SUNDAY LETS TRAVEL TO: Armenia

Nephew Brian in the middle with fellow Peace Corp Members at Easter

Village where Brian served in the Peace Corp

Brian with his host family and friends before he rented his own apartment

Host mother and other relatives

My nephew Brian and his sister Christine, my brother's children, have both served in the Peace Corp.  Christine served in Nijer, Africa, while Brian was assigned Armenia.  Both are really excellent at languages.  Both can speak Spanish like a native.  Brian learned German and Russian and French.  Christine knows French, Arabic and several others.  In addition to being in the Peace Corp, Brian spent six months overseas doing an accelerated program with languages. He wanted to do International Business, while Christine has been accepted into the Foreign Service.  In August of this year, she will be assigned to Muscat, Oman. Christine's study is in Third World Health Care.  Both enjoy traveling.  This week we're going to visit Armenia through Brian's pictures and notes.  

Armenia is located in the southern Caucasus and is the smallest of the former Soviet republics. It is bounded by Georgia on the north, Azerbaijan on the east, Iran on the south, and Turkey on the west. Contemporary Armenia is a fraction of the size of ancient Armenia. A land of rugged mountains and extinct volcanoes, its highest point is Mount Aragats, 13,435 ft (4,095 m). (Not to be confused with Mount Ararat in Turkey)

First up..

  

Mount Ararat, in Turkey (Noah's ark is supposed to have been discovered on the left)

Mayor of Gugark, Brian's village, Brian and friend Sarah

A trainee holding onto St. Mesrop Mashtot's finger. (Marshot is the inventor of the

Armenian alphabet.It contained 36 letters այբուբեն (aybuben).

Village Square of Gugark, Armenia

Another shot of Gugark

Church on a hill outside Gugark

Close up shot of the Church on the hill-doesn't look used and it has graffiti on the outside!

This is a shot from the camp they stayed at when first arriving in Armenia

A morning shot from the camp

Group met at an ancient sight at Yerevan, Armenia

A road shot of the countryside 

Another road shot of the countryside

A morning shot of the countryside--Can you see the mountains in the background?

City square of Vanadzor, Armenia

River

Landscape in Southern Armenia

Eating salt with bread, an Armenian tradition

Couldn't resist taking this picture on one of their road trips.  See the cow in the car?

Brian and friends drinking coffee on a hillside in Armenia

Aren't these poppies?

Gyumri in the background

Landscape

An old bridge

More flowers, Brian giving the thumbs up sign.  I call him the

gentle giant as he's 6' 7".  Kids and aunts love him to death.  When he gives a hug, he wraps his arms around you like a bear! My head comes to just below the third button from the top of his shirt.

I included the shot of Mount Ararat, located in Turkey, but it was closed on the Armenian side. He was unable to go and see it up close.  Though, I believe there was a window of time three of his friends were able to go and climb it.  There were certain areas that he couldn't visit as he could have been arrested and jailed for  being there.

Brian's apartment, they do have snow!

A winter shot of his apartment

I hope you've enjoyed this brief visit to Armenia.