Thursday, August 2, 2012

Catching up~ July 28,29,30


log 28, 29, 30 July 2012



Today is a catch-up day for the blog.

The 28th was a work day. Starting with the 1½ hour drive to the build site. We continue plastering. We have completed two coats on most of the house and have completed all 3 coats on some rooms. We had to leave this afternoon with only a small portion on a couple of upper walls without the first coat completed – most of us wanted to stay, but we had a special dinner to ?Attend.

Malik, our driver, construction supervisor and jack of all trades extraordinaire, had invited us for dinner at the home of his father in a nearby local village

First we visited the village church then we went to Malik’s family home. His 74 year old father greeted us warmly. Malik’s sister and son had been cooking for two days. The table was set out under the fruit trees in the back yard. A vegetable garden, wild flowers, a hammock and a cooling summer breeze added to the delicious dinner. After dinner, Gary and Malik played Tavloo (backgammon) while the rest wandered around and visited. A special evening for all of us.

The 29th is our first day of touring. We started at the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum. The first time we went through it 4 years ago you had the feeling of disbelief and shock at what you saw. This time it was a feeling that it really had happened and why won’t it be recognized as genocide the world in general. The accounts of the events by those from other countries that witnessed it are there.

St Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, a recently built church and the largest in the country is our next stop. A beautiful cathedral, overlooking an old children playground and one of the poorer neighborhoods of Yerevan

Lunch at ArtHaus, a bookstore and café combination. BLT’s on brown and white bread, hamburgers that were a mout5hfull, tea and desserts for many – a nice lunch.

KhorVirap is a Monastery built on the site where St Gregory the Illuminator was imprisoned underground for 13 years because of his Christian beliefs. You can climb down a ladder to the very small room where is was imprisoned. There is a beautiful view of Mt Ararat from here, just a few kilometers across the Turkish border.

Wine tasting in Areni - was our next adventure. We had a tour of the winery and tasted 10 different wines. We witnessed a woman putting the labels on the bottles. She earns 10 drams/bottle to put on the laqbels – equal to about 2 cents American. We bought wine here - mostly to take back home. The wine to drink while we are here came from the roadside venders and was bottled in a used 1 liter Coke bottle – for about $5


Noravank Monastery dating to the 9-10th century. Built on the side of a mountainous region. It is incredible to even imagine how they got the building materials here. The most unique feature is a narrow, steep pair of outside staircases leading to the upper floor.

The night was a Bed and Breakfast in Yeghegnadzor, a beautiful family home where we were greeted warmly by Armani and her mother, Gohar. The garden was exquisite and where they grow everything they need. W­­­e enjoyed their home and hoff due to an afternoon storm. The storm did not put a damper on our group despite no ospitality, the Dolma wass very good. The meal was cooked and served despite no electricity which was

30 July12

Rain bodes and the likelihood for a hike in the mountains does not look promising – so off we go in our trusty van for a day of excursion.

Tatav Monastery and University - the most beautiful and stunning monastery yet. Build in 406. Beautiful sights from all the many buildings. The rain started, boy did it rain, and rain. Our lunch was in a Pepsi tent – while it continued to pour. Our biggest fear was going down the winding, dirt mountain road, but trusty Malik got us down safely – as the rain continued.

We proceeded to the Caves an ancient site where the Armenians had lived and hid during war times centuries ago. We were unable to cross the suspension bridge to explore the caves because of the weather but the view across the canyon was breathtaking.

Rain, rain, rain continued. We returned home – a long 3 hour drive thru the mountainous roads and arrived safely to LIGHT and electricity in our B&B – for about 10 minutes – then lights out. Again a beaufitul evening.

For many of us the best part of the trip has been the beauty of the countryside, the candlelit dinners, and being able to enjoy all of the sounds of the countryside and the delight of an electronic, electric life.


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