Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Central Asia, Part 2/3 - Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan

All righty, as the last blog was all wordy, this one will highlight pictures from the trip!! However, if you want more details on the countries, etc, refer to Central Asia, Part 1/3.

Below are pics from Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan:

Armenia:

Republic Square, Yerevan

The Cascades, Yerevan


The Cascades, Yerevan

View from The Cascades, Yerevan

The Cascades, Yerevan

The Cascades, Yerevan

The 23m high Mother Armenia with a rather unsubtle message facing the Turkish border, "don't mess with me."
At The Cascades. Yerevan

Traditional (ish) food of Armenia (lots of cheesy things and meat). Yerevan

Khachapuri, staple dish of Armenia (and good for vegetarians, lots of cheese!). Yerevan

"Manti" - Armenian style dumplings. Yerevan

Me and view of Mt. Ararat. Near Yerevan

Khor Virap Monastery

Armenia

Surp Astvatsatsin Church, built in 1339

Smaller Surp Karapet Church built in 1227. Apparently a piece of the True Cross, stained with Jesus' blood was here at one time. 

Cows in the bush camp site!  (my tent was safe)

UNESCO World Heritage Site at Haghbat. Haghartsin Monastery was built between the 10th and 13th centuries and was important as a place of learning and a manuscript center.

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Georgia:

Corrinne, Dennis, Dave and I at an Organic restaurant in Tbilisi, Georgia, enjoying some nice Georgian wine.

Borscht!!! -Tbilisi

View from the Narikala Fortress and the Peace Bridge (also known as the Always (meaning sanitary pad). 
-Tbilisi

Mother Georgia - 25 m tall, Georgian national character: in her left hand she holds a bowl of wine to greet those who come as friends, and in her right hand is a sword for those who come as enemies. 
-Tbilisi

Me and Ronald Regan. The engraving says, "Freedom is never more than a generation away from extinction."
-Tblisi

Tsminda Sameba Cathedral. -Tblisi

Wine tasting in Tbilisi

Traditional Georgian dress

Tbilisi

Traditional Georgian snack - churchxela and is walnuts wrapped in a grape fruit rolllup. -Tbilisi

Tbilisi

Georgian National Museum, the Treasury in the basement has lots of golden artifacts from the Colcis.
-Tblisi

 Mtatsminda Amusement Park

-Tblisi


Mtatsminda Amusement Park. -Tblisi

The Clock Tower looks like it's an old structure but was just recently finished, right in front of the Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater. -Tbilisi

Enjoying some brandy and tea after a loooong day of walking around Tbilisi!

Freedom Bridge in Tbilisi

hhhehe, in old town. -Tbilisi

Mega plate of Georgian meat

Fortress of Ananuri which dates from the 16th-17th centuries, a time of feudal disunity in Georgia.

Fortress of Ananuri. -Georgia

Fortress of Ananuri. -Georgia

Beautiful scenery in Georgia

Beautiful scenery in Georgia

Hehehe

Georgia

Locals selling homemade honey. -Georgia

Yes, I hiked up there, 6.4 km 


- Kazbegi, now known as Stepantsminda. It's a small town at 1750 m, 15 km from the Russian border. At the top is Tsminda Sameba Church.
-Georgia

Tsminda Sameba Church


Amazing views from Tsminda Sameba Church, Kazbegi, now known as Stepantsminda

Beautiful mountain scenery

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Azerbaijan

Khan Palace in Sheki, the summer home, which was built in 1797 but recently remodeled.


Khan Palace in Sheki, the summer home, which was built in 1797 but recently remodeled.


Mud Volcanoes
-near Baku

Mud Volcanoes
-near Baku

Mud Volcanoes
-near Baku

Mud Volcanoes
-near Baku

Mud Volcanoes
-near Baku

Baku

Baku

Caspian Sea, crossing from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan

Caspian Sea, crossing from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan

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