Alaverdi, Armenia Aug 7, 2018 More than eighty percent of all travelers to Armenia choose to stay in Yerevan and take packaged tours to various parts of the country. Of the remainder, smart ones rent cars to travel around the country. The tiny percent who choose to travel independently minus transport, soon find that there … More All Roads Lead to Yerevan
Dilijan, Armenia Aug 4, 2018 “What are you writing?” he asked, not that I understood the words, but miming leaves little room for misunderstanding. “About Armenia” I answered, “and where to go next” I mimed in reply. “What about Sevan?” he asked. So started our stuttering conversation at the little café where I sat scribbling … More Skippable Sevan
Taronik, Armenia Aug 1, 2018 Astgh, the archeologist at Shengavit had fueled my interest in ancient sites dotted around present-day Armenia and I have been diligently trying to find and visit them. Baffled looks alternate with bemusement when I ask for directions to obscure sites and the poor souls at the reception of the guesthouse … More Metalsmiths of Metsamor
Tatev, Armenia Jul 30, 2018 An aerial cablecar swings over two gorges between the town of Halidzor and Tatev in south-eastern Armenia, its destination, the Tatev monastery. Down below is the zigzag ribbon of the road down one slope and up the next, across the Devil’s bridge that spans the narrow chasm. Built in the … More Tales of Tatev
Sisian, Armenia Jul 28, 2018 On a wind-swept plain near the town of Sisian in southern Armenia, stand some silent sentinels of the past. Some two hundred large megalithic stones stand scattered around the field. Some are arranged in a circle, some form northern and southern arms extending from the circumference. Yet another line of … More Mystery of the Speaking Stones
Jul 27, 2018 Goris, Armenia Probably settled during Stone age, Goris first surfaces in 8th century BC as a region conquered by Rusa I of the Urartu kingdom. Through the march of history it is has had many names under many rulers – Goristsa changed to Kores which morphed to Goris. Present-day Goris though is … More Cave Dwellings
Goris, Armenia 1385 m Jul 26, 2018 Where laundry flaps between a jumble of power lines, over a communal kitchen garden. Where hitching a ride might mean sharing space with a sheep headed to the butcher’s. Where mouthwatering fruits and vegetables from the nearby farms jostle for space at the grocer’s and sunflower seeds are … More Quaint Goris
Areni Valley, Armenia Jul 24, 2018 Heading east out of Yerevan, the yellow-gold of dry scrub vanishes, replaced by arid hills. The asphalt ribbon snakes between hills, climbs a couple of passes and winds its way into the Vayots Dzor province. The yellow-brown-beige hillocks dominate with patches of green where the rivers flow and land … More The Valleys of Vayots Dzor
Shengavit, Armenia Jul 21, 2018 While not precisely hidden, it is certainly not widely known, even by residents of the area. Such is the site of Shengavit settlement and it was purely by chance that I stumbled upon it. I had chanced upon a brochure that mentioned it but had no idea how to reach … More A Hidden Gem
Erebuni, Armenia Jul 20, 2018 To Khaldi the Lord, Argishti, son of Menua, built this house and a great fortress and called it Erebuni. So reads the cuneiform inscription on a stone found here, amid the ruins of an ancient citadel. Atop a sun-scorched hill with commanding views of the plains in every direction are … More Ye Olde Yerevan
ITCHY FEET TRAVELS 