21.09.2021 I stayed in Artavan for 2 nights to do another day tour and experience more village life.   The tour went to a lake (Hayeli lake) and I passed a smaller unnamed lake. They shone so blue and inviting that I would have liked to jump in. But it was too boggy and there … Continue reading Vayots Dzor – language, blue lakes and patched → Read more

18.09.2021 In terms of landscape, the next day offered variety, colours and stones. There were also more metres in altitude to climb, about 6-700. But first we took the unfrequented road to the next village, Kapuyt.     In Kapuyt I met the only person – until I arrived at my destination. He was very … Continue reading Vayots Dzor – Rocks, Colours and Altitude → Read more

17.09.2021 I find the combination of coffee with biscuit unbeatable. Armenians prefer something else: coffee with toffee. They have a large selection of these here, all very tasty.     But they don’t just drink coffee; Guhar, for example, collects and dries herbs and flowers for tea.     After an abundant breakfast, discussions about … Continue reading Vayots Dzor – unease, mud and great landscape → Read more

16.09.2021 Armenia has mountains – “only” the small Caucasus, but that is definitely enough to make me want to go hiking. I did a lot of research beforehand, but was a bit overwhelmed by the abundance of possibilities. There are several organisations, all NGOs, dedicated to mountain hiking in Armenia. Hiking trails have been and … Continue reading Vayots Dzor – Mountains, Churches and Travelling Luck → Read more

  15.09.2021 – No. 2   I used my first day in Yerevan for information and travel organisation and first impressions, the second for education. However, I got a bit too stuffed with it and can’t quite get it sorted, so I’ll have to make up for it at home.   Armenia is currently far … Continue reading Yerevan – a little history → Read more

15.09.2021 As mentioned in the previous post, I have accommodation in one of the Russian blocks. I don’t know where I got the idea that there was little Soviet influence in Armenia, but I was definitely very wrong.   These Russian blocks fascinate me, probably because I find them so strange and unfamiliar. Despite the … Continue reading Yerevan – russian mass construction blocks and downtown → Read more

14.09.2021 I’m back from a wonderful trekking tour, but for now I’ll continue the blog chronologically.   In the previous post, I took the train to Yerevan. Arrival time was 7:35 a.m. on the dot, which meant it was light beforehand and I was able to gather my first impressions of Armenia. It looked green: … Continue reading Yerevan – coffee machines and drinking water sprinklers → Read more

09.09.2021 On Tuesday, I had an appointment in Tbilisi. Last time I met Nicki, a great woman who also speaks perfect German! Her two brothers live with families in Berlin and so there is a lively family exchange. I found Nicki on Facebook and so it was great to reconnect and I guess we were … Continue reading Tbilisi – third observations and departure to Armenia → Read more

08.09.2021 I arrived in Yerevan this morning, but I am far from finished with the reports from Tbilisi. So I’ll continue with my observations there:   On the second day, I had plenty of sun and a walk to the train station was on the agenda. When you walk around outside, you see old bread … Continue reading Tbilisi – more observations → Read more

06.09.202 It’s been 12.5 years since I was in Tbilisi. And super curious, I run out the very next morning and walk along streets I’ve walked along before. What has changed? At first glance, a lot. Back then, a lot of things were shabby, the streets full of potholes, the buildings in disrepair. I was … Continue reading Tbilisi – changes and observations → Read more