Border 2 Border

Last June, I participated in a project called Border 2 Border. Two groups of six walked the entire length of Armenia. One group started at the Georgian border and my group started at the Iranian border. We met in the middle of the country. Along the way we taught health classes in various villages and towns. Each group walked about 275 kilometers (171 miles) in 17 days. Here are some highlights.

We had to carry everything, so we had to get the most out of the food we carried. Homemade granola was a must.

We usually started walking as early as possible. We would walk about 7-8 hours a day.

The best part of the walk for me was getting to see the beautiful landscape of the southern part of the country.

This is Tatev Monastery. It is the most impressive monastery that I have seen in Armenia. The world's longest tramway leads Tatev from a village located 5.7 kilometers (3.5 miles) away.

Tatev dates back to the 9th century. It was destroyed many times, once during an earthquake and a few times by invading armies. It is still undergoing reconstruction.

Joel and Mike were in my group and were constantly singing or playing guitar. Hippies.

During the physical fitness portion of our health classes, I would demonstrate various exercises. For some reason the kids really liked running in place.

The kids that attended our classes in Tatev.

We didn't always walk on paved roads.

Sometimes we didn't walk on roads at all.

We found these two puppies at the top of a mountain that we had to hike over. They had rope leashes attached to them. Somebody brought them to there to die. We cut the ropes off and they followed us/we carried them to the next village. We found 2 kids who were wanted them. A Peace Corps volunteer lives there and checks up on them.

Back on paved roads and avoiding cars.

This is Vorotnavank. Another amazing monastery that we passed along the way.

A goat path that we had to walk to get to our next stop.

A small lake.

The Southern Team after we passed the border into the Vayots Dzor region.

Almost everybody had some sort of foot problem. Blisters were most common. I lost 2 toenails.

Vayots Dzor was beautiful, but by far the hottest place that I have been in Armenia. Walking here sucked.

The Peace Corps region manager for the south joined us for a day on our walk to Vayk.

The southern team at our final destination. For those of you who can't read Armenian or Russian, the town is called Yeghegnadzor.

We had one final health presentation. For this one we were able to make a lot of posters. This one says "Run!" and "Don't Smoke!"

An anti-smoking poster.

Both of the groups together. That is a big jug of homemade wine in my hand.

365 and Counting

I've been in Armenia for over a year now. Here are some more pics of Ijevan and the surrounding area.

This is Goshavank Monestary. It is located just south of Ijevan. It was built in the 12th century. It is home to one of the finest, if not the finest, Khachkar in the world.

This is the famous Khachkar of Goshavank. It was carved in 1291 by the artist Poghos. It is commonly referred to as the "Needle" Khachkar because of how fine the carvings are.

This is Aghavnavank Church. It is located deep inside of one of Armenia's few forest reserves. It was built in the 11th century. It is in major need of revovations if it is to be preserved.

This is a tomb that was discovered in a school yard when the principal decided to do some illegal renovations. The tomb is over 3,000 years old and contained many intact pots, bones, jewelry, and a beautiful sword.

This is Mkaravank. It is a church complex. The first church (small one in the back) was built in the 11th century. The larger church (in the foreground) was built in the 13th century.

These are just a few of the khachkars at Mkaravank.

I was in Ijevan to celebrate Victory Day. Victory Day is the holiday that celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. All of these guys fought for the Soviet Army during WWII.

As part of the Victory Day celebration, almost everyone in Ijevan marched to the WWII Memorial to place flowers and listen to speeches.

My sitemates, Andy and Nicole, and I on a hike. The abandoned ferris wheel is behind us.

Elodie (a French volunteer in Ijevan), Andy, and me sitting by the part of our river that is not filled with garbage.

This is my friend David at his birthday celebration. If it wasn't for David, I would not have seen as many of the cool ruins/churches/excavations around Ijevan.

This is Armen. He has tutored me in Armenian a lot, but most importantly he invites me over to his house to watch NFL and NBA games all the time. He is moving to New Mexico in August to get his master's degree. Those of you in New Mexico will for sure meet him when I come back.

The Ijevan crew making a hybrid Armenian/American meal, barbecue chicken and grilled vegetables.

As American as I could get. Jack Daniels, a cigar, and apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Seal Team 6 did something on this day.

Tbilisi

After being in Armenia for 8 continuous months, I had to get out. I went to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Here are a few pictures.

This is a view from the top of Narikala Fortress. The fortress was established in the 4th century, but the structures that stand now date from the 18th and early 19th centuries.

You can see the world's 3rd tallest Eastern Orthodox Church through the crenellation of one of the fortress towers.

One of the walls of Narikala fortress.

Tbilisi is one of the coolest cities that I have ever seen at night. Narikala Fortress at night.

Globalization at its finest.

These are the domes that cover some of the famous sulphur baths of Tbilisi. According to legend, a Georgian king was hunting with a falcon and his falcon injured a pheasant. The pheasant fell into a hot spring and was fully cooked by the time the king retrieved it. The king then decided to build a city around the springs.

The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi. It is the 3rd tallest Eastern Orthodox Church in the world.

There are signs like this throughout the city. Becoming part of NATO would infuriate Russia.

I can get sushi in Armenia as well, but this meal was the best meal that I have had since leaving the promised land of the United States of America.

Living in Ijevan

I am about one-third of the way through my Peace Corps service in Armenia. Here are some pictures about my life in Ijevan.

The top of this hill has a great view of Ijevan.

Two of my site-mates and me at the top of the same hill.

This is a Marshutni. This is my primary mode of transportation when I go to Yerevan or anywhere else in the country. I have been in one of these when there have been 20 people packed inside.

Drinking American coffee on my balcony. I have made it for my host family, but it is not sweet enough for them.

All of my laundry hung out to dry. Luckily, my host grandmother refuses to let me do my own laundry.

This is the path that I have to take to get to my house.

A Soviet era ferris wheel rusting away.

This was one of my family's New Year dinners. New Year's is the biggest holiday in Armenia. It starts with a dinner that begins at midnight on December 31st. Friends and family visit each other and eat together until January 7th (or later).

My host sister, host grandma, me, my host father, and my host mother.

As the night progressed, we ended up dancing Armenian style which means moving your arms above your head and twirling. Andy (far right) loves to dance.

My host father, Vardan, grilling up some deer and pork. This is called khorovats and it is my favorite food in Armenia.

The deer and pork before it was devoured.

I was getting a little out of control by the end of the night...