0 Armenia is Finest Sightseeing

What do you know about Armenia? Armenia is a small mountainous country in the South Caucasus, located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe. Armenia is known as the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD.

This beautiful piece of land has many places of interest and is definitely worth exploring.

What to explore when in Armenia? After staying a while in the capital - Yerevan - tourists usually go to nearby places - Garni, Geghard, Sevan, and Etchmiadzin. However, if you plan staying in Armenia for at least a week, I would recommend you exploring the peaceful landscapes of Armenia's northeast.

The northeast of Armenia is home to Dilijan. Locals call Dalian has forested resort their Little Switzerland. The moist and cool climate makes Dilijan a great retreat from the heat of Yerevan.

The forested Dilijan is situated in the region of Tavush and is famous not only not only for its gorgeous forests of oak and beech but also for mineral water, which is bottled and sold as a health tonic. The bottling plant is situated three kilometers outside the town, on the road that leads to Vendor, the third largest city in Armenia and the capital of the Lori Province.

Hiking and mountain biking are also very popular in Dilijan, especially at Dilijan National Park.

Designated in 1958 as a reserve, in 2002 it was turned into a national park. The park is prized by environmentalists for its unique forests of yew and pine and for its deciduous forests of beech and oak, which are typical of a Caucasus region. The forestland is also a habitat for a brown bear, wolf, deer, wild cats, and wild boar.

Lake Parz is another pride of Armenians. It is located within the Dilijan National Park, nine kilometers northeast from the town Dilijan.

The English translation of the name is Clear Lake, which is a misnomer for its both greenish-hued water and pond-like size. There is no swimming in this lake; nevertheless, the forested environs make this place a perfect stop for both Armenians and foreigners. Lake Parz - is actually a perfect spot for a simple picnic!

Detail: Armenia is Finest Sightseeing

0 Armenia Travel Vacations

Not everyone is familiar enough with Armenia to want to take a vacation there, but if you are, you should consider a few details before you go. Namely, you should be prepared when it comes to money since simply bringing tons of U.S. dollars will likely not do you much good. Find out a bit about the money situation here, such as whether you should send money to Armenia before you land, as well as where to go in this country.

The currency in Armenia is the dram, and carrying this around is usually the best way to ensure that you have enough money to truly enjoy your stay in this country. Cash is the best thing to use here for payment, so do not rely on just a credit, or debit card unless you plan to use it to withdraw money in the form of drams. You can exchange USD for drams at most major airports and hotels, especially in larger cities like Yerevan, Sevan, and Dilijan. Many retailers and banks also accept traveler's checks, so you can bring them if you feel comfortable using them on vacation.

If you do not just want to carry around cash and traveler's checks, you can use a card to keep money on until you need it. Most retailers in this country do not take credit or debit cards for payment, although you might get lucky and find some large stores or major restaurants that do. However, you can still use plastic by learning how to use a prepaid debit card to send money to Armenia before you leave your house. You can simply send funds from your bank account to the card for a fee of $5 USD. You can then use this card to remove cash in the form of drams from ATMs that you will find in major cities in Armenia.

Now that you know the best ways to carry money in this country, you should start planning the best places to visit. Yerevan is of course a city to check out, as it is the largest so there are tons of shopping and plenty of restaurants to consider. If you want to ski while on vacation, Tsaghkadzor is the place to go, while if mineral waters interest you, you should check out Jermuk. You should also think about taking the Bike Armenia Tour Route if you want a full view of this country by bike while you are there. Clearly, there is plenty to do in this country, and learning how to send money to Armenia before you arrive is one way to enjoy your stay without worrying about how to pay for it.

Detail: Armenia Travel Vacations

0 Armenian Garni & Greek Parthenon

The interesting similarities exist between history and culture of Indo-European populace. History and cultural connections between Armenian and Greek people date back to ancient ages. Armenian Garni and ancient Greek Parthenon is the proof that strikes the attention of visitor has previously experienced Greek mythic temple of Parthenon. From the first glance, it seems the architects of these temples had the same fantasy and visual musing. Both temples were dedicated to pagan gods, Parthenon to gods from Greek mythology, Armenian Garni to Hellenistic god Mithras, the god of the sun.

More attentive look reveals the differences. Its architectural shapes are Hellenistic but local traditions also expressed in the decorations and construction materials. Ganri is a lot smaller and is built of dark gray basalt, compared to marble built Parthenon. Unlike the Parthenon, the Garni temple has all its columns intact and even preserved most of its original roof. Its decorations and mosaics have been damaged by conquerors over the centuries. In spite of long tartan history, the temple had preserved its beauty and magnetism.

The temple stands on a high podium with a two-step base and is surrounded with 24 Ionic columns. A broad nine-step stairway guides up to the podium. The sides of the stairway are decorated, showing kneeling Atlantes with uplifted hands. The rectangle-based religious edifice with columns and a pediment was known on the territory of the Armenian upland back in the epoch of the Urarts. The style of architecture influenced the overall composition of Armenia's heathen temples in general, and that of Garni temple, especially the outlines of certain details and the interior decoration.

Detail: Armenian Garni & Greek Parthenon