20 reasons to marvel at Armenia
1. IT IS A COUNTRY FULL OF HISTORY
From its biblical past to the current conflicts, Armenia is a country that gives many stories. Its citizens were the first to embrace Christianity in the year 301, and this is where Noah landed the ark after the Universal Flood.
two. AN ARMENIAN STONEHENGE
The enigmatic observatory of carahunge , in the mountainous region of Sisian, collects more than two hundred prehistoric tombs. The name of the place translates as “army stones”, and date from 7500 B.C. C . The clash of the wind with the holes in the tombs produces a characteristic sound of the place.
Carahunge, the Armenian Stonehenge
3. THE OMNIPRESENCE OF ARARAT
This 5,137 meter mountain appears on all kinds of objects: t-shirts, cognac bottles, chocolate bars and graffiti are dressed in one of the most spectacular mountains in the Caucasus . Although technically not in Armenia, but in Turkey, the mount can be seen from every corner of Yerevan.
Four. IT HAS A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
Caucasian countries have something special. They balance a Soviet past with strong national roots , combining two poles that do not always meet. Armenia maintains many references to the Soviet era.
Ararat: the omnipresence of a mountain
5. YOUR AIRPORT IS STRANGELY MODERN
Zvartnots International Airport is so trendy that instead of showing your passport, some machines read your fingerprint. Those who arrive in time to catch their flight can sit in the fantastic ergonomic chairs in front of the aircraft tarmac.
6. THE TAXIS HAVE WIFI
As you may have begun to suspect, Armenia offers many contrasts, and cars are no exception. From latest model taxis that include Wi-Fi to Soviet marshrutkas (minibuses) and Ladas , there is a transport for all tastes.
7. LOVERS OF CONTEMPORARY ART
The Armenian capital is a true open-air museum . The statues of renowned international artists, such as Fernando Botero and Jaume Plensa, they fill the city center with rounded shapes and flashing colors. The unmissable museum in La Cascada collects pieces by the most representative artists of our century.
Waterfall Museum
8. THE BALLET IS SUITABLE FOR ALL POCKETS
It is something that happens in many former Soviet republics: going to the opera is extremely cheap. Yerevan It is the perfect place to see a Russian ballet for about two euros a ticket, or dare with an opera in an unknown language for three euros.
The Yerevan Opera
9. MONASTERIES LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE
Possibly Geghard is one of the most magical places in the world either . It reminds us of a Petra without tourists, but more intimate and quiet. Founded in the 4th century, it is made up of various churches partially excavated in the mountain.
Geghard remembers a Petra without tourists
10. INDIGENOUS PRODUCTS
If what we want is to know the Armenian daily life, there is nothing like walking through the Central Market of Yerevan , full of spices and all kinds of nuts. Built in the Persian style, the market façade is worth a visit on its own.
eleven. THE GREAT GASTRONOMIC LOVE: CILANTRO
If you do not tolerate coriander, we take it badly. They put it in soups, salads, meats and even in pastries. Their adoration for this aromatic herb makes even kebabs taste different.
12. BUY COFFEE AND COMPOTE ON THE STREET
Coffee beans fill the narrow streets of towns like Vanadzor. It is also common to find ladies in the middle of the road selling strawberry, apricot or blackberry jams.
Yerevan Central Market
13. TASTE THE FRESHLY BAKED BREAD
they call it lavash and it is the typical Armenian bread. In the market, a dozen women prepare it as if they were ironing a wide, thin sheet. Another typical bread is the Matnakash, which means "drawn finger" because of the peculiar shape it has.
This is how 'lavash' or traditional Armenian bread is made
14. GRANDMOTHER'S HANDICRAFTS
market antiques vernissage on the Hanrapetutyan street are worth a visit . Here you will find all kinds of jewelry, matryoshka dolls and handmade spinning tops. don't be afraid to bargain the price.
fifteen. TIE UP BETWEEN FAMOUS
Surely you know many more Armenians than you think. Cher, Kim Kardashian, Andre Agassi or Seymour Skinner (yes, the school principal on The Simpsons) have Armenian roots. In reality, the Armenian diaspora is estimated to number eight million people.
16. VISIT THE BLUE MOSQUE
Its graceful dome with Arabic motifs fills the center of Yerevan with color. It is not just a mosque: it is also a center for learning and disseminating Muslim culture. During Soviet times, this building from 1766 was converted into a planetarium.
The Blue Mosque of Yerevan
17. A TROUBLED PAST
To learn about the most recent past of the country, we can visit the Armenian Genocide Museum or Dzidzernagapert , which translates to “the fortress of little swallows” and offers good views over the Armenian capital.
18. MOVIE OUTDOORS
A trip to this Caucasian country is worth a detour to the Lake Sevan. Of an intense blue, it is located within a national park and offers various beaches for bathing. The sevanavank monastery It was founded in 874 and stands on a hill overlooking the lake.
Lake Sevan
19. THE MOST TRADITIONAL ARMENIAN
To learn about the reality of the country, we can visit some of the towns in the north. Vanadzor and Gyumri, for example, they have been reconstructed throughout history without losing the Armenian essence. Along the way, we may have to stop the car more than once to let the cows cross the road.
twenty. HOLIDAYS PASSED BY WATER
Without a doubt, one of the most unique days in the country is the Water Festival or Vartavar, in which everyone goes out to the street to throw buckets of water. Held during the month of July , commemorates a religious festival in which the elderly, children, workers and students have free rein to wet the rest.
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The interior of the Geghar monastery