ARMENIA: COUNTRY OF STONES, VINE, ANCIENT MONASTERIES
Korea Times
December 18, 2008 Thursday
Famous English poet Lord Byron said the following about Armenia:
"This country is to remain arguably as the most interesting one on
the whole Earth." Not many small countries can boast such compliments
from such well-known, well-traveled people.
Soon after the socialist revolution in Russia in 1917, Armenia joined
the Soviet Union and became independent in 1991. It’s situated in the
most interesting yet turbulent Caucasus region. The country itself is
not big, at less than 30,000 square kilometers – less than one third
the size of South Korea. The country is home to 3.3 million people,
one third of whom live in its capital, Yerevan city.
Many countries have unofficial but widely known names: Korea,
"the country of morning calm;" Japan, "the land of the rising sun;"
Switzerland, "the country of watches and cheese;" etc. Armenia also has
such a nickname and many call it "the country of stones." Stones from
tiny to huge ones in the form of rocks and mountains can be seen all
over Armenia, since the country is situated in a mountainous region.
The huge amount of stones turned out to be a blessing for local
builders. All buildings, including those situated in the countryside,
are made of stone. At the same time, Armenian rocks have abundant
reserves of precious and semiprecious stones that are widely used by
the local craftsmen.
Though generalizations naturally bear the risk of missing important
details, it would not be a big mistake to say that the main points
of interest in Armenia are its monasteries and mountains.
The rich and dynamic history of the country, deeply rooted in
Christianity, has made a deep impact on Armenia’s monuments. Boasting
that it was the first country to adopt Christianity, monasteries and
temples can be found all over the country. Although a relative lack of
government support did not allow many to be restored, almost all hold
religious services and many devout Christians and tourists frequently
visit them. The most famous temples are completely restored, however,
and function as religious institutes and historic monuments. The
depth of the history of Armenia can be easily traced through its main
temples and monasteries. Some monasteries founded a millennium ago
are well preserved and easily found.
Mountains are also among of the most famous points of interest of
Armenia. Types of mountainous and the views they offer greatly differ
depending on location. Eighty-seven percent of Armenian territory
lies from 1,000 to 3,000 meters above sea level and recently, Armenian
ski resorts have become more popular among world skiers.
Though local people say that the low temperatures and massive snowfall
are common in Armenia, 35-40 degrees Celsius are the usual temperatures
in the country’s valleys. To avoid the summer heat, many choose the
shores of "the Sea of Armenia" – Sevan Lake – to spend their summer
vocations. Talking about the beauty and size of the lake is a popular
topic of local people’s conversation with tourists.
Armenia could also easily be called the country of wine. Armenians
love to mention that according to the Bible, Noah invented winemaking
in Armenia. Even records dating back to the fifth century B.C. mention
that Armenia "exports wines of good quality and taste." The longest
tradition of winemaking is a great source of pride to Armenians. The
unique climate of the Armenian valley made this region perfect for
cultivating grapes.
Armenian cognac deserves special mention. It is the cognac more than
wine that makes Armenia famous among specialists in the field of
alcoholic beverages. Armenians started producing cognac in 1887 and it
quickly received recognition for its unique taste. They say that one
of the most famous British politicians of the 20th century, Winston
Churchill, liked Armenian cognac the most of all alcoholic beverages
and ordered it even when Soviet-British relations were in crisis.
But these days, Armenians have cause for regret – a few years ago,
"Ararat," the producer of Armenia’s most famous cognac, was sold to
a French company.
Any story about Armenia would not be complete without a few words about
its people. Armenians count for 97 percent of the entire population
and are famous for "Caucasian hospitality." A famous guidebook says,
"Sometimes, the desire of the local people to help a foreigner becomes
so strong and intense that many scare the latter, especially the young,
who often insist too vigorously to make a foreigner join their party
and share a few glasses of wine."
Armenia is a safe country for tourists. The biggest "danger" for a
foreigner is overeating. The Armenians’ desire to show hospitality
leads them to offer guests countless dishes, making it impossible
to eat them all. The problem is that the local food is so tasty and
those offering it to you are sincere.
Armenians are also patriotic. The dynamic, turbulent history of
Armenia made many of its former citizens emigrate to other parts of
the world. At present, the number of ethnic Armenians living outside
Armenia exceeds those who live in it. But all foreign Armenians, many
of who were born in other countries, consider themselves Armenian,
follow the traditions of their historic motherland and helping Armenia
in any way they can. They say that the Armenian lobby in the U.S. is
among the strongest. And all Armenians – both foreign Armenians and
"Armenian Armenians," – know very well the history of the country,
its heroes, poets, famous statesmen and feel glad when a tourist
gives them a chance to talk about it in detail.