Lake Sevan, Dilijan Village, Goshavank, Haghartsin

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Lake Sevan, Gegharkunik Province, Armenia

Today was the first of my full day trips to Lake Sevan. I would have liked to start with the more local day trips but because they run certain tours on certain days I had to schedule it this way.

I'd slept for 5 hours and left my apartment by 830. I was to meet my bus at the Grand Hotel at 930 but I was there by 845. I decided to walk around more and go directly to the travel office a few blocks away.

I was there by 9am still with an hour to spare. A full bus was waiting on the street. When I went in the office to inquire they said they had been calling me, its 10am, the bus is ready to leave. My phone which automatically updates was showing 9am, so was showing the wrong time zone, and I almost missed the entire trip.

Heading out to Lake Sevan it was very overcast. Rain was predicted for the next couple of days to hang over my trips which were all going to be outdoors.

I didnt have any of the impressive lake shots because of the overcast clouds. The same thing happened to me at Lake Ohrid in Macedonia and Hakone Japan.

The two small churches I thought were locked but you can go inside. Also interesting were the detailed stone carving designs. As we left the rain came pouring down heavy.

Next we went to Dilijan Village. This wasnt really a village, just a few houses on the main road at the edge of the town. It probably was a village absorbed into the town. There wasnt much to do as we were probably early in the tourist season.

We then made our way to the restaurant. First they had cheese platters which we could eat with various breads. The cheeses were smoked and quite unique in flavours.

I had opted for the beef at 4600 ARM ($11). It came with rice and vegetables, wasnt particularly flavourful or spicy, and like something my mum might make so not distinctly Armenian, although it could be a typical local dish.

Next we drove to Goshavank. This looks like one church but as you walk a 360 around the site there are entrances to other buildings.

The rain was off and on so I had to hide inside when I could. Also interesting again was the very detailed stone carvings like lace embroidery.

After looking at some souvenirs we made our way to the next destination.

Haghartsin was our final stop. Again the rain had picked up again.

Again this was a complex of buildings. Interesting at the rear was a burnt trunk of a tree where some rituals took place.

Something I've also begun doing on this trip is taking videoblogs (vlogs). I've done occasional youtube videos over my trips but not actual vlogs. Having watched many to prepare for this trip I wonder why I havent all these years since I goto so many interesting places they do not.