Misadventures in Armenia!

At the start of September, I visited Armenia!!! The whole ordeal was a badly planned, but well timed adventure, and my friends and I kept good attitudes through most of it. In the end, the trip was a success and I saw most of the major attractions I'd hoped to visit.

If you've seen the pictures on my FB, you'll know there was plenty to see, more than enough to taste, and too much to do. But if I were writing Armenia's marketing slogan, it'd simply say: “Armenia: beautiful art and beautiful women, sometimes at the same time.” I think the slogan has potential, no?

Seriously, though. there were endless smells and flavors and emotions to experience, but during most of my time in Armenia, there was the underlying emotion of insecurity. Kim Kardashian is not the exception, yo (although, it's debatable how Armenian she really is)! Here I am in my baggy, dusty, cargo pants, beat up Toms, and loaded backpack while these women prance around in 4 and 5 inch heels and full on glam... at freaken NOON! I'm not hating though, it only made me long for my own days as a girly-girl.

Cascade and my three partners in crime.

And then there was the art on public display. We visited a place called the Cascade, a FREE modern art gallery in Yerevan, the capital. Inside and out, this place was remarkable. Check out my pictures, my words simply won't do it justice – in fact, neither will the pictures, but what do you want from me?

This was one of my favorites. Ji Yong-Ho, 1978.

Hand made crafts at the Yerevan flee market

We also spent some time at the Yerevan flee market. This was one of my favorite things, even though I was as intimidated as a nun in a brothel. Bargaining is not my forte; I hate feeling like I'm ripping someone off, even if the one that ends up being ripped off is me. I did buy some cool souvenirs and took tons of pretty cool pictures (considering I have no skill at it – goes to show how cool the place really was).

1924, the bottle says, and I tasted it!

Also in Yerevan, we embarked on a [literally] intoxicating tour of the Noy Brandy Factory, which takes it's name from the biblical story of Noah and his ark, as Armenians believe the ark's final destination was in Armenia, where Noah descended with grapes in hand. This was also among my favorite things, mainly because we got to have a tasting of an 88 year old wine! The company no longer produces wine, only brandy, but they offer a taste of this special wine to guests. If sold, a bottle of this particular 88 year old wine would easily sell for more than $4,000USD. And if I could describe the taste to you! Like honey! My mouth waters just thinking of it. And to continue the mood, my travel bud and I bought ourselves a bottle of wine, some chocolate, and some nail polish, then ventured to the highest point in Yerevan and closed the night with toasts, music, and introspection – Rebel Youth style.

Giant barrels of fermented happiness... :)

The remnants of our night.

We spent most of our time exploring Yerevan, a remarkable little city, on par with any European city, modern and easy to navigate. However, considering how tiny Armenia really is – even smaller than Georgia – it was a shame we had so many failed attempts at exploring it further. Armenia is only about the size of Maryland, 5% of which is covered by a fresh-water lake, and it has a population of just over 3 million.

As our last day in Armenia neared, we tried to shake the feeling of frustration and defeat. We had so badly hoped to see as much of Armenia as possible, and while we met wonderful people all along our stay in Yerevan, disappointment lingered. And then, like two misfit blessings, our little Estonian Angels descended upon our hostel and suddenly, our luck changed!

Garni, site of Greco-Roman Ruins dating back to the first  century.

Jurii and Ragart arrived a day before we departed and immediately befriended me and my travel companion. It didn't take long before they graciously invited us to share their taxi the next morning to Geghard and Garni – one, an ancient monastery, and the other, the site of ancient Greco-Roman ruins, likely built in the First Century! Exactly what we'd hope to see! And so, without a second thought, we agreed. Needless to say, the experience was breathtaking and the wonderful company only enhanced the excitement! I could never have imagined the sense of self-meaninglessness that one could experience in the presence of such history and pure awesomeness. Such was the beauty of those sites we beheld, and still time has gone on, and the history of those people and their victories and their defeats have become only legends for our musing. The passing of time is mind-blowing really. And here I sit now, reminiscing on my trip, memories only made sharper by a few good pictures, and time still persists.

Inside Geghard Monastery

Sevanavank Monatery, 9th Century.

And as if these stops were not awesome enough, upon our departure from Armenia later that same day, our driver offered to stop at the third and final destination we had hoped to visit, Lake Sevan, the largest body of fresh water in Armenia and one of the largest high altitude fresh water bodies in the world, occupies 5% of the countries land. And at the top of the hill sat Sevanavank Monastery, or the Island Monastery as it is otherwise known, standing since the 9^th Century . Breathtaking.

Lake Sevan

And with that, we made our merry little exhausted way back to Georgia, happy to be home. The experience was all around, a great one, but as an Honorary Georgian (only in my own head), I couldn't help but compare the two little countries, who's people share an international relationship akin to a pair of competitive siblings. Both countries claim a lot of firsts, both have an intense pride in their history and in their people, and both extend such a level of hospitality to visitors that can only be described as “God's will.”

Also, both countries were part of the Soviet Union and gained their independence in the same era. Yet, each has their own distinctive language, with it's own distinctive alphabet – an Armenian tour guide told us that a man created an alphabet with 60-some letters, he chose the prettiest ones and so came to be the Armenian alphabet. Of the remaining ugly 36, he gave those to Georgia. The Geography is unnoticeable different, and yet even their foods are nothing alike. The entire time though, I couldn't help thinking that if the two weren't so proud, they might actually make a great single country.

But alas, I guess the fight over who was the first to produce wine will always maintain the two divided.