Karen Hakobyan

We were fortunate  to be invited into the home of Karen Hakobyan and his wife.  Both are professional musicians, and he also makes the flutes, called duduk.  We sat on the patio, enjoying the music and then his wife served morning coffee and pastries.  Music, food and a lush garden - what could be better?

Walking from the busy city street in to Karen Hakobyan's garden.

Our host with his display of five families of flutes.

Karen plays the Armenian bagpipe, made from goat skin.

The piano is permanently installed the patio.

Coffee break.

A lovely duet after the coffee break.

I am convinced - Armenian duduk music and Armenian hospitality are truly noteworthy.

Can a City Be Older Than Rome?

Yes! Yerevan, Armenia is older than Rome.  As a matter of fact Mt Ararat used to be in Armenia, and that, as you may remember was the location of Noah's Ark.  Mt Ararat is now in Turkey, but on clear days we could see it in the distance.

Mt Ararat, seen from our hotel.

We actually saw a piece of Noah's Ark in the treasury at The Cathedral at Echmiadzin.  At the site of the Cathedral we admired the ruins of the 7th century Zvartnots Cathedral which was once the largest round church in the world.  Being round, however, led to collapse.

The wood behind this cross is from Noah's Ark.

I was quite fascinated by all the reliquaries which hold bits of deceased saints.

7th century Zvartnots Cathedral was the largest round church in the world.

Hripsime Church sits on the foundations of  a  4th century mausoleum of the martyred St Hripsimeh.  It was completed in the 7th century.

Since it was Sunday, we stumbled upon an actual service in Hripsimeh Church. It was a treat to see the church in service, but we were not allowed to explore.

Since we were still in recovery from yesterday's harrowing bus ride, our guide gave us the afternoon and evening off.  In the evening Taylor and I were happy walk to a local restaurant for dinner on our own.  We enjoyed seeing a park, and streets not typically frequented by tourists.

We walked through English Park, where lots of locals were enjoying the cooling temperature, away from tourists.

Driving through the main streets of Yerevan, with fashionable hotels and boutiques, we wondered where the locals live.  Here.

And here.

On our way back to the hotel, we strolled through Republic Square.  The most important square in the city. There are four buildings of circular attitude, so perhaps this should be called Republic Circle.

We had a lovely low key dinner on our own, and prepared for more sightseeing tomorrow.