Bon appetite!

Anoushabour
(Christmas Pudding)

A delicate cookie is consisted of butter, confectioners’ sugar and flour and often listed in international cookbooks as “Armenian Christmas Cookies.” Anoushabour – which, as its Armenian name ( ‘anoush’ means ‘sweet’ and ‘abour’ is ‘soup’) implies - is almost as much a thick, sweet soup or porridge as it is a pudding - is traditionally served on New Year’s Eve and in the week after, leading up to January 6,th the day Armenians celebrate the Birth of Christ.

Lavash
(Armenian Bread)

There are many legends and songs about old times in Armenia. It is considered to be the place where mankind started life. From the beginning of our country’s history of "lavash’’ has been mentioned as a bread that is mainly Armenian. Armenians consider "lavash" a type of holy bread. That is why they make a cross on the dough before baking the bread. "Lavash" symbolizes the love, respect and generosity of the Armenian people.
"Lavash" goes along with us everywhere. On wedding ceremonies it is put on the shoulders of the bride and groom. "Lavash" is laid on the table with great respect and love. It is baked in a special stove called a "tonir". The length of ‘’lavash’’ must be 60-70cm and the width must be 30-40 cm. It should not be thicker than 3 mm. Today there are places in Armenia where "lavash" is baked in autumn and kept for winter. This is due to the fields of wheat that have been stamped on by enemies and burnt. A handful of saved flour has produced "lavash" - the holiness and pride of Armenian tables.

Khash
(Խաշ)

Khash remains a purist meal with great parsimony in ingredients. The main ingredient in khash is cow's feet, although other cow parts, such as the head and stomach (tripe) may also be used. The feet (known in Armenian as totikner) are depilated, cleaned, kept in cold water in order to get rid of bad smell, and boiled in water all night long, until the water has become a thick broth and the meat has separated from the bones. No salt or spices are added during the boiling process. The dish is served hot. One may add salt, garlic, lemon juice, or vinegar according to one's tastes. Dried lavash is often crumbled into the broth to add substance. Khash is generally served with a variety of other foods, such as hot green and yellow peppers, pickles, radishes, cheese, and fresh greens such as cress. The meal is almost always accompanied by vodka (preferably mulberry vodka) and mineral water.

Dolma
(տոլմա)

In Armenian cuisine, minced lamb meat with rice is wrapped into grape leaves (tpov tolma - թփով տոլմա) or occasionally in cabbage leaves (kaghambi tolma - կաղամբի տոլմա). This dish is condimented with coriander, dill, mint, pepper, cinnamon and melted butter. Sometimes chestnuts and peas are part of the mix. Sour milk is often used as a sauce. Eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, onions, quince and apples are also stuffed with lamb meat and also called dolma. Echmiadzin tolma utilizes eggplants, green peppers, tomatoes, apples, and quinces.

Harissa
(Հարիսա)

It is a traditional iconic Armenian dish similar to kashkeg, a kind of homogeneous porridge made of previously stewed and boned chicken and coarsely ground soaked wheat.The dish has been passed on since ancient times. Harissa is traditionally served on Easter day. It is still prepared by many Armenians around the world and is also considered the national dish of Armenia.

Tours in Armenia

Tour agencies

As mentioned before in Armenia you will observe more than 5,000 cultural monuments dating to the 2nd millennium BC most of which are inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Tour agencies in Armenia do not have big history but in a short time they have developed very interesting tour packages and high quality service.

We would like to share some information about tour agencies that will be happy to help you to discover ARMENIA. There are many agencies operating in Armenia but we will bring to your attention only those that have web pages and thus are easier to communicate. One of the traditional tour agencies is "Armen Tour" they are offering full package of services.

Other company that we would recommend is "Sidon-Travel". As was written on their web "Since 1985, Sidon Travel & Tourism has had the privilege to organize tours to visit the countries of Armenia, Russia & Karabagh for our clients. Our Group Tours provide an opportunity to take a professionally-organized, worry-free, entertaining and informative trip, while meeting fellow Armenians from across the U.S. Create memories and friendships to last a lifetime." Their services include Airfare, Quality Hotels, Meals, Guided Daily Excursions, Transfers, Medical Insurance.

"Elitar" Travel Company also should be considered. They also provide high quality service and except above mentioned they also provide "Seasonal Tours", "Daily short Tours" and also some special offers like watching Football Match Armenia-Spain 2009.

Very interesting section is presented on "Menua Tour" agencies web that is opinions of clients where you can see comments of customers. This will give you idea about services offered and their quality.

TATEV-T.T.T. agency, founded in 1992, is an experienced company which organizes different interesting tours to sightseeing of the RA, helps foreign businessmen to make their business-trips easy, makes appointments with potential business partners and solves any problems connected with visit and stay in RA.

Galleries and Museums to visit

National Gallery of Armenia (Yerevan)
2. Republic Square, Yerevan (+374-10) 58-08-12, 56-18-12
The floors above the National History Museum contain the National Picture Gallery. Start by taking the elevator to the top, then descend through the huge collection of Russian, Armenian, and European works. (Source: RDA)

Children's Art Gallery (Yerevan)

13 Abovian Street, Yerevan
Armenia has long been famed for its artists, sculptors and stone-carvers, and children are brought up to love art. For this reason the world’s first Children’s Picture Gallery (No. 13 on the corner of Abovian Street and Sayat Nova Street) is of interest. When the modern artist David Siqueiros visited the gallery he called it "a true festival for the children of the planet". (Source: Yerevan Guide)

Contemporary Art Museum (Yerevan)
7 Mashtots Street, Yerevan (+374-10) 53-56-61, 53-53-59
The Museum of Modern Art occupies the ground floor of No. 7. Frequent exhibitions of works by Armenian and foreign artists are held here, always attracting many lovers of painting, drawing and sculpture. (Source: Yerevan Guide)
Erebuni Fortress Museum (Yerevan)
38 Erebuni Street, Yerevan (+374-10) 57-32-02
Armenian scientists argue that one can derive the name Yerevan from Erebuni by a series of simple phonological shifts, suggesting that modern Yerevan is the lineal descendant of this 8th c. B.C. citadel. In 1998, the Mayor of Yerevan arranged a festivity marking the 2780th birthday of Yerevan. A good time was had by all. [Source: RDA]

Genocide Museum (Yerevan)
Tsitsernakaberd Park, Yerevan (+374-10) 39-09-81, 39-14-12
Tsitsernakaberd ("Swallow Castle") .It symbolizes Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. About 1.5 million armenians were murdered and deported during that time period. The Museum's testimony to the 1915 destruction of the Armenian communities of Eastern Anatolia is moving, and the monument itself is austere but powerful. The riven spire symbolizes the sundering of the Eastern and Western branches of the Armenian people. The view over the Ararat valley is striking. [Source: RDA]

National History Museum (Yerevan)
Republic Square, Yerevan (+374-10) 58-27-61, 52-14-57
The State History Museum in Republic Square (formerly Lenin Square) is notable for the statues of Catherine the Great and Lenin squirreled away in a back courtyard ready for any change in the political winds. Yerevan

Matenadaran Manuscript Museum (Yerevan)
53 Mashtots Street, Yerevan (+374-10) 58-32-92
http://www.matenadaran.am/
The Matenadaran (manuscripts library) is the other world-class museum in Yerevan, not for its exhibitions per se, but rather for its status as the eternal (one hopes) repository for Armenia's medieval written culture. A vast gray basalt mass at the top of Mashtots Blvd. (built 1945-57, architect M. Grigorian), the Matenadaran is guarded by the statue of primordial alphabet-giver S. Mashtots (ca. 400) and those of the other main figures of Armenian literature: Movses Khorenatsi (5th -- or maybe 8th -- century "father of Armenian history"); T'oros Roslin (13th c. manuscript illuminator in Hromkla/Rum Qalat near Edessa); Grigor Tatevatsi (theologian of Tatev Monastery, died 1409); Anania Shirakatsi (7th c. mathematician, studied in Trebizond, fixed the Armenian calendar); Mkhitar Gosh (died 1213, cleric and law codifier); and Frik (ca. 1230-1310, poet).

Late visit places!

Bars, Clubs and Cafes

Finally you are in hotel or your rented apartment and want to go out for some cafe, bar or club. Yerevan is full of nightlife. Most cafes and restaurants are open until 12am and after that you can always find some place that is open until morning. The nightlife in Yerevan gets more active during the wintertime, when weather is cold and sidewalk cafes are closed for the season.

Usually, the shows and entertainment in nightclubs start around 9pm and continues until 12pm. After 12pm adult shows like exotic dancing and striptease take place. Most nightclubs of Yerevan are very similar to each other. For example Omega and Charlotte have almost the same shows and similar design.

Evening entertainment include performance of some the Armenian famous singers and entertainers. One of the best clubs that host the live show is Pioneer on Baghramian Avenue. You will find an interesting atmosphere, but one of the drawbacks of Pioneer is the thick cloud of cigarette smoke, that is unbearable after few hours inside. Most of the high-end clubs have entertainment fee, which is added to your bill and varies from $10 to $30.

The fee does not include anything, so expect to pay extra for food and drinks as well. In addition to great variety of drinks, the nightclubs of Yerevan serve traditional and international meals. The Areni vines of Pioneer and Omega are exceptional and really worth trying. Omega nightclub have very good desert.

The service in most high-end nightclubs is good. If you decide to stay and watch the striptease shows then you can ask waiter to change large bills to a smaller drams or dollars. They also accept dollars if you ran out of drams in the middle of night. If you want to relax and enjoy the great late show we recommend Omega nightclub. It is located on Terian Street, right after Opera Square. The design of Omega is very interesting and impressive with the service and atmosphere that is quite different from other places.

Where to stay?

Hotels & Houses

To safe time and money it would be better to book hotel online. There are many world known hotels located in Yerevan like "Marriott", "Metropol", "Golden Tulip", etc.
Also there are available guest services, that include meeting at airport, car rental, etc. Conference halls are also available where you can organize meetings and conferences.

Prices start from 100 USD for Deluxe Single(1 person) and include breakfast, swimming pool, fitness center, in-room tea and coffee facilities plus tea/coffee in packs, complementary water,
parking, laundry, dry cleaning.

Also there are high quality luxurious hotels and rest houses available outside of Yerevan. The most popular is "Multi Rest House" that is located in Tsaghkadzor which known and was used by former USSR Olympic team as a winter camp due to its outstanding conditions for all types of winter sports.

Other choice to consider is Hotel Complex "Harsnaqar" apparently the most impressive site that mountainous lake Sevan can offer. The Resort with a territory of 17 ha is placed on the lake's bank and equipped in accordance with the highest international standards of hospitality industry and meets the most strident taste.

Unique Aqua-park, Horse Ridding Club, Tennis courts, Volleyball and Basketball fields, Fitness Club, Sauna with a in-doors pool, family cottages and convenient rooms at the Complex combined with the existing natural landscapes and truly Armenian hospitality will get you into magnificent atmosphere of leisure and comfort.

Also there are several Real Estate Agencies available where you can find appropriate houses and appartments for rent available for different prices from very cheap to very expensive luxurios villas.

Ariving to Armenia

Ways to get to Armenia

So finally You have decided to visit Armenia and view its beautiful architectural and historical heritage. Here arises another question "How to get there?". The most convenient transportation is by air. Several choices are available for Europe and former USSR republics, starting from the national carrier of the Republic of Armenia "Armavia" to Aeroflot(Russian International Airlines), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Swissair, British Airways, Austrian Airlines, etc.

For travelers from US and non European countries there are no direct flights to Armenia so You should do a little research to find out the ways of transportation. I'm not sure but I guess all above mentioned aircraft companies have their offices around the world and maybe contacting with them will solve the small problem, which I'm sure wouldn't stop you from visiting Armenia.
You will arrive to rescently reconstructed in compliance with all the latest standards Armenian International Airport "Zvartnots". it is located in about 15-20 minutes drive from Yerevan. Taxi services and buses are available there.
There are also land transportation routes available, but they are not very convenient. So I'll advice you first of all consider Airways. If You will be interested in land routes I'll be happy to share information.

Useful Information

Payments and trade in Armenia are done only using national currency Armenian Dram, but there are a lot of Banks and Currency exchanges available who will Exchange your Dollars, Euros, and most other currencies to Drams.

Available coins are: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 drams and paper of 1.000, 5.000, 10.000, 20.000 and 50.000 drams. Approximate exchange rate is 300 drams per 1 USD and about 390 drams for 1 Euro. More detailed information is available on official web page of Central Bank of Armenia http://www.cba.am/. Also there are about 23 Banks that will easily serve your Visa & Master Cards. In future posts we will discuss other aspects of staying and traveling in Armenia.

Carahunge (Armenian Stonehenge)

In the mountains of nowadays Armenia (in the south, close to town Goris), the first observatory Carahunge (Car-means stone, hunge-means voice, sound) was created. It has a history of 7.500 years and scientists believe, that there is a tight connection between the observatory in Armenia and Stonehenge in Britain, since the latter is much younger (about 4000 years) and the name itself is similar to the Armenian name and the second half of the name (hange) does not really mean anything in English.

The latest book " ARMENIANS AND OLD ARMENIA " written by Professor Paris Herouni explains the exact interworkings of this great monument and proves the date at which this observatory was built and used by an advanced civilization. This book is over 270 pages in which detailed explanations are given about how this observatory was used. The book also explains about old world Armenia and the history. This Prehistoric Monument consisting of hundreds of Standing Stones on a territorial area of approximately 7 hectares. Many of these stones have smooth angled holes of 4 to 5cm in diameter, the angles of the holes being directed at different points on the horizon and outer space. The age of Carahunge has been estimated to be 7500 years or older (VI millennium BC). This was accurately ascertained by taking readings of the motion of the Sun, Moon and stars, using four independent astronomical methods based on the laws of the changes of the Earth’s axis precession and incline.

The Armenian scientists of old, during the time of Carahunge, could accurately measure latitude; knew that the Earth was ball-shaped; that its radius was equal to 6300km; had an accurate calendar, etc. These scientists also planned and were involved in the implementation of other well known ancient Monuments, such as the Great Pyramid in Egypt (3000 years “younger” than Carahunge); Stonehenge in England (3500 years “younger”); and others. Many of these Monuments retain until now, a link with the original Armenian name, e.g. Stonehenge, which has the same connotation as Carahunge, because “stone” in Armenian is “kar” and “henge” (a word which is absent in English) is the same “hunge” (voice, sound, echo in Armenian).Another example is Callanish in Scotland (Luis island in North Gebrids), because “kal” = “car”, “nish” in Armenian is “sign” and Luis is “light”. The same principle applies to the name given to the standing Stones in Carnac in Brittany (France), in Egypt, etc.Finally, it must be very interesting to our readers that many of the world’s well known ancient Monuments were built in definite and equal latitudinal distances from Karahunge. For example, the latitude difference between Karahunge and Stonehenge is about +10°; Karahunge and the Great Pyramid is about –10°; between Carahunge,Kallanish and the oldest Egyptian observatory and Temple of the Principal God RA (AR), near present Assuan, is ±16°.Armenian scientists of old knew mathematics, geometry, written language, astronomy, philosophy, etc.

There were laws and order in existence, and Armenia was a Kingdom with dynasties. Carahunge confirms that Armenia was the first civilization on Earth, propagated knowledge and kindness everywhere and was the cradle of Indo-Europeans and Indo- European languages.

Unique Events

Grape Festival on Assumption Day

A long time ago in Armenia, a solemn ceremony took place every August in the vineyards, where the priest would walk in a procession carrying a pair of scissors in his right hand, and a cross in his left hand, and he would bless the vineyard and the grapes. After the ceremony, best wishes were exchanged among the parishioners for increased bounty. It was also customary to set aside a portion for the birds as well, for whom the grapes were hung from high perches, such as a lamppost or a stone monument.


Mid August was the beginning of harvest time, a time of rebirth and regeneration. The priest would ask God to bless the vines on which the grapes ripened, and would beseech Him to save the vineyards from evil in the form of hail, frost, high winds, and harmful insects.
This annual ritual had been repeated every year since the early settling of Armenia, much before Armenia accepted Christianity as its official religion in 301A.D. It was customary for all religions at that time to present the first fruits and nuts to the temple, so they would be blessed and then distributed by the pagan priests.

Vardavar

On the 98th Day after Easter (Sunday) in the Eastern Arthodox Church, Armenians celebrate Vardavar, which is also known as Vartavar or Vardavar. Vardavar is a special celebration where anyone (not just children) is free to soak others with water from spray guns, hoses or even buckets. It is not uncommon to see people pouring buckets of water from upper windows or balconies on unsuspecting people walking below them. The festival is extremely popular among children, as it is one day where they can get away with pulling pranks. It is also a means of refreshment on the usually hot and dry summer days of July. Although now celebrated as a Christian tradition, Vardavar's history goes back to pagan times.
The ancient festival was associated with the goddess Astghik - the goddess of water, beauty, love and fertility. As it usually falls in July, it is, of course, also associated with the first harvests of the year. The festivities associated with the observance of Astghik were named "Vardavar" because of the fact that Armenians offered roses to her ("vart" is the Armenian for rose) as part of the celebration.

Why visit Armenia?

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Armenia is one of the ancient countries in the world with more than 7000 years of history with a great historical inheritance, unique nature and culture. The first signs of population in this country are discovered on the hills of mount Artin and belong to the Paleolithic times.

Erebouni BC

In 9th century B.C. the people of the Armenian plateau unite into a single state ruled by the king of Urartu super-state. The first mentioning of a country named "Armenia" is found among the countries captured by Persian king Darius 522-486 B.C..

Erebouni BC

One of the glorious kings in Armenian History was Tigranes the Great (Tigran II) under whom the country became, for a short time, the strongest state east of the Roman Republic.Tigranes was born around 140 BC and was the son or nephew of either Artavazdes I or Tigranes I.Tigranes the Great represented the Artaxiad Royal House. He was married to Cleopatra, daughter of Mithridates VI of Pontus. He was involved in many battles during his reign. He fought battles against the Persians, Seleucid empires, and Roman Republic.

Coin of Tigran The Great 1st century BC

Creation of the Armenian alphabet in the 5th century by an Echmiadzin monk Mesrop Mashtots became a great contribution for whole nation. It is also worth mentioning that Georgian alphabet was also invented by Mesrop Mashtots.

Armenian Alphabet

Armenia homes remarkable monuments of nature, which belong to a history of human civilization covered by myths and legends: Biblical Mount Ararat, Mount Aragats, the pearl of mounts-Lake Sevan.

Many outstanding historical events have taken place on this ancient land and probably the most important has been the adoption of Christianity in 301 A.D., thus making Armenia first nation officially proclaiming Christianity as a state religion.

St.Etchmiadzin 301-303 AD

You can view the beauty of the landscape and nature of Alpine meadows and mountain ranges. Armenia is considered to be a museum under the open sky with more than 4 thousand works of architecture on its small area. It is enough to mention that acording to Bible first tourist to visit Armenia was Noah, whos Ark landed on the top of Mountain Ararat.

Mountain Ararat

Armenia has always been an important centre of trade between east and west and this has helped mould the culture and civilisation of the country. As the meeting place between the two worlds, Armenia has witnessed many battles, war campaigns and invasions of Persians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Mongols and Turks. "Despite the fact that Armenia is situated on one of the most important trade routes between Asia and Europe, the country has experienced more misery and suffering than benefit from its strategic situation.

Armenia on the trade routes between Asia and Europe

When the west, in the form of Alexander The Great , the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the crusades, advanced eastward, or when the Persians, the Arabs and the Turks marched toward Europe, the path went through Armenia." Armenia became a pendulum between east and west in the never ending conflicts, caught in the crosscurrent of different cultures. On the whole, independent periods in Armenia have been marked by a western alliance.

Amberd Fortress 11th century

The topography of the country, as well as its geographical situation, has been a decisive factor in its history. Mountainous regions are more often than not home to warrior races determined to defend their freedom, as seen in countries such as Switzerland, Montenegro and the Caucasus. If it were not for their mountains the Armenians could not have survived as a nation and would have met with the destiny of many vanished cultures, who have disappeared from the pages of history or lost their identity as a nation, as did the Assyrians.