Tbilisi to Dilijan, Armenia

Crossing another border and immediately the landscape, culture, language, alphabet and historically musical notes, plus food change.

Armenia was the first nation to officially deem itself Christian in 301 AD. Since then, poor Armenia has been invaded by Iran, Persia, Azerbaijan, Russia and more recently Turkey (who confiscated Mt Ararat). If not wars, severe and frequent earthquakes have damaged and shaped this small country.

Today we called into an “Old Believers” home for afternoon tea. This Russian sect left their homeland when they disagreed with Peter the Great's reforms of the Russian Orthodox church. They continue to live a humble life, farming and producing their own foods. They are not allowed to own TVs, but for some reason Smart phones are fine! We were served tea from the 150-year-old samovar, crepes, cheeses, potato doughnuts and home-made jams.
Dilijan is a small forested alpine town, with cold freshwater springs, where for centuries people have come to improve their health. Sanitoriums established for various illnesses, including TB. More recently military people with PTSD and other war maladies sent here for recuperative rest and ‘forest bathing’.
While we remain healthy, slept with our window open and woke up feeling well refreshed and ready for the next adventure.Read more