eli...

[@simonpilk]

Eli you also look so happy and have an appearance of almost love about you!

[@murtadha96]

This is one of my all time favourite channels, love from Iraq ❤

[@ChinnuWoW]

I’ll be visiting Iraq soon! Looks like a wonderful country!

[@wybuchowyukomendant]

Here in poland we have quite a few abandoned sanatoriums with 'healing waters', those rotten-egg-smelling ones, full of minerals. It`s unfortunate that people stopped coming there, now it`s super dangerous because most of the wells are in the basement and without proper filtration the whole underground level is full of co2, you will just collapse on the stairs down and never come up...

[@father.268]

Racism is high in Polska 😒

[@harrydecker8731]

Tnis was a very interesting video! One can see how beautiful and grand that sanitorium was at one time. It's a shame it has fallen into disrepair, as well as some of those other structures. If a certain person in charge had focused on restoring and maintaining the land and structures he has instead of lusting for more land and structures, it would be a different world. As that old woman said, we all need to be friends. There's no need to be enemies, because our stay on this planet is very short. Anyway, I just love your sense of humor and your sense of adventure, Eli, as well as the fact that you seem to get along with everybody. You set a good example for all humanity.

[@vitordelima]

I'm sure that there are many reasons to be enemies with many individuals of questionable intentions.

[@mfreund15448]

@@vitordelimaOn both sides. The people should be friends and stand against their respective governments

[@beachbikerun]

America has been the aggressor since the Cold War, not Russia nice try at sneaking in some western propaganda, though ! America sponsored bloody coup 8 years of killing civilians in Donbas ? Western cancel culture is hilarious ! American, forever wars is what shapes the warmongering on earth these past 75 years. Get your head out of the sand ! Putin is breaking American hegemony, and we will have a more just world after. How are the sanctions going ? Russia has recorded profits less than 3% unemployment ! ❤❤❤❤❤

[@vitordelima]

@@mfreund15448And corporations, hospitals, universities, banks...

[@vib1336]

I like your videos, showing different places in Russia and the former USSR. I am interested in soviet era history. I've never been to Georgia, but I hope one day to visit it. You just got a new subscriber :) Greetings from Bulgaria. Привет от България.

[@Sunlight91]

You could just take a ferry trip across the Black Sea.

[@LunaticsRomanticRecords]

Me too comrade

[@hugomitre9096]

Gamarjoba Eli! Such a fascinating video of “Stalin’s Georgia!” Thank you so much for sharing your travel experience with us. I kept looking at a Georgia map to try track where you went to and try and picture myself there too. It makes it more real to me other than faceless names and lines on the map. The people you meet there seem so friendly and welcoming. Stalin’s history is so interesting. He is such a big figure in history yet he had humble beginnings. Whether good or bad we all share common human experiences. If only we can all be friends the world would be a much better place. Looking forward to the next Georgia adventure! Warm greetings from California! 🤩🤩🤩✌🏻🫶

[@Jesina_moved_to_Vojvodina]

A Russian friend also made a video in this area, Gorgeous Joseph's Georgia, but maybe it is rather tendentious. He was a Sibirian KGBrian once!😮😎😁

[@Jesina_moved_to_Vojvodina]

😂😱😉😉😉

[@mfreund15448]

I think in the west, sanatorium would be called a resort!! Those are incredible!!

[@JM-ig4ed]

Always look forward to your uploads. Interesting perspectives of the people living there. In US, we also had sanitariums back in the day but was mostly used for Tuberculosis patients - maybe other diseases too, but TB was the most.

[@namesurname8520]

these were more like spas (you can visit similar places in Budapest) with natural water springs (Different ones recommended for different maladies) and you would also have massages etc.... vs like a quarantine type one like for TB. lots of amazing natural healing waters throughout Europe (and I'm sure elsewhere but I don't know about it to say so :) )

[@WCGP]

Interestingly, the music in the first 10 seconds of this video was used on the old Radio Moscow international shortwave broadcasts in the 60's and 70's. I believe the song was named "Moscow Nights". All the best, Will.

[@lauriannemonette9872]

I’m from Quebec and i’ve been watching your videos a lot, i did not know much about Russia before! It’s so crazy to see this crossover episode i would have never thought Quebec and Russia would merge haha!

[@Jesina_moved_to_Vojvodina]

12:22 OMJ(o my jesina), I'm so glad my Uncle Vanya (Ivan the Righteous) doesn't know your channel and probably wouldn't like it either. He would freak out if he had to watch this scene. That was his "deserved" favorite sanatorium back in the Soviet days!!! 😥🚩🕵🛂🛡🗡🛃👮🚩😪

[@user-tc4oy6su8x]

..your smile Eli..Will disolve any Coldwar between us Thanks again for sharing

[@smdniroshantharanga7491]

Thanks 👍🏻 Eli. Frequently watching your informative, interesting videos.... Best wishes from Sri Lanka 💐💐🇱🇰🇱🇰

[@billdaniel8310]

England had sanatoriums back in the old days. When Agatha Christie went missing for 11 days in 1926, she was found inside a sanatorium under a different name, having lost her memory of what happened.

[@LumiSisuSusi]

My ex-husband's private super expensive school in England had a sanatorium. Re. Agatha Christie, I always wondered if she was doing some undercover research for a story.

[@heinzgassner1057]

Your are such a great people-story-teller, Eli. A rare pearl on KZbin. 1 million subscribers in 2024. Wish you all the best.

[@Luckycharm-kq4lv]

I must admit,this video was very interesting and informative,as usual.Keep up the good work!Thank you.USA subscriber

[@mattwillis3219]

Thankyou for showing us a bit of Russian history that would have otherwise been keep a bit too quite, it was good to see some nice Georgian folks and see the amazing Sanatorium.

[@disco1974ever]

Love my regular dose of adventure, inspiration and optimism , thanks Eli!

[@Lex-Hawthorn]

Another great video, Eli. I enjoy hearing the comparisons from people you interview, as to what was best USSR times, or Russian Federation, modern times. Lovely Destinations, interesting peoples. Thanks for posting, as some of us will never be able to get there, to have a look for ourselves.

[@paulbennett4415]

Eli, I am so impressed by your vocabulary and use of syntax - "... dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991..." Excellent! 👍

[@bertanelson8062]

I'm delighted you are doing this series on former USSR feelings, people and places. The story will be lost soon as those who remember die away. Young people will forge their own way of economics and politics, yet hopefully some will carry the ideals of USSR with them. Of course, the ideals were not met exactly since people everywhere, especially leaders, fall prey to elitism and hubris. Thanks for just showing us what you see. Sanatoriums were popular for many decades until the idea of corporatizing "healthcare" came along with specialists and hospitals. Profit, not health.

[@russecrets]

давно мечтаю попасть! место безумно атмосферное😊

[@olivermiller2013]

This was very interesting and there was so much I never saw. It´s a shame to let the sanatorium or the datcha from Stalin rot to the grounds. Especially the sanatorium is still some kind of beautiful, but if it´s restorated it would be precious. I was very curiuos regarding the Stalin museum, the old style bath house and the train waggon. There is a lot of history left. It is definitive worth a visit.

[@gabriellagirardi4741]

Thank you Eli for this interesting and historical video about the Soviet times in Georgia. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, full of joy and happiness❤⭐️🌲⭐️🌲

[@YeowooBBCVIP]

Thank you for your videos, showing me parts of the world I will certainly never visit... and I love that you give expression to both sides, always. That's so, so important! It shows how complex history is.

[@natanpotiomkin6048]

Eli's good manners and friendliness are adorable

[@GingerBreadMan144]

WOW! This is really interesting Eli! Awesome video! And with a fellow Canadian). It gave me chills when you were walking down the stairs of Stalin's dacha because I just pictured him also walking down those stairs. Very interesting. I look forward to seeing more of your Soviet adventures) On an unrelated note, I am a cartographer and for a fun project I decided to recreate an old red army map from the Great Patriotic War. It's a map showing the red army attack on Königsberg (now Kaliningrad). When I watched your video about the fort there, I didn't realize how many forts are around the city! It's incredible!

[@user-dh6bj2me5p]

Eli had a big strong smile around him. And her smile always makes me smile.

[@1chrisford]

Through you, I see wonders and rare moments I never knew could be out there until I hit "run" on just about any "Eli" video. So appreciative. And your themes, framing of people interactions a a most natural way, and your team's editing are 1st rate. This video of ruins, having a sidekick to explore with for added fun, the Stalin sites and the Georgians reflecting on the USSR - it was breath taking at times. I hope more enjoyment and success await you.

[@js70371]

Happy holidays from Canada Eli, and wishing you and your family a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year from Canada!! 🎄☮️🇨🇦❤️🇷🇺🙏

[@skigirl8450]

Eli, this was a terrific video and history of the sanitoriums! Thank you 😊

[@duaahamed1099]

Thank you Eli for this lovely video i have visited Georgia before but didn't know about this place ..interesting town and love your videos as they are informative and fun at the same time .. love from Oman

[@bhangg_high]

The conversation at 16:20 got pretty intense. You politely and bravely stood your ground presenting facts in a non-overbearing way. Accolades for your delivery, your smile and what you stand for. Much love from Canada.

[@user-dh6bj2me5p]

Eli travels everywhere and knows how to converse with all kinds of people. She's no dummy.

[@jackieow]

Russia has made progress. In the old days such comments would have meant instant arrest and likely a prompt encounter with a firing squad. Except for the example of Paul Robeson, who could pull off a public challenge confronting Stalin because he was a famous foreigner.

[@carlosgaspar8447]

@@jackieow can you cite the source of your firing squad for making idle comments.

[@jackieow]

That's not idle comments. That's everyday life and death the way it used to be. If you are that unfamiliar with history, you could start by reading up on Genrikh Yagoda or :Nikolai Yezhov or Lavrentiy Beria, paying attention to how they died. Try reading "Stalin: the Court of the Red Tsar" by Simon Sebag Montefiore. Or the numerous works of Solzhenitsyn. If you don't already know the answer to your own quandary, you obviously haven't familiarized yourself with much history as of the present time.@@carlosgaspar8447

[@Jbuttafoucault]

An interesting fact is that the USA today imprisons more people than the USSR ever did, and the only people who went to the gulag were Nazis 😉. Stalin’s only mistake was that he didn’t imprison more of those people. If he had, the USSR might still be with us today.

[@nylonguitar]

Thank you EliI , I really enjoy your travels. I really liked the nice lady at the end who played the piano. She seemed very nice, just like you 🙂

[@adrianstevens656]

Thanks, Eli, for this amazing bit of history!❤

[@bren2103]

I love your videos so much, I appreciate you sharing your journey with all of us

[@ruiutomy1]

This is a proof of your improved modern journalism. Keep up with your nice work. Peace.

[@dwjr5129]

As usual, a good look at ordinary people and not politics. Thank you Eli.

[@blondedsky5381]

lol what? are you blind and deaf or what ?

[@goldmaple5290]

I enjoyed this video, Eli. Thanks

[@tomkeller6982]

Eli, I'm a senior American man, and have learned more from your tours and discussions about Russia and the Caucuses with local people than ever before. So nice to learn how they live and what they believe. I'd love to learn more about the people's Christian beliefs. Thanks so much

[@technobo06]

Another exciting and educational day for me, thanks Eli you're the best teacher online😍🤩😘

[@fred993a]

Excellent video Eli - thank you for a great education!

[@TallulahBelle3276]

Thank you, Eli, for bringing us with you! ✊🏽💝🌎👍🏽🌹🙏🏽

[@louisfreund8422]

I visited Sanatorium Metalurgi in September and I talked to both of those residents. So cool to see them again here. Thanks for sharing

[@curtvona4891]

Another great production! Thanks, Eli. ❤

[@nkxxxx]

Wow. So so interesting. As always, Eli. Well done. I didn't expect Georgian peoples reaction to stalins ancestry. If in fact he was of Georgian ancestry. Thank you so much for this great video!🔥

[@rossrichardson7232]

Thank you for a very interesting episode. I really enjoy the history and education that you provide. I am looking forward to more videos.

[@liepalind616]

Ви також можете дослідити цю історію з книжок, щоб вам не потрібно було стежити за пропагандистським каналом.

[@viktorgamasshkov5156]

Thank you Eli, another great travel exploring awesome video 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼😌😌🥰🙏🤲🏼🕊️🎄⛄💐👍

[@kmilton1593]

Thank you Eli for a very interesting and informative video. (one of your best) !

[@mfreund15448]

I hope all of these beautiful places can be resurrected to their former glory!

[@anthonyjohnson9071]

Eli, I have watched your videos for several years and have followed your progress as a videographer and journalist/storyteller with many excellent programs. I have rarely commented before but find this video a bit puzzling. First thing I must ask is what's up with the Canadian guy? He detracted so much from your usually well focused and informative narratives with inaccurate information and rather inane comments unrelated to the situation at hand. Much better when you do this yourself or are with an informed person from the local area you are visiting. Also, not a criticism, but the technical quality of the video in this seems much less spectacular than in many of your other productions. I guess I have gotten used to very high standards in many of your other posts and this one is just a notch below those. I, too, travel much and visit countries for a short time and realize how difficult it is to get an accurate impression from limited contact and it is difficult not to let our own background and biases into our narratives that we pass along to others through videos like yours or just speaking with friends after a trip, but as a foreigner who has lived in Georgia for 3 years and have had deep conversations with locals I think your reports of how many Georgians think that things were better during soviet times is overstated. Of course you are simply relaying the information from the limited number people you have met personally and there are indeed some Georgians who will express this as well as pride for Mr. Dzhugashvili (Stalin) but they are far outweighed by most Georgians who strongly believe otherwise. The relationship between Georgia and Russia is complex and not easy for any foreigner to understand completely, much less to report on to other foreigners. Please don't take my comments as a negative and keep making such videos as I will continue to watch with great interest.

[@napoleonbonaparte4396]

Old generation does not know much about Stalin. In the Soviet times, they were taught that Stalin won the WWII and if he was not in a power, Georgians would not be there. We have problems with education. Remember that the Soviet Union was a cage, and people would hear propaganda from Moscow. Also, remember that history textbooks were fabricated. Historians were controlled by the government. They would alter work if they did not like something. Many Georgian historians complained about it in the late 1980s (as Gorbachov came to power). Stalin destroyed Georgia, but built Russia.

[@G.S.30]

Eli greetings from Albania. This is my first time commenting on your channel. I remember the days when our country and USSR were close allies. Now like many post socialist states we are sucked by Anti Russian mad propaganda and demonization of our socialist past and glorification of the West. This is not good. This is no less of a propaganda than Communist ones, not to say more. In your channel, you show us the real Russia, the real people, the real past and present experience based on ground reality. You are an ambassador of Russia and much of the places you visit than most people in power in Russia are today. Whether we like our communist past or not, admitting all its faults and crimes, compared to today, no, I would say today's situation is far worse than those times. Some might disagree. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Despite all, I will not hide my sentiments, and say Glory to the Red Army, Glory to the USSR, to the russian and soviet martyrs, and glory to Stalin for whatever good he did without forgetting his bad and for freeing Europe from nazi bestialities. But certainly Nikita Krushchev who was passionate about de-stalinization was not that kind of a good guy either. But better than Gorbachev. Gorbachev sold out USSR, Russia and this entire conflict Ukraine vs Russia, Armenia vs Azerbaijan originate from Krushchev's times and became full blown during Gorbachev's rule. My point is, while we must not forget much evil that socialism might have had, its good surpassed its evil, in my opinion. We must not fall into idiotic historical revisionism and demonize all our past, a tragic reality many countries of the former Eastern bloc suffer, and some are pathologically obsessed with especially if they join NATO or the EU. Let's focus on the present and future, learning from the past from its mistakes and from its achievements unless we do not want to make the world a worse place than what already is. Wish you all best for your time and efforts you put to produce these priceless videos and documentaries.

[@AlexGlumoff]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooGwnaChhL2ZsMksi=TdIfTg14QuBX6wWn

"obsessed with especially if they join NATO" - and for good reason, otherwise you could by invaded by Russia like Ukraine. Just watch russian TV to see what they are able to discuss, very westernfobic and aggresive talks.

[@jsc4415]

Thanks Eli ! Another interesting video from you . Very good .

[@olgak6139]

Eli, I admire you with every new video more and more. Ti takaya molodec!

[@murdiesel]

Glad you had subtitles, lol! Happy Holidays and thank you for the videos!

[@cowshooter2]

Thank you for providing some history and including the voices of the residents.

[@dimik3855]

Everywhere you go is an interesting visit Eli. I am from Quebec, Canada like Dominic, so I asked myself: what is this fellow doing in Georgia? You both seemed to be having fun.

[@danielroth6736]

Thank you for this History Lesson I learned about The USSR when i went to Grade School . Back in The early Years . 1960 "S . We had To Learn What The Words Meant . (USSR) How the people lived and there work also . We read this in hard covered books . There were no computers like they have now a days . And at the End of each school Quater we took written tests on what we learned . As well as of end School year exams on what they taught us during that year to pass and move on to the next grade or class . So much to remember back then . I look forward to watching more of your travels .

[@vsouzajunior]

In the video, we can see how splendid the KGB sanatorium was. It's a shame to see it in this condition. It would be interesting if the place could be restored, even for the sake of preserving historical heritage. Thanks for the video, Eli.

[@user-dh6bj2me5p]

It made me think of Versailles. Obviously it was once a beautiful facility and should be restored as such. Once it decays to ruin, the people will regret losing it.

[@scottwillie6389]

@@user-dh6bj2me5p Georgia is not terribly rich country and there are many more practical concerns which need addressing. Hopefully as Georgia becomes more prosperous and more and more people discover what an excellent tourist destination it truly is, money will be spent to restore these buildings to their glory.

[@jackieow]

Or totally forget. I met a girl from Versailles and I said, "Oh, you're from the home of the Treaty of Versailles!" She said, "What?" because she never had heard of the Treaty of Versailles even though she had lived there for 25 years.@@user-dh6bj2me5p

[@AnanoKiskeidze]

maybe bcwehad 5 war with russia in last century?

[@hannes8835]

That was a wonderful video. The sanatorium looked amazing. Even today.

[@johnburke5384]

Yet another great video Eli, thank you and ... A Very Merry Christmas to you and your family from us here in London Xx

[@skyedog24]

I remember when you first started doing this and I will say the same thing again your documentaries are some of the most interesting out there I am glad for your secess Miss Eli❤

[@jackieow]

Natural inborn talent makes the difference. She makes it look easy to do the productions.

[@sallyrickerson9139]

Once beautiful~ It would be nice to see images/photos of this place when it was young and well taken care of.

[@Babesiabovis]

Thank you for another adventure! History must never be destroyed.

[@Jesina_moved_to_Vojvodina]

But it is usually rewritten and "corrected" by power elites and conflict winners...unfortunately. The "art of sparing information out" is an important tool for that unfortunately widely spread way of of producing news, history books etc.😮 everywhere!!

[@willythewave]

Merry Christmas you gorgeous person. :) Thank you for sharing all your entertaining videos.

[@renatofigueiredo603]

გმადლობთ საქართველოს ჩვენებისთვის, ელინა! \\Спасибо, что показали Грузию, Элина!

[@napoleonbonaparte4396]

არაფერია ქართული, გარდა საბჭოთა წარსულისა

[@AnanoKiskeidze]

​@@napoleonbonaparte4396egec saqartvelos nawili gaxda ginda tu ara

[@alexsonicz8388]

It's no wonder u have so many followers, another wonderful documentary, keep well and safe ❤

[@_83Z]

Great vid and love the historical content. Looking forward to future episodes 👏🙂

[@michaelwhitmore7160]

this was great, I really enjoyed the historical past .Wait for more to come Cheers

[@stuartofblyth]

0:00 I remember those chimes from my teen years in the 1960s. They were on the radio.

[@Amidat]

You make even abandoned places seem interesting!. Thanks.

[@jeannyjeanny6639]

What a great team you and Dominic make 😉❤️

[@markbarbeliuk8495]

Others may have mentioned it but I have never heard a Canadian accent sound so Mexican as I did with your friend.

[@alessandr1780]

I would love to visita Georgia, It looks a very interesting place. Thank you for those Amazing content, you have a very good way to show places and talk to people.

[@irmakalember9403]

Wow crazy 😂😂😂thanks for sharing Eli.

[@ChaunWolf-ty3mx]

Love all your adventures makes me happy see your smiling face ..❤😊

[@realhawaii5o]

Almost one year ago, I visited Georgia and came to Tskaltubo. It was such an interesting place.

[@alexglanz7406]

Thank you, Eli, for this honest view of your Russia. I had planned a trip to Kaliningrad, but the war with Ukraine and the American Russophobia stopped it. Stalin was loved for stopping the Nazis, but hated for some brutality in gulags and with political enemies. My parents fought in WWII, and always had respect for Russians. They both met Nikita Kruschev - he loved the American farm tractors! That sanatorium is beautiful, and the tuberculosis sanatoriums here in the States were also often in the country -- but never so elegant. Virtual travel to Russia is all I can get now, so please keep exploring!

[@dmc9487]

A fine watch. Knew Stalin was from Georgia, not Russia. Much more information in this video. The locals views added to a very interesting watch. Finished with red wine. A merry christmas to you Eli & all. Cheers!

[@joergbcat3675]

Thank you for taking me there,have a nice Christmasfest

[@asan1050]

Eli Thank you for posting and Merry Christmas.

[@ajjoshi9232]

love your presentations 😊

[@benedictegaspard5867]

My French Mum worker as a nurse and a Sister in a sanatorium. In France, Sanatorium were design for people who had tuberculosis. Later on, after the 60' soit became just a normal hospital.

[@tanwei1931]

You and Dominique seemed to hit it off quite well in this video, and you seemed to be having more fun that's good. If I visit Georgia definitely will go check out the sanatorium and get a massage there 😄👍.

[@29markeys]

Being from Québec myself, it was funny to see you were with a Quebecois! Just discovered your channel a few days ago and already binged watched so many of your episodes lol. Thanks for the content. It’s nice to discover parts of Russia we don’t really know about as foreigners and also post soviet countries such as Georgia, which looks beautiful btw!

[@marishkal1566]

So so beautiful complex! Wow, just wow. So sad it was abandoned and destroyed

[@hjelsethak]

It is very pretty! Thanks for the video!

[@Rianewjob01]

Sad that a beautiful building has fallen into such disrepair. Interesting video.

[@centralbears3010]

ELI - Please keep traveling through UK. show me the world - like Bald and Bankrupt.

[@ItsTristan1st]

Not like "Bald and Bankrupt". He is a pig

[@francescocursio4523]

Hi Eli! It is a disgrace that such a structure and service remains abandoned. It is certainly useful for those people who do not have a roof to stay under. It seems that after the fall of the USSR everything, besides the communist ideal, was deliberately left to its abandonment and degradation. This is a mistake that everyone makes when they leave a situation that had lasted too long and had become oppressive. I agree with the fact that at that time we wanted to free ourselves from an oppressive situation, for those who considered it as such, however, functional objects and structures can continue to be used because in the end they are only objects that have a valid utility like that healthcare facility. Another reason for not abandoning these functional structures is that at that time we have services to use and we don't know if after a regime the government that succeeds it can give to the people at least as much as the regime gave. In any case, Stalin had good taste in the architecture to be created because it is evident from the columns, from the large halls of the rooms, from the floors representing mosaics that Stalin wanted to recreate the beauty of classicism. It is interesting to hear the opinions of people who lived in the USSR period and see the differences between that time and now. Basically, every regime has given its people good things and bad things, then, there are points of view as to whether something appears better or worse. When I went to school, they always told us that Russian communism was something bad and despicable, but, I always wondered if it was like they said or was it just to make us believe that Russia is a place not to practice as much as the Russian people, therefore, we had to be indifferent towards them. Then I happened to meet people from Eastern Europe who lived under the communist regime and they all told me that in that period no one died of hunger because everyone worked and could bring bread home. After the fall of the regime, the first thing that disappeared was his work and consequently everything else. However, seeing videos of many Russian KZbinrs, I noticed that Russia is a very strong country economically and I don't think I see people dying of hunger. This means that however the end of one era and the beginning of another brought good or bad consequences, there was simply an adaptation. In any case, Russia remains a great country that should not be underestimated and admired. Thank you for the content of this video, I greet you and hug you. 😊

[@jackieow]

Under communism Russia was basically a caste system of Soviet bosses and cringing flunkies. Russia never had more than about 7% of the population in the Communist Party, and those who knew it best regarded fellow communists as legions of ass-kissing whores and murderers. Principled citizens begged family members to not prostitute themselves into joining. There were always a few who drank the Kool-Aid and actually believed the highly structured lies, but as time went by fewer and fewer people were fooled until it all fell apart in 1991. The legend of "enough food" and "enough employment" was often achieved simply by killing off the surplus population until there was food enough to go around and jobs enough to go around. That took no brains or talent, just killing the innocent until those left standing were smart enough and scared enough to not complain.

I lived behind iron curtain. Funny to see, how many people who did not experinced "soviet paradise of workers and farmers" suffered from its idealization. Men, were literally forced lived beding fence, who wanted to escape by crossing border was shot or jailed and persecuted. Get it?

[@TroyDowVanZandt]

Those old enough to remember the 70s no doubt remember the Canadian comedy production Second City Television which gave greats like John Candy their start in the United States. One of the running gags on the show was a spoof of Soviet television with such memorable shows as "Tibor's Tractor." I'll never forget one skit which had a Russian cop walking into a Moscow bar only to find a group of Uzbeks who had lit a small campfire in the middle of a table. These videos are available on KZbin. Perhaps Eli should do a reaction video.

[@sadiemarish]

I love your great videos!!! thank you