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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Oct 12, 2019 08:00 PM Gdansk to Warsaw to Piraeus
My neighbour was so kind to drive me at 4.30 to Gdansk Airport. Thank you! This was an exceptional situation because on Sunday morning buses statr to work later. Flight to Warsaw was smooth. Then I had a time to have my breakfast. Second flight aboard Aegean Air was also nice - they served hot meal and Greek wine. After 2,5 hours in the air wd landed in Athens. I was well prepared - the bus X96 goes from here directly to Piraeus. I found the bus. The ride costs 6 euro, but the driver sent me to the kiosk to buy the ticket. I returnrd 3 min later just to see how he is closing the door and departing. Not so nice!
Next bus took me around the bay - it was like 1,5 hour to the port. Do you remember the lovely songs from "Children of the Piraeus" movie? Piraeus looks better them 3 years ago when I was here last time...
I saw my ship from the distance and it was a nice 30 min walk along the waterfront to reach the terminal. Formalities were short and soon I was in my cabin. The sun was shining from the west enriching the great panorama of the Piraeus port with ferries, churches and palm trees. We are departing at 8 pm. A toast of red wine on the deck. Your health dear friends!
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Oct 11, 2019 08:00 PM I am flying to the warmth... :)
I am flying away again to the warmer countries! In Gdansk only 10 degrees Celsius, and in Athens 26! The key to this trip is a cheap ticket for "second hand" ship sailing from Athens through the Mediterranean islands to Malaga. From there, I will take a ferry to the Spanish enclave on the African coast - to Melilla. Then I'm going by bus through Northern Morocco up to Tangier. These will be new to me and I hope - interesting places. New meetings, new people...
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Oct 06, 2019 08:00 PM Back to the cold Poland...
It is hard to wake up at 3.30 am... But the flight will not wait for me... My host was so nice to deliver me to the airport. Zvartonots Airport is very elegant, but I was surprised to see the like of some 200 passengers waiting for the passport control... Fortunately I had enough time to wait.
We started in the dark. The only free service on Ukraine International flight to Kiev (almost 3 hours in the air) was a glass of water. I was squeezed on my seat - even low-cost airlines offer more standard spece for the legs!
In Kiev next surprise - we landed at Terminal D and low cost and charter airlines flights depart from terminal F - you have to pass the immigrations, took the shuttle bus (it goes every 30 min) and move to "F" - allow enough time planning your connection in Kiev Borispil... After enjoying yesterday 28 deg in Yerevan I suffered from only 2 deg. Celsius today in Kiev.
But Ryanair flight to Gdansk was on time and I am happy to be at home! :) Another interesting voyage is completed.
Now it is time to make the loundry, To rest a bit and... to pack the backpack again! :) soon, soon...
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Oct 05, 2019 08:00 PM Etchmiandzin and Zvartonots in one day
It is not far from Yerevan. Bus 202 goes there charging 300 AMD for each ride. Etchmiandzin is the religious capital of Armenia - katolikos - the head if Armenian church has residence there. I have been in Etchmiandzin before - 13 years ago, but it is nice to refresh memories. I found now new, monumental gate to the compex. But the main cathedral church is being now restored. On the outskirts of the town I found lovely, classic St Hripsime church with interesting cript.
It was only 4 kms walk to come to the ruins of the cathedral church in Zvartonots. This is the only place to pay the entry fee - 1300 AMD.
Round Zvartonots cathedral was built in 7th century. 300 yers later the earthquake destoyed it. Till now it is the ruin, but with restored columns. Ornaments are really amazing. On the clear day you can see the snows of Mt Ararat in the background. Sorry, not today - it is smoggy and hazy...
I returned to my lovely Kesabella House in the late afternoon. I had another sunny, interesting day. 28 deg Celsius. Hard to read that in Poland is only 7 deg :)
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Oct 04, 2019 08:00 PM 5 kilometers up to Geghard Monastery
Of course, you can take a taxi... But I am the budget traveller. So first I took no 5 City bus (100 AMD) to GAI street Yerevan (asking the people where is the Goght marshrutka stop. Then a bumpy 40 min ride on the old soviet bus cost me 250. And then I was walking uphill to Geghard monastery 5 kms. Tiring in the 28 deg Celsius? Not at all! I was rewarded by great panoramic views of the mountains, I was meeting the local people selling fruits and walnuts in the roadside stalls and has an interesting spectacle - how do they make lavash.
Geghard is located at the end of the nice valley. A lot of cars here because on Saturdays there are many wedding ceremonies going one by one. I loved it! This monastery is very different they cut is partly in thd rock around the holy source of water (still active there - believers wash their faces...) 4th century, placed on the UNESCO World Heritage list... Many precious khachkars... Tombs of the saints.... Unforgettable!
And this wonderful colors of the early autumn on the slopes... People are lovely here - old ladies gave me big walnust when I was waiting for the return marshrutka...
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Oct 03, 2019 08:00 PM No better deal in Yerevan!
Around the Republic Square you will find cars with posters offering day tours around Armenia. Taxi drivers offer privare half day tour for 20000 dram. But the best deal is to join Arbat Tours group. Among others they will take you in gheir comfy minibus for whole day (7am till 9pm) to Khor Virap, Areni winery, Noravank Monastery, Tatev Monastery and waterfall. Yes, I visited Tatev 2 days ago, but the rest of the route and low price (7000 dram) was so attractive, that I decided to sign anyway.
Khor Virap at the begining was lovely place - imagine Monastery on the little hill with snowy Mt Ararat in the background! I loved also Noravank Monastery approached by the narrow canyon. Churches of Noravank has very spectacular location on the pink/orange slope. When ee arrived at 3 pm to Tatev it was foggy and no sun there. Lucky me! Two days ago I had great weather on the same place! :)
The Shaki Waterfall was not so impressive (around 20m high only and not so mych water in).... We returned to Yerevan at 23.30. Tiring day but so much to see!
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Oct 02, 2019 08:00 PM Marshrutka to Yerevan
My ticket for marshrutka (minibus) from Goris to Yerevan cost me 2500 dram . We departed at 9 am sharp. On the way there were two passes to climb - 2450 m and 1800 m . Imagine beautiful views of the mountains... Sometimes the road was blocked by the roadworks or.. the herds of sheep and cattle.
Nobody told me that the minibus will go not to the central bus station but to the soviet-style railway station. Wow! I disembarked at 1.30 pm. It was nesessary to walk through the long underground passage ant to take another city marshrutka no. 23 to get to CBS, where I stay in the hostel...
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Oct 01, 2019 08:00 PM Tatev - the nicest monastery in Armenia?
This monastery is located only some 40 kms from Goris but the access of season is not easy. They told me that there is once a day marshrutka going there but when I arrived at 8.30 am to the stop nobody appeared. Maybe in the season... You have to bargain if you want to use taxi. Finally the driver of the old lada soviet car took me to Halidzor for 3000.
Why to Halidzor - some 10 oms before Tatev? Because there is a chance to "fly" to the monastery by world's longest cable car. The lenght of the non- stop journey is 5752 m! They open at 10.00 am, I bought the OW ticket for 5500 drams (RT costs 7000) and I started 12 minutes journey. Great views! In the highest point you are more then 300 m above the canyon. Goldenhead eagles are flying around....
The upper station is just 100 m from the monastery. Tatev , founded in 4th century is a big place with 3 churches, Bishop's quarters, oil mill. I had a chance to see blessing ceremonies in the big church, where a great music goes all the time.
It is worth to walk some 2 kms by gravel road to the opposite slope for the best picture-postcard view of the complex. Then, happy due to the excellent weather I started to walk back to Halidzor. There are attractions on the way. Devil's Bridge is run down and not worth to see. Then there is pavilion view point overlookind the canyon and that is nice. I has hitchhiking back to Goris. 3 cars one by one took me home - thank you dear Armenian and Russian drivers!
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Sep 30, 2019 08:00 PM Goris in the beautiful valley
At the bus station you will not see timetable on display. It is better to check twice. At the beginning they told me that there only one bus from Stepanakert to Goris in Armenia - at 2.30 pm. Later other person told me that there is also one at 10 am. The cost of 2 h journey is 2000 dram payable to the driver. Once again I was enjoying in full sun the only road Armenia - Karabakh. We were going through the high mountains, descending only to the border crossing. On exit the Karabakh officers are only collecting registration paper issued on arrival.
Than we passed the mountains again, but landscape changed to the green hills. Between such a hills lies provincial town of Goris. They left me on the highway bypassing the town so it was necessary to do down to the centre, looking for acommodation. I found it soon. At the Mahshot's 30 I found the private house with a room for rent. They charge 5 USD = 2000 AMD per night for the single with outside toilet. In the afternoon I took the walk around the town. The best view of the rock formations is from the terrace of the cafe located on the cliff above the river. Goris has also nice central square. Tomorrow I plan to go to Tatev monastery by.... cable car...
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Sep 29, 2019 08:00 PM Climbing to the main Monastery
Gandzasar is the main monastery of Karabakh, built in 13th century. There is onlyone marshrutka per day going from Stepanakert to the village of Vank at the bottom of the monastery. Departure time is 9 am but be there well in advance and go to the ticket window at avtovokzal to buy the ticket for 800 drams.
I did not have enough space for the legs. Fortunately it is only 1 h 15 min ride and the road is paved and not so bad.
Once in the village you will see the monastery up on the mountain. Paved road will lead you there wit many bends and zig-zags. The mountain views from this road are great. The summits are surrounded by clouds. It took me about 1,5 hours to reach the monastery on the level of 1280 m. It is nicely restored with the monks quarters and library on the side. All the slopes around the monastery are covered by cemeteries - it is holy place and Armenians want to be burried here.
Interesting place! Back in the village I was waiting for the only minibus returning to Stepanakert at 3 pm. See where I am - 40°3.4410'N 46°31.8550'E http://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.05736%2C46.53092
Gandzansar Monastery, Artsakh Republic
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