We moved out of our condo today and made our way over to the hotel where we would meet the Intrepid Armenia and Georgia tour. Helpfully, our rooms were ready early so we could get settled and then head out for lunch. Hilda wanted borscht so she asked at a small shop where the woman pointed down the street to this place, the epitome of down-home local. And Hilda got borscht directly from the kitchen above.
Remember strawberries are everywhere including here in front of the restaurant, a guy selling strawberries out of his trunk.
I can’t remember if we walked or called yandex for a ride to our one activity of the day, a visit to the Sergey Parajanov (1924-1990) Museum. I reeeally liked it. He’s most well known as a film director but this museum was about his life and the collages he made during a time when, in Soviet times, he was forbidden from making films. You can check out this link if you want to see more of the Parajanov Museum. (gurrr The music on the site is annoying!)
This building offers an opportunity to talk about the material called tuff and pronounced toof. It’s made from volcanic ash, unlike lava made from volcanic flow, and comes in all those lovely colors. You might remember that all the buildings in Republic Square are made of these blocks.
.
Tour Day 1: “Barheev! Welcome to Armenia. This evening, there will be an important welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your group leader and fellow travellers. After the meeting, why not ask your leader where you can find some traditional Armenian food, like khoravat (Armenian barbecue) or basturma (cured beef).”
Introducing the tour group!
We are two Brits, two Aussies, one Kiwi, one Canuck, and we three. The tour company originates in Australia. The guide is Russian(!) because, she said, the tour company decided going to both Armenia and Georgia, Russian is the most common language. She is lovely, everyone is lovely actually. So many photos to follow in days to come.
After the get-together the group was going to go eat at a place we had already been to so we decided to try a new place and it was quite YUM too. We have definitely been enjoying the food. The restaurant picture is from the internet and the scraps of food is what was left when I thought to take a picture.
