Weird and Interesting Things Around Ijevan

I've had a few months to explore Ijevan and I've found some interesting things.

Here is a sculpture on top of one of the walls at my host father's cafe. He claims it is 1000 years old, but I haven't found his carbon dating equipment yet. It is a carving of a mountain lion. You can see the balcony of my house in the background.

This is the WWII Memorial for the Armenians who fought in the Soviet army. It is across the street from one of my offices.

I have no idea what this statue is supposed to be. Surprisingly, this is not the weirdest statue that I have seen in Armenia.

This is a sculpture that is located in the "Rock Garden." In the 1980s, Ijevan was the site of many art symposiums dedicated to sculpture. The park was gradually filled with sculptures.

Here is one of the nicest houses in Ijevan. This is an exception to the rule when it comes to houses in Armenia. The building in the left corner is a Soviet-era apartment complex.

Sodas for sale on the side of the road? Nope, this is the Ijevan gas station.

Guard dog on a roof. No clue.

A huge eagle in a tiny cage at a cafe in Ijevan.

A Soviet carousel rusting away. Kids still play on it.

The abandoned Ijevan hotel is a relic of the days when Ijevan was a tourist destination for people in the Soviet Union.

Ever wonder where the t-shirts of the losing Super Bowl teams go? They come to Armenia. This is a San Diego Chargers Super Bowl Champs shirt from 1995. Grumps, I'll try to find you one, because it's the closest you'll ever get.

One Month in Ijevan

I have been in Ijevan for a little over a month. I have not taken as many pictures as I wanted, but here are a few. Most of them are from a party that my host family threw. The party was for my host mother's father who had died 7 years ago.

Two of my site-mates, Andy and Matt, and I taking one of many vodka shots at the party.

Matt and I taking another shot with my host father.

After eating and drinking for about 4 hours we hiked to the family's chapel.

A close up of the chapel.

Inside of the chapel, where we lit candles for my host mother's father. I also lit candles for my loved ones who have passed away.

Located very near the family chapel are some ruins. These ruins were the home of 2 holy brothers. It is a shrine now.

Within the shrine, we lit more candles for our loved ones who have passed away.

This is tree at the shrine. According to my host father, it is holy and is hundreds of years old.

You can never get enough pictures of Ararat. This one is from my training village, Karenis.

Andy and I taking a shot of some Armenian Cognac during a dinner at my host family's cafe. Armenian Cognac was Winston Churchill's favorite drink. I was lucky enough to drink some cognac from 1957. I now know why it was his favorite.

First Week in Ijevan

I have moved to my permanent site of Ijevan and I have been here for a little over a week.

This is the fountain in the town square of Ijevan at night.

This is Armine. She is my counterpart at one of my NGOs. At this NGO, I am going to try to help them manage their volunteers. In this picture, we were sitting at our booth at an employment fair.

The woman to my right is my counterpart from my other NGO. Her name is Olga. I will be teaching basic computer classes and business classes with her. At the same employment fair, she offered me and the other Peace Corps Volunteers some Armenian Cognac.

My new room in Ijevan. It's a little smaller than my last one, but I have 3 beds again.

I was invited to go to an archaeological dig in Ijevan. This is the outer wall of a fortress that dates back to 700 BCE. The area around Ijevan has traces of human inhabitance 4000 years old, so there are a lot of ruins. I met an Armenian archaeologist from Ijevan and he said he would show me a lot of other sites.

My first archaeological find in Armenia. It's a pot sherd.

My host brother Grigor with a kitten that he found.

Here's a hedgehog that my host brother caught. Hedgehogs are not as fast as Sonic the Hedgehog would have you believe.

Vienna

So, I had to make an appearance in America, but I am on my way back to Armenia. I am sitting in the airport in Vienna, Austria. I am waiting for my flight to Yerevan. I visited Vienna when I first came out here in May, but never posted pictures. Here are a few. Sorry, it is short. And I am especially sorry that I am not in any of them.

I think this is the front of the Austrian Parliament.

Another shot of Parliament?

A view of Vienna from the top of St. Stephen's Cathedral.

St. Stephen's Cathedral. Construction of it began around 1160 and was finished around 1511. You can see that it is being cleaned from the top down.

A dirty carving versus a clean one.

Another view of the Cathedral.

Historic Places, Karenis, and Ijevan

This is Gerhard Monastery. I will post a detailed history of this incredible place when I have more time.

This is just above the entrance to the main church.

The room in which this column was located was completely carved out of the mountain.

One of the churches that was carved out of the mountain.

This is the Temple of Mythra. It is the only standing pagan temple in Armenia. I will post a more detailed history of this temple when I have more time.

A close up of the temple.

The Armenian Genocide Memorial.

Inside of the memorial.

My host family's puppy. Her name is Rob.

Me, Rex, and Darryn sitting outside of our school.

My boss from one of my NGOs grilling up some pork.

The view from my balcony in Ijevan. I move here next week.

The ruins of a fort at the top of a mountain we hiked. The view from the top was stunning.

The hike back from the fort. The fort is at the top of the mountain in the background.

This is the gazebo in Karenis where we hang out a lot. Mt. Ararat is in the background.

This is one of the vodka aisles. I love Armenia.