Visiting Kaukasus , Armenia and Georgia April 18.-28.4

ARMENIA After an unpleasant night flight our group of 20 Finns arrived via Moscow to Yerevan in Armenia. After a few hours rest in a very good hotel, in a former palace, we had a round trip in this Armenian capital. Yerevan (former Erebuni was founded in 782 BC, already before Rome) has a population of 1,1 million one third of whole Armenia. Next morning we drove to beautiful countryside visiting UNESCO's World Heritage List's Greek Roman fortress with Garni Temple from first century A.D. and very large but primitive Geghard cave church. Then we could enjoy a local delicious lunch with a farmer and his family. In the afternoon I was strolling along Yerevan's streets before finding myself in the hotel's lobby bar. After breakfast next day we drove to Khor Virap near Turkish border and to Echmiatzin which are among the first Christian sites from early fourth century. In year 301 Armenia adopted Christianity as the first country in the world. The Cathedral and Churches there are also on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Armenia's landscape is a wonderful mixture of mountains (Mount Aragat 7090 meters high) slopes and valleys with 300 rivers.In the fifth day we continued to Sevanak monastery from 9th century and to Dilijan before our last stop in Armenia Dzoraget. On the way we also stopped at the world famous Ararat Brandy distillery to taste and buy this excellent nectar. It suppose to have been the favorite of a.o. Josef Stalin, Winston Churchill and Fidel Castro. Our Hotel Avan Dzoraget at the Debed river with small rapids, was a most charming place, historic site with a beautiful Haghpad,a UNESCO Heritage and Sanahin monasteries. Next day we arrived to Tbilisi, Georgia.