Golden Palace Hotel - Yerevan

... read my blog, it is updated every week.



Basic Information

Full name: The Republic of Armenia

How we call our country: Hayastan

Territory: 30000 sq.km

Population: 3,5 million

Capital: Yerevan

Religion: Christian – Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenia was the first in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion, 301A.D.)
Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia eleoshka

... the pricey room, just to see what I'd missed. That almost ALWAYS works, but not this time. But sure enough, there they are on the Net, more selection than Erevan even, and I didn't even book a room in Erevan yet, since it's already last minute. Oh well, things could be worse. They already are. The gout symptoms in my foot are acting up again, for the first time in over a year. That's the last thing I need right now. One full-fledged attack ...

... all laughed a lot . Marion/Julian and Chloe are away to a fabric shop, I may be able to post some photos , as Julian has uploaded many We have been watching CNN news and the Swine Flu looks alarming, I see Auckland Airport is heavily screening!!, may have to stay in Armenia. Heaps of Love to All, and we are so impressed that some of you have mastered the Travel Pod, Marion and Liz xxxxxx

... my blathering that I thought I could buy a visa at the border, he smiled and sent me to another window. At the next window, the guard asked for Armenian money for the visa. At my fearful expression, he smiled and sent me to the exchange booth. I exchanged money, got my visa almost immediately, and then returned to the first window. There the guard stamped my passport, offered me a mandarin orange while I waited, and chatted about the Presidential elections and ...

... At the way back Sako asks for 14000AMD since he thought 7000AMD just for one way. Hmm. I put forward that I could take a 6pm train, which would be in half an hour. But unfortunately it's already 6.30pm since in Armenia it's one hour later due to daylight saving time...ooh. Then we somehow agree on 10000AMD. In Alaverdi we stop by a unremarkable church with the mine in the near background (which looks funny). And what a chance, a black car full of priests stop by and as the main ...

... that they were authentic. They really look Russian there, probably because they were part of Russia way back and got independence recently. I never got to read their history, but a lot of influence from the Soviet Republic is left. The taxi ride was amazing. it was one of the craziest taxi ride of my life! The driver was smoking and talking a lot even though i couldn't understand most of what he said. I didnt mind his cigarette because I smoked too ...

... weather had gotten colder and it had begun to rain a bit harder as we got out of the cars to fill out our visa forms and pay our taxes. Here on the Armenian side it seemed that we had never left the Georgia offices. There were the same sheds with the same small heaters warming the small rooms. We spent a few hours filling out the necessary forms to enter the country and then we had to go and pay our visa entry and car permits. This is usually the longest ...

... Foringinn þolinmæðina og stefnir hópnum í átt að rútunni, ég sig eftir á mótþróaskeiðinu en þori ekki öðru en rölta af stað og reyna að hafa augun í hnakkanum, tilbúin að snúa við ef prósesían skildi nú koma út úr fylgsnum sínum. Það gerist ekki og ég rölti eftir hópnum. Mér til mikillar mæðu er hópurinn allur komin inn í enn eina minjagripaverslunina og ég er ekki í nokkru stuði til að berjast um fersentimetraplássið við afgreiðsluborðið, svo ég stilli mér upp ...

... absolutely gorgeous!!! the stone building had such intricate carvings and it just blows my mind how beautiful and complex all these old churches are. next we traveled to the old capitol building of armenia. it was another intricate stone building 3 stories high. but unfortunately, the large earthquake that devestated armenia left this breath-taking structure in ruins. some of it has been reconstructed and a lot of the carved pillars still stand, but all the ruins are laid out ...

... only other neigbors are Georgia to the north and Iran to the south. Yerevan (population 1.1M) is a very westernized city. The city center reminds me of Backbay/South End in Boston, only that they have a lot more cafes. My visit also coincided with their Independence Day (15th year, from Soviet) celebrations: parade, fireworks etc. There are a lot of people (including many overseas Armenians who returned to the country just for this event), and the atmosphere is very cheerful.