Armenia
This site is intended to provide information for those who enjoy leisure travel. It is designed to help travelers by providing background information about: Armenia, places to go (sight-seeing, shopping, historical sites), accommodations, and transportation to/from and in Armenia. This site will focus mainly on the capital city of Yerevan.
Background Information:
Armenia is a country that is slightly smaller than the State of Maryland with a population of 2,991,360 people. Armenia is 28,400 sq. km of land and 1,400 sq. km of water. It is located at 40 00 N and 45 00 E. Its climate is in the Highland Continental region, it consist of hot summers and cold winters. Its natural resources are: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina. The only severe problems that they have are the occasional severe earthquakes and droughts. There are three religions practiced in the country being Armenian Apostolic (94%), Yezidi (2%), and other Christian religions (4%). The language mainly spoken is Armenian, which is spoken by 96% of the population. In Armenia, 2% of the population speak Russian and 2% of the population speak some other language. the Capital is Yerevan, which is in the central part of the country. When shopping, remember that $1USD is equivalent to 585 drams.
History:
Armenia is the first nation to formally adopt Christianity as its religion. There have been many times of autonomy, throughout the centuries Armenia came under the control of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain involved with the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas. ( Source: www.cia.gov)
Things to see:
Above is a picture of the Republic building located in the capital city of Yerevan.
Here is an example of the types of art that can be found on display on the streets of Yerevan
Here is just another photo from the Republic Square vicinity.
For those who love the Arts, this is a photo of the Opera House that is located in Yerevan.
For the adventurous at heart, take a trip up top and get a view of Mt. Ararat with a view of the city (Yerevan) included.
Shopping:
This is Tashir, it is a department store that is located inside of the new mall that was just built in Yerevan.
This is Vernissage, it is known as the best place to buy souvenirs. You can buy; paintings, carpets, embroideries, wood and stone carvings, metal work, and Armenian dolls.
Bargaining is accepted at this shop which is open only on Saturdays and Sundays when the street is blocked off.
Eating:
If you want the luxury of having the choice of eating European cuisine as well as American cuisine try Marco Polo. It is a restaurant with a popular outdoor area
that serves foods such as: french fries, pizza, snacks. It is said that the bowl of ice cream is very delicious because they use fresh strawberries.
Another place to try:
ArtBrige is a coffee house/bookstore where one can enjoy an art exhibition. They serve breakfast, sandwiches and pasta.
Nightlife:
For those who want to put the kids away and go out and have a good time, try the Astral Club located in Yerevan's Freedom Square. It is an underground disco
where the dance floor is huge and your cover charge and drinks are very reasonable in price.
Airport Casinos is a spot to try, it is one of many new casinos in the area. This area looks like a miniature Las Vegas in the night.
But if you don't have a particular fancy for nightlife and you just want a variety, just go to Republic Square it is one of the hottest spots at night.
Hotel Accommodations:
When going to Yerevan, you want to make sure that you are as comfortable as possible. So for starters, try Hotel Ararat it is a luxurious hotel located in Yerevan.
A view of Hotel Ararat's entrance. A view of the Lobby Area..
Another option is the Ani Plaza Hotel
Also in Sanahin, there is Hotel Debed
Cost of Travel to Yerevan, Armenia:
Leaving from a major city such as New York City it could cost you anywhere from $691.00-$2000+.
Leaving from Nashville, Tn: $989.00+
Leaving from Chicago: $941.00-$1100+
Leaving from San Francisco: $685.00-$1000+
Traps to look out for:
*** When shopping, look out for vendors that are selling imitation goods at the "real" price. Also be aware that all CD's and DVD's are pirated goods.
*** Also be careful of taking rides in the Marshutnis (mini-vans), they are only supposed to hold 10-14 passengers but many will try to hold much more than the expected amount.
To Find out more about Armenia, you can visit:
1. ArmeniaNow.com - Independent Journalism From Today`s Armenia
2. TourArmenia
3. VirtualTourist.com - Armenia Shopping Guide - Pictures, Tips and Reviews
4. Armenian Tourist Attractions