May 23, 2016 - Visit to Mt Aragac area, near Yerevan, Armenia

Monday 23rd May 2016 Yerevan to Mt Aragac and return Left after breakfast on the bus and headed north west towards Mt Aragac. After we had checked out a memorial to the Armenian alphabet, we set off on a walk to a monastery and fortress high in the mountains. The walk was very pretty with lots of flowers by the track. The going was easy at first then we walked down a steep path to a river and crossed by means of a metal bridge which appeared to be made from metal doors laid flat on a frame. We then walked up a steep path to the monastery...

May 22, 2016 - Visit to Lake Sevan, Armenia

Sunday 22nd May 2016 Yerevan to Lake Sevan and return Today we set off to visit more historic sites near Yerevan and also Lake Sevan. There was very little traffic in the city as it was Sunday. First we drove to Geghard Monastery in the hills just outside Yerevan. It was first built in the 4th century AD, then rebuilt in the 920’s, over 1100 years ago. It was carved out of solid rock from the top down, quite an amazing place. There were many people visiting today as it was Sunday. We spoke to a number of locals and had many photos taken...

May 21, 2016 - Yerevan to Goris, Armenia

Friday 20th May 2016 Yerevan to Goris, Armenia An early start today – left at 8:30am. After viewing Mt Ararat from our window again, had breakfast and took our bags downstairs. About 40km from the city we stopped for a photo opportunity in front of the mountain, considered holy by the Armenians. High up on the side of the mountain was the place where it was said that Noah’s Ark came to rest after the great flood. In the 1600’s, a holy man found a piece of wood up there that has been dated at 7000BC, so who knows? We then visited the Khor...

May 19, 2016 - In Yerevan, Armenia

Thursday 19 May 2016 In Yerevan, Armenia Today we spent seeing various sights around Yerevan which is an ancient city. This year it is celebrating its 2797th birthday. The Armenian culture is one of the oldest in the world and because of where they are situated in the world, they have suffered many invasions over the centuries. They were the first country to accept Christianity as their official state religion and these days over 95% of Armenians are Eastern Orthodox Christians. When we woke up in the morning, we looked out of our hotel...

May 18, 2016 - Akhaltsikhe, Georgia to Yerevan, Armenia

Wednesday 18 May 2016 Akhaltsikhe, Georgia to Yerevan, Armenia We left after breakfast today and headed towards the south of Georgia. The first place we visited was the Khertvisi Fortress situated high above the junction of two rivers. The fortress was originally built in ancient times and was visited by Alexander the Great’s army in the 4th century BC, but the fortress that we saw today dated from the 10th – 14th century. It was a steep climb with a great view and was obviously built there so that the people had ample warning of enemies...

Jul 26, 2015 - Urutes Camp

We were completely out of Internet range while we were at the youth camp at lake Sevan, so consequently...no blog entries. Now, it seems impossible to write about this camp in the time we have back in Yerevan. We arrived as camp was getting started and jumped into a leadership meeting. The pastor told us each of us would be assigned to one of the four Jokarts (troups) of kids. He wanted us to interact with them and share the love of Christ in every way we could. They suggested a few places to put up our tent and when we chose one, the...

Jul 19, 2015 - Golgotha Church in Yerevan

Sunday. We are staying at a guesthouse on the property of Golgotha Church. Golgotha is a small but very committed and passionate Armenian evangelical church. Last time I was here, I taught a Chrisitan education class here at the church for church leaders from Baptist and evangelical churches around the area. The church is involved in lots of great ministry. So, you would think they would be hesitant to ask some American to preach on Sunday. Hm. So, I decided to preach a character study on John Mark...the disciple who abandoned Paul and...

Jul 18, 2015 - Arriving in Armenia

Yes, we arrived in Yerevan at 2 a.m. this morning. Actually, there is little to say here. Not a very eventful trip. Michael, Samari, and I met at LAX on Thursday afternoon, got checked in, and cleared security. I decided to search the airport for a universal electric adapter. (Not sure where I lost mine, but figured I'd need it.) That took up all of our time to explore LAX, but then again, who really wants to explore their own airport anyway. We were late boarding. Etihad was trying to help a person board who couldn't walk and couldn't...

Jul 18, 2015 - Yerevan

After literally hours of sleep (like 3 or 4), we all woke about 9 a.m. feeling pretty refreshed. Didn't last, of course, but I'll take a welcome morning. We found fruit and cereal as well as Wendy's homemade banana bread for breakfast. We weren't too hungry, but good to have something to eat. Then, got a great icy-cold shower. Hot water is off for some reason. I was proud of Samari and Michael. Neither of them screamed like a little girl when they felt the cold water. Keith and Wendy picked us up with their awesome teenage son,...

Jul 8, 2013 - Istanbul - Topkapi Palace

Got up early to arrive before the crowds at Topkapi Palace where we thought we would need the day to explore and we did. I took about 3000 photos of the wonderful ceramic tiles, palace rooms and gardens. We had a quick lunch stop in the cafe on site before going through the Harem and ended the day by browsing the Grand Bazaar. Now sitting with a beer in a restaurant around the corner from our hotel nad using their wonderful wifi. Will try to upload photos a bit later - but not 3000 of them. The end of a great holiday and goodbye to 38...

Jul 7, 2013 - Istanbul

The taxi took a long time to locate the hotel when it did we were not too happy. You get in by a ‘turret’ of steps every upwards and had it not been for the two men who seem to run the place I would never have got my suitcase up to the room. The room is tiny and very basic. We knew the shower room was across the corridor – not a problem in itself, but the room where they keep reception is at the end of the corridor so slipping between bedroom and bathroom takes some planning. Jean this morning washed her nightdress then found she had...

Jul 6, 2013 - Batumi to Istanbul

After a good night’s sleep in our little studio apartment we got up to bright sunshine, had a croissant and coffee at the boulangerie and walked in the other direction to yesterday along the sea front. The weather brought people out, also because it’s Saturday and the pebbly beach had lots of loungers and umbrellas out, ice cream vendors and other outlets. There are lots of restaurants along the front and within the gardens which fringe the promenade. The gardens are really well laid out with little statues and sculptures along the way....