A first-day travel vlog in Tbilisi, Georgia by Nate and Kara Buchanan (with friend Charlie) documenting their initial impressions over a 10-day visit. Scenes include a bustling weekend market, a quirky/secret museum housed in a former underground Stalin-era propaganda printing site, a hike to a hilltop fortress at sunset, and an evening cafe — all presented in casual, conversational travel-vlog style. The vlog mixes light humor, historical curiosity, and on-the-ground travel logistics (walking, food plans, donations).
Chapters
This is crazy. This guy giving us the tour was the second member of the Communist party here in Georgia. And this is the secret house where Stalin used to print all of his propaganda. They used to print it below the house. And there was a lady who would stand at the window and watch. And when the police would show up, she would ring a bell so they could turn off the printing press so it would stop making noise. And now we're going into this shed.
Good morning from Tbilisi. Today is our first day in our 78th country of Georgia.
If you would have asked me three years ago if I ever wanted to go to Georgia, I would have thought you were talking about the state that's south of Tennessee. And here we are about to spend the next 10 days exploring this country.
We are so excited because somebody very special is joining us today.
Look who's back.
It's Charlie.
Our first stop of the day is this local weekend market. And it is so cool. There's all these really old antiques. Everything's just laying on the ground and people are sitting there selling it and it's huge.
Cute. Maybe they're this guy.
If you want to find the most unique souvenirs in all of Georgia, this is the place to come. It looks like everybody cleaned out their grandma's closet. There's swords, there's gas mask. It doesn't really sound like a grandma's closet. There's also a lot of, like, old jewelry and plates and a very random assortment of things.
All right, we are done with the market because we all got really hangry really fast, which means we're probably going to make a bad decision on lunch and just stop at the first place that looks good. We tried to have some self control and walk all the way back to the old town.
By we all, she means I'm really hungry.
I haven't eaten today.
I love myself some cornbread.
I think she should be eating. So we didn't vlog lunch because we're gonna do a proper Georgian food tour tomorrow. But I thought I would reintroduce Charlie for people who have not been following for the last two years. We met in Nepal.
These are two of our Australian friends that we've been trekking with for like the last 10 days.
Mate, I'm freezing. If you don't know anything.
And then we became best friends. And now he's met us in six.
Chad loves it.
We've lost, mate.
He disappeared.
So high likelihood that he's either been taken by Bosnian gang or he's just driven off and driven Back to bloody.
The broccoli without him.
What do you think about it Chad?
I'm pretty excited. Josh.
This one water.
Chad is there.
I'm upset about the whole thing.
And Georgie winks number seven. Thanks for coming all the way here. Now we're going to get some coffee.
Yes please.
This is the coolest looking bridge. And this is the most people that we've seen in Tbilisi at the same time. The whole time we've been here.
Where are we? So we have walked well outside of the tourist area of the city. It feels like we are in the middle of nowhere. We are in search of this quirky little museum that we've heard about. It's where Stalin used to print his propaganda papers. It's like a secret underground location that they've turned into a museum. I don't think you got through these doors. That's right.
Yeah. Okay.
Cool.
Money?
No, it's just donation.
Capitalist bourgeois.
Yeah.
Nothing.
Gotcha. Your desk.
This English don't speak.
Wow.
As this. Are you communistic?
No.
We'Re not communists, young man.
Look at his hair.
Leader Communist party Georgia.
Really? Huh.
This year 45.
Year 1945.
I'm a second 79.
You're the second number seven. Oh yes.
What flag is this?
Nito.
You everywhere Secret.
I have secret.
Secret.
I have secret under.
Yeah.
1903.
This is the secret house where Stalin used to print all of his propaganda. They used to print it below the house and there was a lady who would stand at the window on watch and when the police would show up she would ring a bell so they could turn off the printing press. So it was stop making noise. And now we're going into this.
This shed Official house is 15 meter.
15 meters.
I. I see.
Princet.
They used to hold on to a bucket and you can see little foot holes carved in the side where they used to walk down to get into the secret printing area.
History. This is not what I expected, Mr. P.
Here we go.
I can smell these pistols.
So that's why it looks like that. What?
This is crazy. We've connected like halfway down the well that was in the shed and it goes even deeper. Do we understand where this goes?
Yes, you can see the picture here.
Okay.
So there's a winch up the top where Stalin used to go down on the bucket and use his feet. And then there's water here. But he'd get off here and jump into this little passageway. Come up, climb up the ladder that you could see down in here. And then this bit is the tunnel Here.
So when this printing press existed, these stairs weren't here. The only way to get down there was through the. Well.
What a time. I feel like that man's about to put us in the back.
That was crazy. I thought it was going to be like, a real museum, but it was like a guy's picture, private collection who was still reliving the glory days of communism.
I thought he was just this innocent, sweet little man. We walked in, and then the more he talked, the more I was like, who is this person and where are we?
Basically, Stalin's number one fan. Down with the oppressors.
No one else was in there.
Yeah.
I don't think he realized that. These two American.
That was a super, super unique experience.
And we only had to give a donation of five Georgian dollars to the Communist Party.
I don't think we really realized what was happening. When we walked in, they just, like, paid a donation to go into the museum, but I'm pretty sure that went straight into the pockets of the Church of Communist pockets. Yeah.
That was weird.
So we've got about 30 minutes before the sun sets, and we're trying to make it up to this fortress that sits on top of the hill.
As if we haven't already walked 10km. Today we're hiking to the top of this hill.
My legs are burning.
I'm sure they've been maintained well.
These are a bit steep. Reminds me of Australia.
This is actually really scary. Like, that is a long drop if you go down.
Yeah.
And it's not like the. It's not like the bricks are even.
Wow.
Like you're doing it with one hand.
Really cool.
Did it.
We did it.
Wow. There are no. No safety features here at the fortress. If I go off the edge here, it's at least 50ft just straight down. We just missed the sunset. It's setting right behind that mountain right there. But at least the city is still this beautiful golden color.
That was nice.
We're gonna end the night at this cute little cafe overlooking the city. It was a great first day in Tbilisi and tomorrow focusing on the food.
What are you doing, mate?
What does that mean?
I don't speak Georgian, so I love.
Buying jewelry when traveling because it's small and it reminds me of whatever place you're in. Oh, it's dark under this.
I want my piece at all.
Scream on the cushion.
I don't think he's gonna like it.
Come on, kitty.
Oh, God.
If I think you scared me before.
Okay.
I just really like the hot dog ad behind you. Give me your best American complaining In.
Kentucky, we don't have this problem where you Dunkin Donuts. And they take 20 minutes for the order.
