Left Dilijan in the rain and arrived in the rain in Yerevan. Next day was glorious sunshine and we spent it finding our bearings, and spent a lot of time in the History Museum of Armenia. Amazing prehistoric culture here, we discovered, including the oldest (7000 years) leather shoe.
Then a challenge to get to one monastery above the Kasagh Gorge (Saghmosavan), walk 7km to a second (Hovhannavank) and then get back. Had to hitch-hike a couple of sections but people were very helpful. Because it was Saturday there were weddings at the churches so a few interesting photos for Judy - who doesn't like a wedding? Even saw Mount Ararat in the distance.
Sunday was spent at the Cascades - a huge art exhibition space going up the hill, the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts. Later the museum of a wacky film maker and collage artist.
Monday to Geghard, our last monastery, which is mostly carved out of the cliff rather than built on it, maybe the best yet! They are all so different. Decided to miss the much-restored Parthenon-style temple at Garni, enough is enough!!
Tomorrow start the journey back - overnight train from Yerevan to Tbilisi, fly to Istanbul and spend the night in a hotel then fly to Toulouse. Home Thursday night.
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