Armenia Archives ⋆ Page 3 of 3 ⋆ The Passenger

November 15, 2019February 7, 2020

Zizernakaberd

East of the city centre of Երևան, Armenia, you can find a mountain formerly covered with forest – the Zizernakaberd (swallows’ fortress). On its top, you can nowadays see two things: a giant sports and culture centre for up to 6,000 spectators and more important, the central remembrance place for the genocide against the Armenians in 1915. It is a catastrophic end of a long-lasting history of conflicts based on religion – between the Christian Armenians and the Muslim Turks.

November 15, 2019February 5, 2020

Modern art

The Museum of Modern Art in Երևան, Armenia, is a little bit hard to find and placed in a rather unusual location. It can be found at the Mesrop Mashtots Avenue near the city centre and the Blue Mosque – but it is located in the basement of a building standing in the second row and above the museum there are flats. It therefore looks a bit improvised from the outside but it is really worth a visit.

November 15, 2019February 5, 2020

National gallery

You can find the national gallery of Armenia at the Republic square of Երևան. It is within the building that also hosts the historic museum and you have to get up to the first floor to enter it. Looking through the very high staircase you can see that there seven floors full of art to discover – and an ancient elevator obviously from Soviet times. Already the building is like travelling in time. In 56 halls you can see Armenian, but also Russian and European art.

November 15, 2019April 15, 2022

YerevanCard

In some cities across the globe, you can buy tourist packages that often include public transport, entrance fees to museums and other sights and discounts at shops and restaurants. I didn’t expect to find such an offer at Երևան, Armenia, but I dramatically underestimated the tourism industry in Armenia (focussed mostly on Russian tourists). The YerevanCard is a comprehensive package giving you everything you need for a stay in the city. You can order it only and then collect it at tourist offices in the city.

November 15, 2019April 15, 2022

Dram

The Armenian word ‘dram‘ (դրամ) just means ‘money‘ – and it is the name of the local currency. A dram is divided into 100 luma, but there aren’t any luma coins circulating anymore. Currency symbol is Դ, but most often the abbreviation ‘dr.‘ seems to be used. The dram was introduced in 1993 and replaced the Russian ruble as the formerly official currency.

November 15, 2019February 5, 2020

History museum

If you want to learn more about the past of Armenia then the history museum at the Republic square of Երևան is your best choice. You can’t overlook the impressive building at this main square. On three floors you can learn about the past from the stone age until today. It is a big collection of ceramics, carpets, ancient cloth, stones, weapons and paintings.

November 15, 2019February 1, 2020

Paris Hotel

The Paris Hotel at Երևան, Armenia, is a very good four-star hotel just a few meters afar from Republic square. The rooms are quite large and I even had a balcony (which I found unusual inside an inner-city). It is a high-class hotel but not exaggerated; I felt really well there. Breakfast is served on the 12th floor where you can also get dinner and drinks in the evening hours.

November 15, 2019February 6, 2020

Zvartnots

The international airport of Երևան, Armenia (EVN), is called Zvartnots because it is located in a municipality with that name 10 kilometres west of Երևան. The location is known for a special church from the 7th century and the airport is designed after the shape of that church. It was opened in 1961 and the newest terminal was opened in 2007. It has only one runway but it looks really modern and is well-organized.