Armenia is not one of those places that assault your senses the moment you set foot across the border. Our experience in Armenia was much more subtle, yet when we talk about Armenia now we have nothing but good things to say. Here are 25 pictures to show Armenia through the five senses, as experienced by outsiders.
Smelling Armenia
The most profound of memories are often brought on by smells. Yet Yerevan has no distinct smell. There are no overwhelming fumes, nor concrete with a tinge of grass and a bouquet of cherry blossom. Neither of single-origin, ethically sourced coffee beans interrupted by a tang of suburban rail.
No.
The smell of Armenia is very nondescript. Inhale deeply however and your lungs will fill with an aroma of timelessness and a feeling of optimism and sophistication. A whiff of religion infused with tolerance, with a bouquet of fresh fruit and musk of handwoven carpet towards the end.
Once you leave the capital, Armenia smells of dry golden grass and earth. Dim church chambers are filled in clouds of incense and the smell of hot candle wax melting.
If we have to bottle Armenia the label would read:
Armenia
Designed for the true connoisseur in mind, this blend of turbulent history overcame by optimism, oak barreled cognac and fresh fruity notes will be your go to scent for a long time. Experience Armenia with sensual hints of timelessness, elegance, joie de vivre and resilience which blend effortlessly with almost anyone and is highly addictive.
Seeing Armenia
Armenia is very easy on the eye. The first thing we noticed after stepping off the train from Tbilisi was how incredibly good-looking the women are.
Yerevan is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world; first settled in the 8th century BC. When the Soviet Army invaded in 1920, Yerevan became the capital of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and as a result, underwent a major transformation.
Russian-born Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian redesigned the whole city. He used a circular layout and all of his soviet style buildings are made of the same pink stone that is abundant in the area. His design successfully incorporated national traditions with the contemporary Soviet style of the time and makes for a visually stunning masterpiece. Yerevan truly is a beautiful city.
Mount Ararat, which can be seen from anywhere in the city, is beautiful. The Cascade, Yerevan’s central masterpiece, is beautiful. The art, concrete waterfalls and the people ascending the Cascade to the top of Yerevan are beautiful. So is Mother Armenia watching over Yerevan with sword in hand. The hand-woven carpets at the Vernissage market are beautiful. Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral and the Blue mosque are beautiful. The singing fountains in Republic Square are beautiful.
The Genocide Memorial is not beautiful. It is a punch in the gut. Not beautiful at all – but is has to be seen.
Leaving Yerevan the golden grass against the blue sky is beautiful. The valleys, the mountains, Ararat are beautiful. Geghard Monastery hidden in the mountains is beautiful. The intricately carved khachkar crosses are beautiful. The simplicity of Garni Temple is beautiful.
You will find something beautiful to experience almost anywhere you go during your trip to Armenia.
Listening to Armenia
Yerevan is a city made for walking. You’ll hear the click of gorgeous women in heels as you wander through the city. Bottles of wine being uncorked, the clinking of glasses, conversations and laughter spilling out from the many wine bars.
The gurgle of fountains and waterfalls on the Cascade will make you forget about the midday heat. At night you will hear the singing fountains in Republic Square splashing and dancing while dangling your feet in the refreshing spring water. Around the corner, a group is clapping and tapping their feet to a busker with an accordion.
I feel my heart sink to the melancholic music at the Genocide Memorial. Tuning in we hear the untold story of incredible sorrow, of resilience and eventually hope. Afterwards, the silence in the taxi is deafening.
At Geghard Monastery we listen to our souls vibrate. Completely hewn from the side of a mountain, the church chamber has extraordinary acoustics. Take a deep breath and exhale with a hmmm. Soon it feels as if the whole chamber is vibrating, first in through your ears, and soon into your body where it will find your soul.
At the altar, the priest reverberates to a different frequency. He’s clouding his flock of believers in incense, who in turn murmur wishes for health, pregnancy, happiness, perhaps a new car or for forgiveness.
Tasting Armenia
How and where do we even begin? Trying to use words like appetizing, delectable, exquisite, heavenly, delightful, delish, and mouthwatering is futile. (Thank you Thesaurus).
Armenian food and drink are out of this world and is the highlight of our trip to the Caucasus. For us to travel is to eat, and Yerevan quickly became one of our favourite places because of the food. The food in Armenia is an experience in itself.
We are not sure whether it was the paper-thin lavash bread, the roasted meat skewers, the cheese, the use of fresh herbs, the amazing fresh fruit, the crisp dry white wine or the unique Armenian pizza which got us hooked. But that doesn’t matter now, does it? The point is we love the flavours of Yerevan.
Fresh fruit, especially berries, apricots, peaches, grapes and pomegranates are beautifully displayed at every corner shop. All of these are also made into kompot, wine and brandy.
Do not leave Yerevan before having a meal at the outstanding Lavash restaurant. Let me repeat that: Do not leave Yerevan before having a meal at the outstanding Lavash restaurant. It has a wonderful atmosphere, the service is friendly and the food is outstanding. Eat here – you can thank us later.
Armenia is one of the oldest wine-producing regions of the world (together with Georgia). The wine here is top-notch, perhaps because they’ve been at it since 400 BC.
Today Yerevan has an outstanding wine bar scene. We just loved the Karas Dry White Wine, the Van Ardi Areni and Takar. Do indulge. If you prefer something stronger, the Ararat Brandy Company (Armenians still refer to it as Cognac) has an informative tour with a tasting session at the end.
Read more:
What to see, do and eat in Yerevan
Feeling Armenia
You feel something in the air of Armenia. In Yerevan this air is cosmopolitan. It is elegant, it is timeless. Yerevan has a VIBE and it’s contagious. You feel HAPPY just to be there, to be a part of it.
Armenia is a safe country to visit and you’ll feel at ease wherever you’ll go. You will feel welcome and Armenians make for perfect hosts.
Because of the Armenian diaspora, there are more people of Armenian origin living outside of Armenia than in the country itself. Perhaps because of this Yerevan feels extremely cosmopolitan as many tourists in Yerevan are foreign Armenians visiting their homeland. Armenians know how to have a good time, and they want you too to have a good time.
We trust that you’ll have a great experience in Armenia. Let us know in the comments below what you think Armenia really smells like 🙂