In Soviet times, the town of Tskaltubo (wiki) was an all-Union health resort. There was even a direct train Moscow - Tskaltubo. People came here on a state voucher to improve their health and relax from working days. To serve thousands of vacationers and patients, many sanatoriums were built in the town.
Bathhouse No. 5, Tskaltubo, Georgia on Google.maps
The main attraction was springs with warm water (around 34°C / 93°F all year around) rich in radon. It is said this water has healing properties. Radon is radioactive but the level of radioactivity of the local waters is significantly below the lower limit of the maximum permissible level. So say those who support this method of treatment. But there are also opposing opinions:
it has not been proven that the benefits of radon baths outweigh the benefits of the placebo effect, while the risks associated with exposure to radiation on the body are quite obvious - wiki
In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, the planned economy ceased to exist, troubled times came in Georgia and other ex-Soviet countries. The era of the decline of Tskaltubo began.
Nowadays, visitors from Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia itself keep coming to the resort for healing. However, the flow is noticeably less than it was in the Soviet time. Many spa buildings have turned into ruins.
I have visited some of these abandoned sites. One of them is notable Tskaltubo Bathhouse No. 5.
Nobody told me about the place, I just spotted that charming Greekesque ruins occupied by ivy during a walk in the central park.
It had recently rained, everything looked fresh; it was not too wet so I could ramble through thickets of wild herbs.
The suddenly appeared dog was friendly but soon lost interest in being my mate.
The spectacle was hypnotic - where there is a lot of ivy, magic lies.
Most of the doorways have no doors - you can freely enter the building.
But warning signs remind visitors that walking through the crumbling building comes with risks.
When you are inside, you can't help remembering Stalker by Tarkovsky.
Drop gurgles, noise of a bird taking off, someone's silhouette at the end of the corridor (tourist, criminal, ghost?), everything echoes in the heart of a person who has wandered through the past towards their own subconscious.
A place to sit down in the puddle and speak a philosophic monologue.
Let's leave Stalker and go further along the gallery.
Showers where Soviet metallurgists and miners used to wash off the sweat and ingrained soot once in the past.
The splendor of socialist medicine. That's where the radon magic used to happen.
Nowadays, weed magic obviously is more usual for the place.
As an occasional magic mushroom consumer, I couldn't help evaluating the place from the point of psychedelics. And, I say, the place is amazing. Despite of garbage and destruction, the energy of the place is positive although challenging which is good for an explorer. And in case you feel spooky, you can always leave into the green embrace of mother nature, the kingdom of ivy, to recover mind peace.
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I took these images with a Nikkor 24mm and a Nikkor 70-300mm on a full-frame DSLR Nikon D750 on January 8, 2023 in Tskaltubo, Georgia.
Nice work !
Thank you!
Wow, awesoma place and a great post @x-rain friend!
!discovery 35
!PIZZA
Glad you liked it :) Cheers, thank you! :)
After Soviet era, everything has changed a lot. Your explanation is very clear that I can even feel like I have been there. In the dark, it kind of creepy too.
Yes, a lot. Tskaltubo has been created by planned economy - most Soviet people never chose to go to Tskaltubo, they just had free travel vouchers given by the Soviet state, and they were happy to go from their grey industrial cities to the town with lush subtropical vegetation, mineral springs, pompous architecture.
After USSR collapsed, there were almost no vouchers + economical crisis all over ex-USSR + borders got open for people to travel abroad. So Tskaltubo lost a lot. But some cities benefited, like a city Batumi, Georgia on the border with Turkey which was closed in the Soviet time. Now, Batumi is thriving.
Thank you!
wow I loved your post, the old one, if deverfsd feels like one is right in that place, the photos are incredible
Thank you! 🙂
What a fantastic set of photos you got here. I love the grunge feel of the plants starting to reclaim the place mixed with the murky darkness down the corridors.
You've described well the place I visited. 🙂 I love such places.
Thank you!
Wou que interesante lugar. Gracias por darlo a conocer
Gracias @rop1!
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Good habits to maintain
The best handshake is to look each other in the face and smile. I mean, many people in high or superior positions often ignore the look on their face and smile at the person shaking their hand.
Great post, Bro.
Handshake is a great habit. Thai wai is a decent alternative.