Ep.170 What happens when a country’s most famous symbol isn’t even within its borders? We spent two weeks in Yerevan, Armenia chasing Mount Ararat, the country’s national symbol and the mountain tied to Noah’s Ark. Along the way, we explored the city’s pink-stone streets, its food and markets, the Cascade Complex, and the moving Genocide Memorial. Our search took us outside the city to the Arch of Charents, Garni Temple, the volcanic cliffs of the Symphony of Stones, and the rock-hewn Geghard Monastery. We share why the mountain still matters so deeply, how walkable and accessible Yerevan felt, and how much we spent.
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Chapters:
00:00 – Start
01:08 – Where’s Mount Ararat?
01:53 – The Cascade Complex
04:25 – Food and Markets in Yerevan
06:33 – Walking the Vernissage Market
10:11 – Armenia’s Genocide Museum
11:05 – Mother Armenia & The City’s Stone
12:05 – The Day Trip: Arch, Garni, Geghard
16:10 – Closing Reflections
16:34 – Yerevan Costs
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32 Comments
That looks amazing
Շնորհակալություն ➕️ 🕊❤️🕊🌹🌹🌹👏👏👏
Nice video guys! Doing well too 🙂
The first monastery you show in video is not Geghard it is Khor virap
Excellent video 👏 I enjoy your work. It's interesting and thoughtful.
Thanks for another great video Judy and Kevin!
Armenia may need to be added to my list! If you’re still in the region, I would highly recommend you visit Baku, Azerbaijan. I was just there in July and absolutely LOVED it!
Happy Adventuring✈️
Just a beautiful video. One of our favorites. Hope you are proud of it.
What is the difference between the lavash and Indian naan? Texture and taste difference?
Wow, interesting video and history that you covered!
Hope you enjoying your time in Montenegro.
You're such a beautiful couple. You'd have a great time anywhere you go. I'm a musician and whisky geek, so I have much in common with Kevin. Live long and prosper. 🖖
The text on those old postcards can be photographed and then transcribed and translated by ChatGPT. I’ve done this with old family photos that had messages written on them in Croatian and it seems to work well.
I am reminded of the famous haiku by Matsuo Basho:
霧時雨
富士を見ぬ日ぞ
おもしろき
Which roughly translates to :Fog, can't see Mount Fuji, how interesting,
Rather than being disappointed, the obstructed view intrigued him. The haiku captures his acceptance and appreciation for the moment as it is, celebrating the mystery of the unseen.
So cool.
Thanks for producing this excellent summary of your journey through Armenia – I enjoyed it!
No homeless No scammers No beggars No crime. Looks like paradise to me. Its time to escape the west and retire in beautiful Yerevan. ❤ Thanks for the video
We've followed from the beginning & love your channel! Small note that is as important as details that matter in researching travel plans, accommodations, transportation costs, and hidden details that make a huge difference in the overall experience: from the original Hebrew, the ark came to rest on the, "…mountainS of Ararat." Not necessarily Mount Ararat! It could be anywhere along the entire length of that mountain range. Intentionally vague! Kind of nitpicking, but extremely significant in determining location. We're currently in Hoi An Vietnam, thankful to be out of "Hell-Fire Hot" Cambodia! Hadn't really considered Armenia but might incorporate it into a trip to Turkey, Turkiye. Can't figure out which way to refer to it. Borders are invisible lines enforced by brute force. Political boundaries can't squash attachment to a location. That's what's going on between Thailand & Cambodia right now. Ararat could one day be inside the Armenian border, again. That it can be clear,y seen would be enough for me. Regardless of the border, very few, if any of us will be climbing it or getting up the head wall in any meaningful way.
Enjoyed your video of Armenia!
Wow, what a great video! Loved learning about Armenia. It’s not a place I see much on my feed for full time travelers and it really looks like it’s worth a visit. Symphony of Stones…so cool!
Wonderful video. Makes me excited for my visit there in October. Very interesting about Mount Ararat being so close but across the border in Turkey. I didn't realize that. And sorry you were never able to see it. Also, I wasn't aware of the genocide. I LOVE stairs so I won't be using the escalator! Definitely checking out the Symphony of Stones when I visit…very cool!
So interesting! I knew Mt. Ararat was in Turkey, but I didn't know that it used to be within Armenia, nor that it was so important to the Armenian culture! Thanks so much for sharing!
Wonderful video, loved the narrative and the video quality really popped! Thank you for sharing!
So interesting and sad for the Armenian's to lose something so tied to their history due to war and arbitrary taking of historical lands. I loved the artwork and you two were troopers to take as many of those stairs as you did. Glad that you shared your experience, as I am doubtful it is a Country I will ever make it to. I know so much more now than I did before. Thank you!
Judy- have you thought about a Kindle Scribe? I have always journalled and changed to this a year ago and absolutely love it- its just like writing on paper
Hi, there! Armenia is such a very rich and beautiful culture. Mike Connors of TVs "Mannix" fame was Armenian – real name Krekor Ohanian. In fact, you can usually tell if a person is Armenian because the majority of surnames end in -nian. The most famous composer Aram Khatchaturian you "might" know from his famous "Saber Dance" and I actually know a young man who moved to Paris recently who was born there, also an extremely gifted music composer! Their alphabetic characters are unique as you probably saw. It is all their own and shared with no other land. I am so glad you visited it. Their genocide is one of the darkest chapters from any era. It's an exotic land with an ancient feel and tradition which you saw in those handicrafts at the flea market! ♥
Thank you for a great video and a walk down memory lane. I really enjoyed my visit to Yerevan and it seems you also did. Glad you got to see the weekend market – I really loved it. As for the steps … 🥵🥵🥵
Armenia sounds so cool. It’s a place you don’t hear many travelers talk about.
I’m happy to hear of the recent peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 🙏
Hi Kevin and Judy🌞 that’s crazy 2 weeks and you never saw that mountain. We can’t wait for the next video to learn about the food and coffee culture!!!! Ciao Diana
I was just at Ararat (and Noah’s Ark) across the border in Turkey 4 weeks ago
Hi Judy and Kevin! Its Gerard here – we said 'hi' at the Genocide Museum. So glad to see your Armenian video! I love the fact that you used Mt Ararat as a theme through your narrative. You're right – the mountain is depicted everywhere in Armenia. I did get to see it on my first day there – at Khor Virap monastery. Looking forward to your Montenegro video ❤
Enjoyed the video! The city looks beautiful & modern. We had a different impression in our minds but not sure where it came from. ❤
First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is 🎼🎶
➡ We're curious. 🧐Would you be disappointed to visit and have the country's national symbol remained hidden, or would it feel strangely fitting? Have you ever had a similar experience where something you were chasing on your travels remained elusive? We’d love to hear your stories. ♥—Judy & Kevin