Sunday, August 25, 2013

Yerevan Morning City Tour and Departure

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

Yerevan city night strolling

Waking up late, around 0800H, due to a very much satisfying sleep in dormitory. I took my breakfast first then immediately went out to maximize remaining hours in this city before my departure this afternoon around 1500H. My plan is to visit via do-it-yourself walking tour the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral which is around 800m away from hostel and along the way to Erebuni fortress, around 5.6km.

Center Hostel (Yerevan City)
Owner name: Susan, very friendly and accommodating though hard to speak english
room: dormitory 7-bed
rate: 4,000 amd ($10) / night
how did I know: web search
address: around 400 meters away from Republic Square (outstanding location)
services: aircon, free wifi and breakfast
remarks: 4/5 stars

St. Gregory The Illuminator Cathedral

St. Gregory The Illuminator Cathedral

St. Gregory The Illuminator Cathedral

Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral is the largest Armenian church in the world and is located in the Kentron District of Yerevan. It is also considered to be one of the largest religious buildings along with Sameba Cathedral in the South Caucasus. The Cathedral is the symbol of the 1700th anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as a State Religion in Armenia and house for relics of Saint Gregory the Illuminator (Surp Grigor). The Holy Remains of St. Gregory were brought from Naples, Italy. Shortly after the consecration of the Cathedral Pope John Paul II paid a visit to the Cathedral.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Gregory_the_Illuminator_Cathedral,_Yerevan

Erebouni Fortress

Erebouni Fortress

Erebouni Fortress

Erebouni Fortress

Erebouni Fortress

The fortress of Erebuni is on Arin-Berd hill. It was built in 782 B.C. by the Urartian king Argishti the first. During the excavations started in the 20th century a cuneiform inscription was found, according to which the history of nowadays Yerevan starts from this place. On the top of the hill the ruins of the citadel and the frescoes on the wall reveal the high artistic achievements of those remote centuries. The museum down the hill displays the findings that have been excavated in the territory of the fortress.
http://www.hyurservice.com/eng/sights/erebuni_museum_eng.html

Yerevan morning city tour

Yerevan morning city tour

Yerevan morning city tour

I went back to hostel around 1200H by taking a taxi from Erebuni fortress at 2,000amd($5). Then, I just packed-up my things and in less than 15 minutes the moment of saying goodbye to my dormitory mate (Iranian and Japanese, also both solo backpacker) and the owner. Miss Susan, the owner, told me that if I want to have a cheaper transportation going to airport, I'd better go to bus 108 for only 250drams ($0.625) and the waiting shed is just 500 meters away from the hostel. As much as I want to grab this opportunity to endure the locals with their ordinary way of living on my last moments before my flight departure, I don't have much spare time. So I took a taxi with bargaining fare of only 2,000drams. In just 20 minutes, I am already in Zvartnots airport. I bought 1st a simple display souvenir worth 2,000 drams before checking-in (bargained from original price of 2,200 amd). Thank you very much Armenia, my very short unexpected journey in your beautiful land was very very successful, and endearing. I will never forget how Armenians treat me like their own local tourist.



0 comments:

Post a Comment

Please support this blog by clicking those ads. Thank you.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...