Lake Sevan

The hotel owner had a satellite TV, so some of us watched the news in the morning about America and 911.

We left the hotel at 8.00 and drove around to a peninsular. This used to be an island, but with the lowering of the water, was now joined to the land. On the island, were two monasteries, with two churches, Sevanavank and Holy Mother of God Church. There were beautiful views over the lake. The upper church was 245 steps up. There were many seminarians about, and as we walked to the upper church, two of them came with us and manned a desk to sell cards and trinkets.

They were much more organized than the Georgians.

On the way to Yerevan, we stopped by the road with some French tourists to pick up some Obsidian. A hard black glassy Silicon Dioxide compound. Some times it has streaks of brown, and can also be totally brown

Etchmiadzin

After picking up the picnic in Yerevan, two huge blue boxes from a travel agency, we went on to Etchmiadzin. This is the capital of the Armenian church like the Vatican is for the Roman Catholics. The present cathedral was founded by St. Gregory in 309. This was the first Christian Church in the world. The Church was built over the Temple of Venus of which some still remains in the crypt. We went down and saw the old pagan Temple and were given a talk by the Armenian priest. Again they were very efficient in removing money from us tourists.

Very ornate patterns, like carpets, over the ceilings. The Treasury had many relics, including a piece from Noah’s Ark in an icon. A spear that speared Christ’s side.

We then went for a short distance and had lunch. Very good curry, finely chopped vegetables with mayo salad, couscous, aubergine rolls, meat balls.

Next Anna showed us the curch of a martyred female Saint. Several were martyred when their leader refused the pagan King. Churches were later built on their tombs.

Noravank

We now headed off in the coach towards the East heading for Sisian. On the way, we stopped at the monastery of Noravank. This monastery was approached up a narrow gorge which opened out to a view on the buildings on a hill. There was building in progress with the gatehouse being rebuilt. There were beautifully carved stone masonry and a strange two-level church with very steep outside steps with no guard rail to the top. Most people climbed on hand and knees and left crawling down the steps backwards, that is except for Steve who ran up and down the steps. We stayed here for about an hour. It was very warm. We continued our journey towards Sisian where we were to stay the night. On the way, Clare stopped a man riding a horse, and then we stopped to see the Stonehenge just outside of Sisian.

Gorat Stones or Carahunge

We stopped at the Armenian Stonehenge, Gorat Stones or Carahunge and two other local names, one of which meant whispering stones. There were lots of ragged stones standing. each numbered, presumably by archaeologists at some time. Some stones had holes, 2-3 inches across, which Anna said were used to line up with horizon and some sun event much like our own Stonehenge. There was another tourist, thought she was German, with three Armenians in a car, complaining about all the tourists.

Roads around here were a bit bad. We left the site as the sun was setting and drove the short distance to Sisian and our hotel. Glad to get off the bus, the driver never stopped talking at Anna, and Anna always had the coach window open rendering the air conditioning useless to the rest of us.

Sisian

The hotel was cleaner than the last but shared everything else. There were other guests staying here. The shower was downstairs at the end of a long corridor and was one of those you plug onto the end of the bathroom tap. After 8.00 pm the rest of the town could come and use it! We have hot water in the shower and it is running, something of a luxury.

Supper of salads, lamb, spuds, peppers, vine leaves yoghurt and orange wine tasting like Masala. Steve stayed up late with others drinking some Vodka before going to bed. The “German” tourist was staying in the same hotel as us. She was not German, but Norwegian and the captain of a ship. This was her four weeks off and she had hitched out to Armenia.

The town of Sisian has a military base nearby. There are not many shops and restaurants, and we did not go out and explore. There was a museum, but again we did not go and take a look at it.