Vayots Dzor – Mountains, Churches and Travelling Luck

I wanted to start in Old Martiros – there is no official accommodation there, but Hamlet and his wife Gohar, they had already accommodated the pathfinders. They picked me up in Vayk. They jumped out of a discarded army mini-van and grinned a little helplessly, as they don’t speak English. And then – oh wonder – Gohar dug out some German words! We chugged to their summer cottage, one of 5 still inhabited properties in Old Martiros. And there I got a table full of coffee treats.

 

 

 

But they surprised me with another translation aid! The mobile phone was placed on the table and another voice spoke German with me: daughter Liana, who had studied journalism in Germany, among other things. I met her later in real life: a great woman with very loving parents. Family = travelling luck

 

But then I scuffled my feet or rather jumped up to the Old Martiros Trail, a 6.5 km circular path. It led me first to the village church:

 

 

There was a lot of impressive stuff to look at, e.g. the door alone

 

 

A woman had already scurried into the church before me, or unlocked it so that I could look at it. The highlight was a reclining holy figure. The woman rubbed her palm over it and then over my back. Several times. There was something very affectionate about it = travelling luck

 

 

(Those who know me know that I’m actually quite allergic to Christian stuff, but I actually found this beautiful).

But then I hurried on – and got tangled up at first, because I hadn’t quite adjusted to the signposts yet.

 

 

But then I found the right path and enjoyed the wide view

 

 

The next highlight was Chumov Lake. Unfortunately, neither for bathing nor for putting your feet in, the shore was too muddy. But it was so pretty and unexpected in the rather dry landscape.

 

 

And then it was on to the next highlight with travelling luck. Behind this mini-entrance:

 

 

a large cave church was hidden

 

 

And then a part of a family picnicking in front of it came in and lit candles.

 

 

 

I also got 2 candles in my hand. I lit them for all the people who have stress with Corona – in any way.

 

 

We also did a group photo of them

 

 

A little anecdote on the side: on the way back to Yerevan, I met someone who knew about it – I then sent him the picture via WhatsApp on request.

 

I was also invited to their picnic. There were more people sitting at a long table, which was permanently set up for such occasions. The older ones glared at me with all their gold in their mouths and pushed me loads of food and after a disappointed sigh that I didn’t want any vodka, wine or beer, there was also Fanta.

 

 

I knew I still had a meal ahead of me and was so very happy to be able to refuse very fatty meat with potatoes. But I had to have some of the other things. We talked Armenian, Russian, German, English and manual.

 

And then I had to move on so that I would be back at Hamlet and Gohar’s in time for the real dinner. There, too, they served up a good meal. And later I went to bed with a belly full of travel happiness.