TravelswithCharie

  Ruins of the Temple of Zvartnots Zvartnots Temple was a three-storey circular structure built in the 7th century. Its beauty captivated the Byzantine Emperor, Constantine III, who brought the builder with him to Constantinople to build a similar structure. Unfortunately, the builder died along the way. Zvartnots Temple stood for around 300 years. By the 10th century, it was in ruins. It is not certain how it was destroyed. A strong earthquake may have caused its collapse or it may also have been due to continued Arab raids. The Zvartnots Archaelogical Site also includes the Catholicos Palace ruins which together with Etchmiadzin Cathedral became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.  Etchmiadzin (Echmiatsin) Cathedral Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as the state religion in 301 AD. Etchmiadzin was built under the reign of King Tiridates III and Saint Gregory the Illuminator who introduced Christianity to Armenia. Etchmiadzin is the main church of the Arme...

Khinkali Khinkali is a soup dumpling that resembles a lot like what you order at a Chinese restaurants but much bigger in size. The way to savor this dish is to hold the top handle, perforate the flour wrapper a little bit and drink the soup before eating the dumpling. These khinkali are from Pasanauri in nothern Georgia. Pasanauri is widely known to have the best khinkali in the region, if not the country. Trivia: khinkali is supposed to ease a hangover.  Khachapuri Megruli (cheese pie) There are several kinds of Khachapuri. The one we see most often in social media is the Acharuli which is boat shaped and has a raw egg in the center. There are also Imeruli with cheese on the inside and Shampurze which is on a metal skewer. Breads of Georgia This bakery is in the Old Town off of Kote Afkhazi Street. In addition to selling a varied selection of local breads, they also offer hamburger, pizza and hotdog. Badrijai Nigvzit - Eggplant with walnut paste and pomegranate Grilled Dorade Thi...

  The Garni Temple was built in the first century AD, during the reign of King Tiridates I of Armenia. It is believed to have been dedicated to the pagan god Mihr (Mithra), who is associated with fire . Other scholars suggest that Garni was built as a tomb or mausoleum. One of the theories advanced by some scholars is that a pagan temple could not have survived after Armenia became a Christian state in the fourth century AD.  The elegance  of Garni Temple comes from the fusion of architectural styles and building materials of these three cultures, Hellenistic, Roman and Armenian. Twenty-four Ionic columns are inspired by classical Greek architecture. The structure incorporates arches and vaults which are of Roman origin. The temple is built with local basalt stone which was carved and fitted together without using mortar. The second important element of this Temple is its location. It sits on a promontory above Garni Gorge with views of surrounding mountains. A symbiosis ...

Foreigners, Zadik Zadikian, Gold leaf from Return , the first exhibition of Zadikian’s work in his home country The Cascade Complex of Yerevan is undeniably one of the most iconic landmarks of the city. With its terraced gardens and fountains, it is a sight to behold as it ascends to the top of the hill where you’ll find incomparable views of the city and Mount Ararat on a clear day. You can climb up 572 steps to the top or you can take an escalator inside the building and enjoy the modern and contemporary art collection of Gerard L. Cafesjian who gave $120 million towards the renovation and completion of the Cascade. This complex is a triple treat: indoor galleries with a stunning art collection, outdoor terraced gardens and fountains with sculptural pieces and the tree-lined sculpture garden. And there is no entrance fee. Make that a quadruple treat! Foreigners (entirety) Cause and Effect, Do-Ho Suh, South Korea, 2007 acrylic, resin, aluminum, stainless steel Pegasus, Manuel Marin, S...