PEOPLE, PLACES, ANIMALS!

Oct 24

What makes Armenia so special is the hospitality of its people…

One day when we came down from a hike, the three gentlemen pictured below were enjoying local apples and immediately insisted on sharing them with us. One afternoon, after some strenuous morning hiking, we stopped in a village for a break under a tree, next to the town water fountain, when a group of young men walked by. We all smiled and waved. Five minutes later they came back handing each one of us a soda and an ice cream!

We had just crossed the Dbed River and had a steep hike up the other side when we ran into Emma. She is over 80 years old and maintains the strenuous trail we were on, climbing up and down it with ease! She insisted on sharing her watermelon and bread while we so enjoyed hearing her life stories. (photo by Kurt and translating by Shushan).

Several times we had stopped at a local home to ask for water. The residents were so welcoming and even gave us treats while we waited for our bottles to be filled. Here they gave us corn on the cob!

Universal Language!

On the last hiking day, I got an early start. The route was usually well marked. I got to a fork in the road and was looking for the trail marker when I spotted a sheep herder coming my way. I waved and pointed down one of the trails. He responded by making a symbol of a house over his head and then the sign of the cross and pointed down the same path. I realized he making the sign for a monastery which is where I was headed. We smiled at each other and moved on. Later, cows where coming up the path and a cowherder was behind them. I copied the local sign language for the monastery and he nodded and pointed down the path. We smiled and moved on.

Places

Ararat Mountain is a special mountain to the Armenians. It is believed that Noah’s Ark came to rest here, giving it a holy status. While it can be seen from Yerevan it is unfortunately, now a part of Turkey. The Genocide Museum is an important and powerful memorial honoring the over one million Armenians who were killed by the Turks in 1915. The “Gaudi like” monument is at the entrance to Goris.

Animals!

A lot is written about the sheepherding dogs. They are huge and can be very intimidating. Yet we always found that they never refused food. Shushan, our guide, always carried extra food for them and we learned to do the same. The dogs were actually grateful for the food.

One Huskie like dog followed us from the trail head to the next town. He seemed very happy go lucky.

In Yerevan, the capital, there were a lot of street dogs. I met an adorable puppy who was people shy and big dog shy as they would steal his food. I would go to the supermarket every day and know at what time he would be at his spot and bring him fresh meat from the deli and stand guard until he finished it.

It was cool to see a wild boar and see horses grazing in vast pastures. Horses and mules were also pack animals. Cows everywhere.