World Armenia Yerevan

Sally & Hugh's Travels Sally & Hugh's trip to Armenia

Lake Sevan Oct 29, 2010

Lake Sevan is about is about 50 miles NE of Yerevan. It is a high lake, 6300 ft above sea level and twice the size of Lake Pend Oreille in mountains like the Owyhee, not the Bitterroots, at spots that provide some protection for marauding bands as well as being picturesque, monasteries were built. Close by on one of the mountains is a ski area that at one time was used by the Russians for their Olympic ski team.

The older kids, Anna and Will, did not have school this week so the family, minus Shawn who is in Germany at some high profile meeting, visited the Sevan Lake area. Our first stop was at Sevanavank Monastery on the Sevan Peninsula. The Peninsula was once an island but the lake has lowered as water is being used for irrigation so we were able to drive to the hill on which the Churches sit. It was up only 254 steps to the first church. The churchs were built around 850 AC but have been restored. There is so much we are not telling you about these sights. There is so much we do not know about these sights. There is so much we want to know about these sights. It is so frustrating

Next we went farther north to the town of Dilijan and Haghardzin Monastery.(Dance of the Eagles). On the way to Dilihjan a strange thing happened. We went over a pass or we should say under the pass (a mile long tunnel). It was dry, the sun was shinning and the land was aired, but when we left the tunnel on the other side it was raining, overcast and forested. It was like going from the deserts of Arizona to the fall colored forest of New England in one mile. Once again the Monks of old had picked a place that inspired one to meditate and adore God. Haghardzin Monastery is one of these palaces. At this time there is a great effort to rebuild this monastery to its former glory. There were other monasteries we would have liked to have stopped at but we were getting hungry so we headed back toward Yerevan and stopped at Tsaghkadzor, the ski resort town. There are several nice restaurants there but being the time of the year it was, we were all alone in this big medieval one. The food was good and afterwards we took the lift to the top of the first slope. Sarah was surprised at such a nice ski area and we are sure she will make good use of it come December. It was fun to see each of the older children discover something new.