Dilijan Forever

Dilijan is an interesting place. I can't really call it a city, but it isn't a village either. Let's call it a glorified village. According to our tour guide Mikhail, it used to be the vacation spot for all the intellectuals and artists during the Soviet era. I suppose they were able to find inspiration somewhere. I wasn't particularly inspired. Maybe because the bitter cold was blocking my thought processes. 

The main attraction was the monastery of Goshavank. It was built around 800 years ago by Mkhitar Gosh (which incidentally means without hair- can you believe that, an Armenian man without hair??). It was a beautiful old monastery, which was recently renovated and as a result looked brand new- with shiny mahogany doors and glass domes. The renovation turned it into a mix of old and new, which was a little bit strange to see. But what can I say, at least there was some effort at preservation.  The courtyard even had an 800 year old walnut tree planted by Gosh himself. It was a picturesque spot. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the monastery of Haghartsin because that too is being renovated. Armenia is really shaping up  into a desirable tourist destination...

The woman who is in charge of keeping up the monastery even offered to marry me off to her son- "boyov, busatov, simpatsichni tga ya." Thanks but I think I'll pass on that one....

One of the more interesting stops on our excursion was Getap, the place where we ate lunch. It was like a mini swiss village transported into the center of Dilijan, with small cottage-like houses serving as dining rooms, right on the banks of the stream. Dogs, chickens and geese were running around all over the place. The interior was designed to make you feel like you were in a boat. It was pretty cool, probably the hippest restaurant in Dilijan. Kyabab, kartofil, pamidor, varung, tarkhun, hats, and panir....the perfect Armenian meal.

(Images from top: Hiking to the monastery in Dilijan, Us and Goshavank, a view of Dilijan, Hratch from Birthright and I posing in the 800 year old tree, Gapo and I posing in the tree, Getap-the pseudo swiss village restaurant, having lunch inside the "boat", Hratch maneuvering to get the best pictures,  an old man standing on the side of the road  hoping to find a cigarette (of course we were able to provide him with one), Natasha Paulene and I posing in the car on the way to Dilijan).