Samuel Vidal Flanagan, Grade 11
UWC Dilijan
One day you should make time for a tour of the Caucasus region. It is a beautiful area of the world, which combines old and new in a bizarre but captivating manner, and contains the countries of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and part of Russia. If you do, you will experience the overwhelming hospitality of the people there; the exquisite cuisine of the region, which varies from the sweet taste of Armenian jam to the cheesy flavours of the Georgian khachapuri; and many more things like the awe-inspiring landscape and beautiful historical monuments.
Georgia, for a start, is a beautiful country, and although I have not visited as much of it as I would like to, what I have visited has secured my ‘love’ for that country. Tbilisi is an amazing city, which, both in its culture and its image, combines a mixture of ‘traditional Georgian’, ‘Western influences’, and remnants of their Soviet past into one. It is a city that caters for everyone, literally and figuratively. Its food is some of the best I’ve tried: I ate khachapuri every day I was there, but I would also recommend the khinkali and other dishes of the country. In terms of things to do, you may want to enjoy the pleasant experience of Sulphur Baths on Ioseb Grishashvili Street, and then visit ‘Narikala’, an old castle which watches over the city from the top of a hill right in the centre. Tbilisi also has a bustling nightlife, with many ‘Art Cafes’, shisha bars, or regular clubs, but most importantly of all, Bassiani. Bassiani is a techno club located under the ‘Boris Paichadze stadium,’ and it has been listed in some articles as one of the top 20 techno clubs in the world. If that is something you like, you should definitely go. Outside of Tbilisi, I don’t know Georgia that much, but what I have heard about it has made me list visiting Georgia properly. The touristy town of Batumi, with its sandy beaches and its old town with buildings dating back to the 14th century, is a must. Visiting Meteshka, what they call the religious capital, is also part of my plans.
Over the past year, I have actually lived in Armenia. I am truly in love with the country. It has conserved much more of its Soviet past than Georgia, at least from what I have seen, and it is also a country covered with historical places. It sometimes seems to me that someone just dropped a bag of monasteries on Armenia. Etchmiadzin Cathedral, for example, is considered by some historians to be the oldest Christian church in the world, with the first construction dating back to the year 300 and said by some to be the foundation of the Armenian church. There are many other such places, like Tatev monastery, a beautiful place high in the mountains, where you will also be able to experience the ‘Wings of Tatev’, one of the longest cable-carts in the world; or the oldest winery in the world, which was found in ‘Areni-1 cave’ along with what is considered to be the oldest shoe in the world. Apart from all of its historical locations and artefacts, Armenia has also got a beautiful countryside and bustling towns. Dilijan, for example, is a national park, full of long walks through the mountains that you can do, and if you’re brave enough, even climb Mount Maymekh. Sevan is also a natural wonder, as it is one of the biggest lakes in the world at that altitude. It is perfect for swimming and having fun, and offers many ways to enjoy it, like campsites and resorts. In terms of cities, Armenia also offers many options. Yerevan is by far the biggest, and it is full of things to do, like visiting the open-air market, visiting the national museum, or even going to an opera; but there are also smaller cities like Gyumri and Vanadzor which are also worth visiting.
Unfortunately, I haven’t visited Azerbaijan, and Russia only fleetingly. But I am sure they have as much to offer as these I have just described. It is definitely worth visiting this part of the world, and I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed if you do. I hope you enjoy it!
Georgia, for a start, is a beautiful country, and although I have not visited as much of it as I would like to, what I have visited has secured my ‘love’ for that country. Tbilisi is an amazing city, which, both in its culture and its image, combines a mixture of ‘traditional Georgian’, ‘Western influences’, and remnants of their Soviet past into one. It is a city that caters for everyone, literally and figuratively. Its food is some of the best I’ve tried: I ate khachapuri every day I was there, but I would also recommend the khinkali and other dishes of the country. In terms of things to do, you may want to enjoy the pleasant experience of Sulphur Baths on Ioseb Grishashvili Street, and then visit ‘Narikala’, an old castle which watches over the city from the top of a hill right in the centre. Tbilisi also has a bustling nightlife, with many ‘Art Cafes’, shisha bars, or regular clubs, but most importantly of all, Bassiani. Bassiani is a techno club located under the ‘Boris Paichadze stadium,’ and it has been listed in some articles as one of the top 20 techno clubs in the world. If that is something you like, you should definitely go. Outside of Tbilisi, I don’t know Georgia that much, but what I have heard about it has made me list visiting Georgia properly. The touristy town of Batumi, with its sandy beaches and its old town with buildings dating back to the 14th century, is a must. Visiting Meteshka, what they call the religious capital, is also part of my plans.
Over the past year, I have actually lived in Armenia. I am truly in love with the country. It has conserved much more of its Soviet past than Georgia, at least from what I have seen, and it is also a country covered with historical places. It sometimes seems to me that someone just dropped a bag of monasteries on Armenia. Etchmiadzin Cathedral, for example, is considered by some historians to be the oldest Christian church in the world, with the first construction dating back to the year 300 and said by some to be the foundation of the Armenian church. There are many other such places, like Tatev monastery, a beautiful place high in the mountains, where you will also be able to experience the ‘Wings of Tatev’, one of the longest cable-carts in the world; or the oldest winery in the world, which was found in ‘Areni-1 cave’ along with what is considered to be the oldest shoe in the world. Apart from all of its historical locations and artefacts, Armenia has also got a beautiful countryside and bustling towns. Dilijan, for example, is a national park, full of long walks through the mountains that you can do, and if you’re brave enough, even climb Mount Maymekh. Sevan is also a natural wonder, as it is one of the biggest lakes in the world at that altitude. It is perfect for swimming and having fun, and offers many ways to enjoy it, like campsites and resorts. In terms of cities, Armenia also offers many options. Yerevan is by far the biggest, and it is full of things to do, like visiting the open-air market, visiting the national museum, or even going to an opera; but there are also smaller cities like Gyumri and Vanadzor which are also worth visiting.
Unfortunately, I haven’t visited Azerbaijan, and Russia only fleetingly. But I am sure they have as much to offer as these I have just described. It is definitely worth visiting this part of the world, and I can assure you that you won’t be disappointed if you do. I hope you enjoy it!
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