Yerevan Morning City Tour and Departure

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

Yerevan city night strolling

Waking up late, around 0800H, due to a very much satisfying sleep in dormitory. I took my breakfast first then immediately went out to maximize remaining hours in this city before my departure this afternoon around 1500H. My plan is to visit via do-it-yourself walking tour the Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral which is around 800m away from hostel and along the way to Erebuni fortress, around 5.6km.

Center Hostel (Yerevan City)
Owner name: Susan, very friendly and accommodating though hard to speak english
room: dormitory 7-bed
rate: 4,000 amd ($10) / night
how did I know: web search
address: around 400 meters away from Republic Square (outstanding location)
services: aircon, free wifi and breakfast
remarks: 4/5 stars

St. Gregory The Illuminator Cathedral

Yerevan City Night Strolling

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

on Khor Virap monastery overlooking Mt. Ararat

After finishing those 2 days of day tour I just spent my dinner in a special burger stand just 50 meters away of the hostel. Afterwards, I went back to the city to maximize my time feeling the city center winter ambiance and Armenian ordinary life.

The Cascade is a giant stairway in Yerevan, Armenia. It links the downtown Kentron area of Yerevan with the Monument neighborhood. Inside the Cascade, underneath the exterior steps is an escalator going the length of the complex. There are also rooms connected to some of the landings along the escalators which comprise the Cafesjian Museum of Art. The exterior of Cascade, in addition to stairs has multiple levels with fountains and sculptures. The stairs afford walkers unobstructed views of central Yerevan and Mount Ararat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yerevan_Cascade

Yerevan Cascade Park

On Khor Virap Monastery Overlooking Mt. Ararat

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

ruins of Zvartnots cathedral

I left the Zvartnots ruins around 1400H going to the 3rd part of the tour for this day with approximately an hour travel. Probably one of the most scenic and biblical place I have visited, Khor Virap monastery erected on a hill overlooking the famous Mt. Ararat.

The name "Ararat" for the peak derives from the tradition linking it with the Biblical Mountains of Ararat where Noah's Ark came to rest after the great flood (Genesis 8:4). The Bible says that Noah's ark landed on the mountains of Ararat. This does not refer to any specific mountain or peak, but rather a mountain range within the region of Ararat, which was the name of an ancient proto-Armenian kingdom also known as Urartu. Nonetheless, one particular tradition identifies the mountain as Mount Masis, the highest peak in the Armenian Highland, which is therefore called Mount Ararat.

Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat (the highest peak in Turkey, and the entire Armenian plateau with an elevation of 5,137 m/16,854 ft) and Lesser Ararat (with an elevation of 3,896 m/12,782 ft). Ararat is the national symbol of the Republic of Armenia, being featured in the center of its coat of arms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ararat

Khor Virap monastery

Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

Echmiadzin monastery hopping

After finishing the Echmiadzin monastery hoppings in this morning whereas I attended also the mass. As advise, monastery visit is recommended to visit in the morning to witness how the Armenians perform the Catholic mass. I finished this part around almost 3 hours only from including the travel from Yerevan city. This is their another UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This marvelous temple is a result of skillfulness and brave creativity of Armenian architects of the 7th century. Having been built on several columns it could survive only till the 10th century. When in the beginning of the 20th century this site was being excavated many specialists could hardly accept its reconstruction model designed by famous Armenian architect Toros Toramanyan as it was difficult to believe that such a huge and complicated construction could have been built those days, and amazingly at that time one of the bas-relieves of St. Chapelle church in Paris came to prove Toramanyan's version; the bas-relief depicts Zvartnots temple with Noah's Ark and it looks like the model represented by the architect.

http://www.hyurservice.com/eng/sights/zvartnots_eng.html

ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral

Echmiadzin Monastery Hopping

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

Garni temple - Geghard monastery afternoon tour

Touring Armenia is like Tagbilaran (Bohol) countryside trip I did last September 2011 in Philippines wherein it is better to hire a private transportation or avail a prearranged tour package due to inaccessibility, unavailability of public transportation and ease of time to navigate the tourist spots on a very limited time. I availed again the Hyur service request tour but this time I customized it by joining two tours for a whole day.

I incorporated the Echmiadzin (Hripsime, Gayane, Mother Cathedral) - Zvartnots tour with 4-5 hours duration and Khor Virap tour with 3-4 hours for only 25,000amd ($62.5). I begun at their standard time at 1000H and I estimated to finish the trip by 1700H. Of course same as before, this tour includes admission fees, private sedan car (with free mineral bottle in compartment) and a driver with no tour guide.

Not far from the Echmiadzin Cathedral against the background of white peaks of Ararat one can see the silhouette of the cupola of St. Gayane church. The church was built in the 7th century and belongs to the domed-basilica style. According to the legend this church was constructed over the tomb of Virgin Gayane, who was martyred for preaching Christianity.

http://www.hyurservice.com/eng/sights/gayane_eng.html

St. Gayane Monastery

Garni Temple - Geghard Monastery Afternoon Tour

3-days Solo tour on Winter Armenia
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

Zvartnots Airport visa-on-arrival

Upon my arrival in Republic square, since I am totally lost how to figure-out everything because of the very impromptu planning, I always look on map image in my mobile phone how to find the hostel I researched. It did not took long time to find due it was easy to navigate and ask locals. After leaving my bag and having only the tripod and camera to bring, I went outside again with no idea where to go honestly. My initial plan was to locate where was the public transportation terminal but since I couldn't see any, I immediately switch looking for any travel agency. Good thing there was one which is 300 meters away after almost 3 hours of roaming around and asking locals I crossed along the sidewalk.

This is the dormitory hostel I researched almost an hour before I went to airport for departure going to Armenia.
http://www.backpackmojo.com/hostel/armenia/yerevan/67834

This is the tour service I acquired and I'm very thankful they charge fairly and friendly.
http://www.hyurservice.com/eng/trips_request_eng.php

Around 1400H, I started my tour to Garni temple and Geghard monastery which will last as per contract of 4-5 hours that includes private sedan car, entrance fees, a driver and with no tour guide. There was 20% discount for certain tours which will begin on or after 1400H. So my tour was charge only for 14,400amd ($36) from original fee of 18,000 amd ($45).  

Garni Temple

3 Days Solo Budget Tour in Winter Armenia

the most unexpected journey in an unexpected country 
february 22-24, 2013 friday to sunday

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” — T.S Eliot

My 16th country to visit, 22nd solo backpacking trip, 4th visa on arrival application encounter outside Southeast/Northeast Asia, 3rd winter snow travel and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure.

Have you ever visited a country less traveled by a typical backpacker especially by a fellow Filipino? Have you ever thought that this country is more than meets the eye? Have you ever wonder where did Noah's Ark took its resting place after the Great Flood ?

After having a failure to receive the applied tourist visa to Jordan on time, I came up with this most very spontaneous plan, thanks to Jordan embassy's delightful service wherein I applied February 12, 2013 and yet until February 21st it was still not process. With almost 4 hours before the scheduled flight, I immediately booked and purchased the roundtrip ticket bound to Yerevan without hesitation. 

Landlocked, Armenia is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, Iran to the south and Azerbaijan to the east. Republic of Armenia is the only country remaining from 3,000 year old maps of Anatolia and became the world's first Christian country more than 1,700 years ago in 301 AD. As a former Soviet republic lying in the Caucasus region, straddling Asia and Europe, Armenia has an ancient and rich culture.
http://wikitravel.org/en/Armenia

Armenia visa-on-arrival