Arrived in Armenia after a straightforward border crossing, our quickest yet, even our truck got through before we did.
It was a long boring day in the truck as we skirted the Azerbaijan border which was to the left of the road we were travelling on, the views were great though and in the far distance we could see the mountains in the Nagorno region. Some of the villages and towns along the way had some hideous soviet factories in the middle (very typical of their time) and also unfinished buildings when the soviets left.
Staying near Dilijan, our campsite that night for 9 of us ended up being on a pig farm! It was dark setting up camp and the next morning we could see where we had stayed, at least the farmer put the pigs inside whilst we were there! The area itself is known locally as the Switzerland of Armenia due to it's Alpine views.
Friday 16th November and our next stop for the next 2 nights is in Yerevan, the capital city. Staying at 'Envoy Hostel' in a dorm and I have top bunk! (let's hope I don't fall out). A lazy afternoon, a hot shower and some washing sorted before 13 of us went out for an 'Armenian Feast'. The food was very good, the wine was okay and 7 of us ended up in a bar 'Wild West' where we drank and danced and the locals did break dancing. A good night was had and somehow I managed to climb up to my bed and crashed about 1:30 am.
The next morning after breakfast, the hostel provided a free walking tour around the main sites including 'Republic Square' which is home to government buildings and the History museum.
There is a delightful small church called St Zoravor which is hidden amongst some ugly soviet apartment buildings. This is the main church used for weddings but mostly people worship at St Sargis Cathedral.
There is only one mosque in the city 'Blue Mosque' as the rest were destroyed during soviet rule.
Went to the flea market later that afternoon, browsed the stalls and looked at the art on display. Bought another bracelet to add to my travel collection!
Walked through the square where the opera house is avoiding the young lads on skateboards.
Climbed up the cascades for views of the city and Mount Ararat as the sun began to set.
A quiet night, an early start the next morning as we head to the Northern region.
Not before long as we travel on the main route north (M6!), we come across a Sunday livestock market on the side of the road, not particularly big but a wonderful spot to trade at with snow capped mountains the backdrop.
Driving through 'Debed Canyon', the scenery here is spectacular, the river running through, forested glades, villages only marred in some parts by soviet infrastructure including the railway line along the way and the ugly copper mining town 'Alaverdi'.
The 'Haghpat Monastry' has great architecture and views of the canyon (shame about the mist) founded in 1st Century and at one point home to 500 monks .
We then set up our bush camp on a farm nearby, my turn to cook and the cottage pie was not too bad!
The next morning we head back to Georgia and Tbilisi.
It was a long boring day in the truck as we skirted the Azerbaijan border which was to the left of the road we were travelling on, the views were great though and in the far distance we could see the mountains in the Nagorno region. Some of the villages and towns along the way had some hideous soviet factories in the middle (very typical of their time) and also unfinished buildings when the soviets left.
Staying near Dilijan, our campsite that night for 9 of us ended up being on a pig farm! It was dark setting up camp and the next morning we could see where we had stayed, at least the farmer put the pigs inside whilst we were there! The area itself is known locally as the Switzerland of Armenia due to it's Alpine views.
Friday 16th November and our next stop for the next 2 nights is in Yerevan, the capital city. Staying at 'Envoy Hostel' in a dorm and I have top bunk! (let's hope I don't fall out). A lazy afternoon, a hot shower and some washing sorted before 13 of us went out for an 'Armenian Feast'. The food was very good, the wine was okay and 7 of us ended up in a bar 'Wild West' where we drank and danced and the locals did break dancing. A good night was had and somehow I managed to climb up to my bed and crashed about 1:30 am.
The next morning after breakfast, the hostel provided a free walking tour around the main sites including 'Republic Square' which is home to government buildings and the History museum.
There is a delightful small church called St Zoravor which is hidden amongst some ugly soviet apartment buildings. This is the main church used for weddings but mostly people worship at St Sargis Cathedral.
There is only one mosque in the city 'Blue Mosque' as the rest were destroyed during soviet rule.
Went to the flea market later that afternoon, browsed the stalls and looked at the art on display. Bought another bracelet to add to my travel collection!
Walked through the square where the opera house is avoiding the young lads on skateboards.
Climbed up the cascades for views of the city and Mount Ararat as the sun began to set.
A quiet night, an early start the next morning as we head to the Northern region.
Not before long as we travel on the main route north (M6!), we come across a Sunday livestock market on the side of the road, not particularly big but a wonderful spot to trade at with snow capped mountains the backdrop.
Driving through 'Debed Canyon', the scenery here is spectacular, the river running through, forested glades, villages only marred in some parts by soviet infrastructure including the railway line along the way and the ugly copper mining town 'Alaverdi'.
The 'Haghpat Monastry' has great architecture and views of the canyon (shame about the mist) founded in 1st Century and at one point home to 500 monks .
We then set up our bush camp on a farm nearby, my turn to cook and the cottage pie was not too bad!
The next morning we head back to Georgia and Tbilisi.
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