We began with this array of stones at Zorats Karer of unknown date and purpose.
Our guide says it is an observatory, a henge older than Stonehenge. She tried to explain how the astronomical observations were made, but she was a bit incoherent. Online we find that it is also a site a of many graves.
We travel to Tatev monastery using the cable car ("Wings of Tatev").
The magnificence of the monastery was in the views, not the buildings. See earlier comments on Armenian churches.
From the cable car:
We nudged our way through a large flock of fat tail Armenian sheep.
Khndzoresk was a cave village inhabited until 1958. The journey down the gorge and over the footbridge was a bit difficult. At the suggestion of Gocha, Leslie skipped this one.
"Home visit": There was an attempt to show us how the Armenians live. We went to visit a home. The family ran a B&B which we saw, but not their house. Our host was an OB/gyn and the only surgeon in town. We met children and a particularly adorable two year old grandchild who had everyone playing with her. After touring the gardens and greenhouse (they must produce most of their produce), we were treated to a glass of brandy made by a friend. We toured the B&B and admired the rugs hanging on the walls. On the way out we were given herbal tea (thyme, excellent) and spoon fruits. The fruits were walnuts in honey and cherry conserve. These are eaten with a spoon off a plate. Excellent, but way too sweet to eat in any quantity. Some of us then tried his home made walnut vodka. We were sitting under the walnut tree source.
A carpet with a portrait of Lenin was a gift from a patient with no money.
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