Armenia: Country of Stones, Vine, Ancient Monasteries

By Oleg Kiriyanov

Contributing writer

Famous English poet Lord Byron said the following about Armenia: ``This country is to remain arguably as the most interesting one on the whole Earth.'' Not many small countries can boast such compliments from such well-known, well-traveled people.

Soon after the socialist revolution in Russia in 1917, Armenia joined the Soviet Union and became independent in 1991. It's situated in the most interesting yet turbulent Caucasus region. The country itself is not big, at less than 30,000 square kilometers ― less than one third the size of South Korea. The country is home to 3.3 million people, one third of whom live in its capital, Yerevan city.

Many countries have unofficial but widely known names: Korea, ``the country of morning calm;'' Japan, ``the land of the rising sun;'' Switzerland, ``the country of watches and cheese;'' etc. Armenia also has such a nickname and many call it ``the country of stones.'' Stones from tiny to huge ones in the form of rocks and mountains can be seen all over Armenia, since the country is situated in a mountainous region.

The huge amount of stones turned out to be a blessing for local builders. All buildings, including those situated in the countryside, are made of stone. At the same time, Armenian rocks have abundant reserves of precious and semiprecious stones that are widely used by the local craftsmen.

Though generalizations naturally bear the risk of missing important details, it would not be a big mistake to say that the main points of interest in Armenia are its monasteries and mountains.

The rich and dynamic history of the country, deeply rooted in Christianity, has made a deep impact on Armenia's monuments. Boasting that it was the first country to adopt Christianity, monasteries and temples can be found all over the country. Although a relative lack of government support did not allow many to be restored, almost all hold religious services and many devout Christians and tourists frequently visit them. The most famous temples are completely restored, however, and function as religious institutes and historic monuments. The depth of the history of Armenia can be easily traced through its main temples and monasteries. Some monasteries founded a millennium ago are well preserved and easily found.

Mountains are also among of the most famous points of interest of Armenia. Types of mountainous and the views they offer greatly differ depending on location. Eighty-seven percent of Armenian territory lies from 1,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level and recently, Armenian ski resorts have become more popular among world skiers.

Though local people say that the low temperatures and massive snowfall are common in Armenia, 35-40 degrees Celsius are the usual temperatures in the country's valleys. To avoid the summer heat, many choose the shores of ``the Sea of Armenia'' ― Sevan Lake ― to spend their summer vocations. Talking about the beauty and size of the lake is a popular topic of local people's conversation with tourists.

Armenia could also easily be called the country of wine. Armenians love to mention that according to the Bible, Noah invented winemaking in Armenia. Even records dating back to the fifth century B.C. mention that Armenia ``exports wines of good quality and taste.'' The longest tradition of winemaking is a great source of pride to Armenians. The unique climate of the Armenian valley made this region perfect for cultivating grapes.

Armenian cognac deserves special mention. It is the cognac more than wine that makes Armenia famous among specialists in the field of alcoholic beverages. Armenians started producing cognac in 1887 and it quickly received recognition for its unique taste. They say that one of the most famous British politicians of the 20th century, Winston Churchill, liked Armenian cognac the most of all alcoholic beverages and ordered it even when Soviet-British relations were in crisis.

But these days, Armenians have cause for regret ― a few years ago, ``Ararat,'' the producer of Armenia's most famous cognac, was sold to a French company.

Any story about Armenia would not be complete without a few words about its people. Armenians count for 97 percent of the entire population and are famous for ``Caucasian hospitality.'' A famous guidebook says, ``Sometimes, the desire of the local people to help a foreigner becomes so strong and intense that many scare the latter, especially the young, who often insist too vigorously to make a foreigner join their party and share a few glasses of wine.''

Armenia is a safe country for tourists. The biggest ``danger'' for a foreigner is overeating. The Armenians' desire to show hospitality leads them to offer guests countless dishes, making it impossible to eat them all. The problem is that the local food is so tasty and those offering it to you are sincere.

Armenians are also patriotic. The dynamic, turbulent history of Armenia made many of its former citizens emigrate to other parts of the world. At present, the number of ethnic Armenians living outside Armenia exceeds those who live in it. But all foreign Armenians, many of who were born in other countries, consider themselves Armenian, follow the traditions of their historic motherland and helping Armenia in any way they can. They say that the Armenian lobby in the U.S. is among the strongest. And all Armenians ― both foreign Armenians and ``Armenian Armenians,'' ― know very well the history of the country, its heroes, poets, famous statesmen and feel glad when a tourist gives them a chance to talk about it in detail.