Yerevan - Three Weeks and Counting

It has been three weeks since we arrived in Yerevan, Armenia.  During the first week, I made an appointment to secure a passport at the local immigration office.  A week later and I was pledging allegiance to the Republic and signing my name on my new passport as an Armenian Citizen.  Dual citizenship has its privileges and provides me with many more options in a politically unstable world.

New Citizen and Very Happy

 

 

Taking the Oath of Allegiance

 

And then there were now two passports

 

With paperwork out of the way, we decided to engage in a few tours around the country using a tour operator.  Renting a car is out, for now, as I do not have my international drivers license and that is definitely required in Armenia (and Georgia).  Surprisingly, Turkey did not require an international drivers license.  Tours in Armenia are super cheap and I would highly recommend them to anyone visiting for the first time.  We never spent more than $30 USD for a full 8-10 hour trip with the only add-ons being meals purchased or nominal entry fees to attractions that were not explicitly included in the price of the tour.  With all of that factored in, we have yet to exceed $50USD per day.  That's a real bargain in my book.

 We visited a number of monasteries in our first weeks here as well as Etchmiadzin, where the first Christian Church was built (and rebuilt in degrees but still standing) in 301 AD.  


Etchmiadzin, the first Christian Church of Armenia built in 301 AD

 


Donning the proper headwear before entering the church is encouraged

 


The watchtower near the entrance is primary symbolic these days

The magnificently ornate interior of Etchmiadzin is stunning

 


We happened upon a christening in one of the chapels in the complex

 


These reliefs, known as khatchkars are intricately carved into the stone

 


Another view of the interior of Etchmiadzin

 

Areni Caves (locally known as Bird Cave for all the birds that nest inside it) was especially interesting because of what was found in those caves.  The caves held remnants of early civilizations that were transforming from nomadic hunting and gathering tribes to farming and agrarian.  Inside the caves exists a treasure trove of artifacts, some of which are displayed in the National History Museum in Yerevan.  Once such amazing find is what is considered as the date of this writing to be the world;s oldest shoe.  It dates back to 5,500 years ago and, because of the dry and arid climate, has been preserved in nearly pristine condition.  Old wine jugs were found that originally held some of the world's earliest examples of winemaking.

 

These wine casks (pithos) were made of clay and buried in the earth for dimensional stability.  They were used in fermenting some of the first wines the world has known.  Here in Armenia!!!

 


Gary and I are looking into the windows of the earliest history of humanity here in Areni Caves in Armenia

 


The climb up the mountain leads to a boardwalk into the caves of human history at Areni Caves in Armenia

  

 Monasteries in mountains are always a delight to visit.  Their secluded locations are always located in the most scenic of places requiring skillful navigation and driving skills by tour operators.  We visited several  and were astounded by their and the surrounding area beauty.

 

The Stunningly remote and beautiful Noravank Monastery

 

 

Beautiful Khachkars carved into the exterior of the monastery

 


It's not often that image of God is carved onto a church or monastery but, in this case, here is God....

  


Gary is bathed in some sort of holy light in the 13th century monastery of Noravank

 


St. George fighting the dragon.  The dragon is a symbol of evil, chaos, and pagan forces while the sword in considered the instrument of divine victory




Back in Yerevan, we bounced from a one week Air BnB to another one for two weeks.  Having a space with a kitchen has proven immensely wonderful.  Although dining out in the city is generally 40-50%f less expensive than in Boston, it was still nice to be able to relax and have a nice night in without having to research and travel to restaurants.  As a bonus, we both enjoy cooking and, as I write this, Gary is in the process of making home made pasta from scratch. 

 The city was rebuilt by the Russians in the latter part of the 19th century as a planned city.  As such, it has a superb layout for walk-ability and a tremendous number of green spaces and parks.  It almost seems that there is a park within a two block walk from anywhere and those parks are filled with lots of shady trees and grassy spaces.  Fountains are in extreme abundance everywhere and children and their adults alike are encouraged to get themselves wet in designated ones about the park.  At night, the parks seem to come alive with families out strolling together and children playing amongst the constantly changing lights and fountain jets in the parks.  Music flows easily from street buskers to organized events put on by the city.  It is not unusual to be walking through a park and being surprised to find a band playing or a dance happening.  If you do happen across one, just join in.  If you don't, the locals will see you standing on the side and drag you in!  This happened to us on several occasions and its always a fun time.

 We also enjoy that the parks pay homage in sculpture, to many famous intellectuals.  Poets, writers, scholars, artists, philosophers, musicians and others are all eulogized in a seeming endless display of statues in parks about the city.  Noticeably absent, unlike in the USA, are statues depicting war or battle heroes.  It's not that they are not important, but rather, it says that the city places greater emphasis on intellectualism than it does warriors.  That, to me, says a lot about a city.










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