Gata is an Armenian sweet bread, often about 12-14″ in diameter and about 1.5″ thick. The inside is soft, chewy and very sweet. Gata is sold at most bakeries in Armenia, and can be purchased at small road-side stores and tourist attractions outside the cities. At Geghard Monastery the name “Geghard” is written in Armenian on the Gata. Armenia has more cathedrals than McDonald’s – matter of fact. we didn’t see any big or little Mac’sMonastery with a view at Lake SevanWalking tour of the Armenian Capital – wait, wait don’t tell me – Yerevan.Yerevan is pre-gentrified interior upgrades only requirement for occupancyHostel rooms start at $3/day
Mountain & very tall hill retreats are everywhere. Thanks to Jane Marie’s research we were lucky guests at the Palma B&B high above Alaverdi
The four hour drive to Yerevan makes stops at three famous cathedrals, Sanahin was our favorite
Garni-Geghard-Pokr Vedi
Garni has a five time restored Greek temple, next to last time Emperor Nero wrote a check in 66 AD
What I liked best about Garni was the Lavash bread hot out of a real tandoor oven.
I wanted to know if any of the Apostles had been to Geghard. No but Kim Kardashian and Kanye were here in 2015
Notice when they get back in their van the Gata bread take-outYes that’s Mt. Ararat, Kohr-Vepi in the foreground and the Russians guarding the valley border between Turkey and ArmeniaJane Marie befriending the path builder on her way to the Kohr-Vepi cathedral, where St,Gregory was imprisoned for twelve years.
Vagharshapat – Etchmiadzin
Etchmiadzin Cathedral the Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic ChurchOffering unsolicited advise on oil painting landscapes, while Jane Marie checks out the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Vagharshapat, Armenia
Trekker video of Armenian countryside that shows how green it is and the preservation of their unique culture.
Second video gets into the huff & puff parts of Armenia. On our car ride from the Georgia border in the north to Yerevan, we never saw a flat place.
This video by a Russian guy? gives an overview with lots of narrative, which is very informative.