A short visit to Yerevan

Armenia: It is one of the oldest countries and the first state in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion.

My visit to Armenia was hassle-free as it’s one of the countries that didn’t need a pre-approved visa for us Filipinos. It was something that I was pleased about as I did not have to worry compared to previous difficult experiences when applying for visas.

My partner and I decided to spend four days in Armenia by taking just over a three-hour flight from Dubai to its capital city – Yerevan. We were both excited as neither of us had been to the country in any of our previous separate travels.

Armenia has existed for over 3,000 years and is considered as the first country to officially become Christian. Its capital and largest city Yerevan, on the other hand, is a city that has been established and is said to be even older than Rome. From Yerevan, you can see the Ararat Mountain which is believed to be the place where Noah’s ark landed during the flood.

Yerevan is surprisingly beautiful. The Republic Square which is known as the heart of the city is fascinating. It is surrounded by artistic architecture and beautiful parks. Many high-end shops, cafes and restaurants are located within the city that makes you feel as if you’re in one of those famous cities in Europe.

Talking about Armenians, perhaps some of the famous personalities nowadays are the Kardashians, who appear to be very popular amongst us women all over the world. Another one is Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who currently plays football in the English Premier League. It is said that Armenians are some of the best chess players in the world. And that is maybe because chess lessons are being taught in school as part of the curriculum.

One of the sites we visited in Yerevan is the Armenian Genocide Museum. This massive complex is dedicated to thousands of Armenians who were massacred and who were victims of the genocide. It is a very sobering place to look around, but I think it is a must-visit site for tourists to find out more about the Armenian’s history. We can certainly learn from their struggles and triumphs.

Having traveled there, we can say that it is a very beautiful city to explore. The people are friendly which helped make this visit so enjoyable and interesting. Not to forget the delicious food, including the locally grown fruits especially my favorite apricot.