Images - Armenia & Western Georgia

Thunderstorm after effects in the Debed Canyon Thunderstorm after effects in the Debed Canyon The weather and Soviet pollution blackened Haghpat Monastery The weather and Soviet pollution blackened Haghpat Monastery 12th century Armenian inscriptions in the Haghpat Monastery 12th century Armenian inscriptions in the Haghpat Monastery Waiting for a break in the rain Waiting for a break in the rain Approaching Alaverdi... Approaching Alaverdi... ...dominated by its barely functioning Soviet copper smelting plant ...dominated by its barely functioning Soviet copper smelting plant Gravestones inside the Sanahin Monastery Gravestones inside the Sanahin Monastery Once grand interiors Once grand interiors Sanahin's exterior walls, now shared with ferns Sanahin's exterior walls, now shared with ferns Tending the gardens Tending the gardens The Sanahin Plateau, high above a bleak Alaverdi The Sanahin Plateau, high above a bleak Alaverdi Sanahin - another bleak Armenian town Sanahin - another bleak Armenian town The next day - pretty meadows approaching Dilijan The next day - pretty meadows approaching Dilijan Don't get much chocolate in your biscuits here... Don't get much chocolate in your biscuits here... Haghartsin Monastery - under serious renovation Haghartsin Monastery - under serious renovation Seeking illumination (or salvation?) Seeking illumination (or salvation?) Moss covered Goshavank Monastery Moss covered Goshavank Monastery Nestled in beech woods, Mkhitar Gosh's chapel overlooking Goshavank Nestled in beech woods, Mkhitar Gosh's chapel overlooking Goshavank Assorted 12th century headstones Assorted 12th century headstones An elderly wandering minstrel, Sevan An elderly wandering minstrel, Sevan Icons in Sevanavank Monastery Icons in Sevanavank Monastery Those who can't leave money light candles Those who can't leave money light candles Warden, Haryavank Monastery Warden, Haryavank Monastery Lone headstone overlooking Lake Sevan Lone headstone overlooking Lake Sevan Time to get a new T-shirt? Time to get a new T-shirt? Soviet changing room, Lake Sevan Soviet changing room, Lake Sevan Crayfisherman in front of Haryavank Crayfisherman in front of Haryavank Still waters, Lake Sevan Still waters, Lake Sevan You can't see the vodka bottle, but it's there... You can't see the vodka bottle, but it's there... Crayfish for supper, thanks to our host... Crayfish for supper, thanks to our host... ...for the time being, there's a plentiful supply here ...for the time being, there's a plentiful supply here Yerevan's new Sur Grigor Lusavorich cathedral, more substance than style Yerevan's new Sur Grigor Lusavorich cathedral, more substance than style Trendy young Armenians, only seen in Yerevan Trendy young Armenians, only seen in Yerevan Police and pedestrians in the main square, Yerevan Police and pedestrians in the main square, Yerevan Both 4x4s, only one will survive Armenia's backroads Both 4x4s, only one will survive Armenia's backroads expensive tastes... expensive tastes... ...plain tasty ...plain tasty Typical Yerevan - it's not all beautified yet Typical Yerevan - it's not all beautified yet Inside the tiny Katoghike Chapel, Yerevan Inside the tiny Katoghike Chapel, Yerevan Yerevan's imposing opera house Yerevan's imposing opera house Cappucino quaffers in one of Yerevan's innumerable cafes Cappucino quaffers in one of Yerevan's innumerable cafes More trendy Yerevanites More trendy Yerevanites Backstreets still tell a different story Backstreets still tell a different story Grabbing some shade under a Lada Grabbing some shade under a Lada Yerevan's recently completed Cascade Yerevan's recently completed Cascade Contemplating the uninspiring views Contemplating the uninspiring views Arty fountains in the Cascade Arty fountains in the Cascade You don't see Bermuda shorts outside the capital You don't see Bermuda shorts outside the capital Our supper, pre cooking... Our supper, pre cooking... ...and post cooking... ...and post cooking... ...Nina seems to have eaten most of them! ...Nina seems to have eaten most of them! More traditional Armenian lady More traditional Armenian lady Salt flats in Shirak, en-route to the Georgian border Salt flats in Shirak, en-route to the Georgian border Back in Georgia, a fine use for an old train carriage Back in Georgia, a fine use for an old train carriage Cave dwellings in the cliffs, Vardzia Cave dwellings in the cliffs, Vardzia Murals in the Church of the Assumption, inside the caves Murals in the Church of the Assumption, inside the caves View over the Mtkvari valley View over the Mtkvari valley The imposing Khertvisi Fortress The imposing Khertvisi Fortress The Sapara Monastery - almost perfectly positioned The Sapara Monastery - almost perfectly positioned Monks at Sapara Monks at Sapara Georgian bas-reliefs, Sapara Georgian bas-reliefs, Sapara Having a quick fag, en-route to Batumi Having a quick fag, en-route to Batumi Fishermen at the sea port, Batumi Fishermen at the sea port, Batumi Must be still in Asia - never ashamed of the big belly Must be still in Asia - never ashamed of the big belly Batumi waterfront; Georgian national and naval flags Batumi waterfront; Georgian national and naval flags Much of Batumi is still undergoing a facelift Much of Batumi is still undergoing a facelift Dipping a toe in the Black Sea Dipping a toe in the Black Sea Backgammon in the shade Backgammon in the shade Batumi's building site Batumi's building site Oops! Too many cheese pies Oops! Too many cheese pies The mini seaside resort at Sarpi, 500 metres from the Turkish border (note the minaret!) The mini seaside resort at Sarpi, 500 metres from the Turkish border (note the minaret!)