Friday 26 February 2016

10 places to visit in....Armenia





To visit Armenia is to travel back in history and feel the spirit of more than 41 centuries. Experience first hand the "country sheltered by Biblical “Ararat" home of Noah’s Ark; the land where human kind was reborn.
Armenia offers a little something for every person. Most of all, the warmth and friendly manner of the people will make your visit unforgettable. One visit is never enough. This land of old and new has a gravitational pull to all who visit. Don’t be surprised if you book your next visit to Armenia while you are still in Armenia. Whether or not your heritage is Armenian, you will feel right at home and will not want to leave this beautiful land and people.
So let`s start do discover it. Your journey should start from capital Yerevan the ‘pink city’ of Armenia. Once you step into Yerevan, you’ll be in awe of its beautiful architecture where its buildings were made up of volcanic rocks of various shades of pink! That’s how Yerevan got its nickname ‘Pink City” or sometimes also known as the city of stones.

Republic Square in Yerevan

 
One of the picturesque sites of Yerevan is Republic Square. The oval shaped square has a stone pattern in the centre, meant to look like a traditional Armenian rug from above. The dancing water fountains are located at the northeastern forehead of the square in front of the National Gallery. The buildings around the square are made of rose and white Armenian tufa stones, fortified on a basalt-made ground anchor. The clock of the Government building tower was made in Moscow and transferred to Yerevan in July 1941. The diameter of the clock is 4 meters, the length of the big hand is 188 cm, while the small hand is 170 cm.
The Republic Square is the place where ceremonies and meetings are held with the most notable one is the yearly military show of the Independence Day.

Matenadaran



Matenadaran is a repository of ancient manuscripts, research institute and museum in Yerevan, Armenia. It holds one of the world's richest depositories of medieval manuscripts and books which span a broad range of subjects, including history, philosophy, medicine, literature, art history and cosmography in Armenian and many other languages. The Matenadaran is in possession of a collection of nearly 17,000 manuscripts and 30,000 other documents which cover a wide array of subjects such as historiography, geography, philosophy, grammar, art history, medicine and science.
Before you yawn and scroll down your web-page to the next attraction, just stop a moment and consider where the word ‘scroll’ came from? This museum, located in the Armenian capital Yerevan is certainly the place to find out. The Armenian alphabet is one of the oldest in the world – created in 405 AD by Armenian Mesrop Mashtots, and as such many ancient and important texts were translated into Armenian.
The Matenadaran or as it is otherwise known –The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts – thus really came into being not long after the alphabet was created, and today this museum houses one of the world’s truly great collection of ancients writings and texts. Be amazed by the intricate beauty of the Ejmiadzin Gospel which dates back to 989 AD and is framed in ivory or just how tiny a 15th century calendar is, weighing in as it does, at only 15 grams. When you’re done inside looking at the works of art, don’t forget a trip outside where the statue of Armenia’s alphabet’s creator sits outside with a student at his feet.

Cascade


Just a short trip away from the Matenadaran museum in central Yerevan, is this wonderful tourist attraction, which combines modern aesthetics and architecture with the area’s outstanding natural beauty. The Cascade is a kind of mix between a modern-day public square and a giant staircase, which you can reach the summit of, either by walking on the outside (up the steps), or by taking a lift (elevator) from the inside. The whole Cascade area is like an indoor and outdoor art exhibition. Add to that the backdrop of Mount Ararat (of Biblical fame) behind this landmark and views of the Armenian capital Yerevan below from its summit, and you begin to get the picture. A big hit with all who visit it, the cafes, pubs and bars in the area also add to its charm and visit-ability.

MALKHAS JAZZ CLUB





"Malkhas Jazz Club" offers jazz music programs every day. The club is an ideal place where one can have a full rest, enjoy dishes of Armenian cuisine. It is a place of quite high quality and level. It is the meeting point of fans of music, jazz musicians and simply of people with good music taste. Here you have the chance to listen to the music of such famous performers as Malkhas Jazz Band, Art Voices, Cross-Road, Time-Repor. After midnight jazzman Levon Malkhasyan plays for the club visitors.
 
Lake Sevan

 
Lake Sevan is the largest body of water in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest freshwater high-altitude lakes in Eurasia. The lake is situated in the central part of Armenia, in the Gegharkunik Province, at the altitude of 1,900 m  above sea level. It has significant economic, cultural, and recreational value. Its only island (now a peninsula) is home to a medieval monastery. Lake Sevan is considered the "jewel" of Armenia and is "recognized as a national treasure" in the country. German naturalist and traveler Friedrich Parrot, who with the renown Armenian writer Khachatur Abovian conquered the summit of Mount Ararat in 1829 for the first time in history, wrote that the "sea enjoys a high celebrity for sanctity with all Armenians, far and near, on account of the many old, and now partly deserted religious houses on its shores; and with all the rest of the natives for its wonderful stores of fish, of which salmon-trout is peculiarly esteemed, being dried and carried to great distances for sale.

Garni Pagan Temple 




It is perhaps the best-known structure and symbol of pre-Christian Armenia. After Armenia's conversion to Christianity in the early fourth century, it was converted into a royal summer house. According to some scholars it was not a temple but a tomb and thus survived the universal destruction of pagan structures. It is one of the main tourist attractions in Armenia and the central shrine of Armenian neopaganism.
 

Tatev ropeway



Wings of Tatev is a 5.7 km (3.5 mi) cableway between Halidzor and the Tatev monastery in Armenia. It is the longest reversible aerial tramway built in only one section, and holds the record for Longest non-stop double track cable car. The link allows year-round access to Armenia's 9th-century Tatev monastery complex, one of the country's most important religious centres and a major tourist attraction. The cable car travels at a speed of 37 km per hour and a one-way journey takes 10 minutes. At its highest point over the gorge, the car travels 320 m above ground level. On 23 October 2010 it was officially recorded by Guinness World Records as the world's longest non-stop double track cable car.
 

Natural Hot Springs  - Taq Jur


In ancient times the term 'taking the waters' was commonly used. Water therapies in natural hot springs were used not just to cleanse and rejuvenate, but also to heal. This is still being done today. The earliest civilizations used the hot springs as far back as 4,000 B.C. often for religious rituals but also for healing. These kinds of rituals were very popular in Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, Taiwan, India and Crete. In the 16th century Europe rediscovered the ancient Roman spa culture in towns like Bath. People used to take the hot water in natural hot springs or baths. While today it is taken in hot tubs or spa tubs in spa salons. However, not underestimating the relaxing and healing effects of these tubs, I believe that nothing can take the place of a natural hot pool in terms of its healing, rejuvenating power in a natural environment, which surely leaves its positive impacts. They also assure that once you take it, you will feel better for a couple of years! Whether this is true or not, you will need to try it to find out. However, the healing power of the water is proven for many times. It can heal muscle injuries, back pains, joint pains and more.

Tsakhkadzor ski resort



The infrastructure of tourism is highly developed in Tsaghkadzor, with many luxurious hotels, resorts and amusement facilities. The Tsaghkadzor ski resort is located just above the town, on a height of 1750 meters above sea level. During the recent years the ski resort was fully modernized. All ropeway lifts are manufactured and operated by Leitner Group. The current structure replaced existing soviet era lifts, mostly following their path. There were initially three consecutive lifts stretching from the foot of the mountain (1969m above sea level) up till the mountain peak (2819m), with the first and second lifts ending at 2234m and 2465m above sea level respectively.
Want to see the entire Armenia? Visit the ropeway of Tskhkadzor. From the height of 1,000 – 3,000 m you will see entire Armenia lying on the palm of your hand: the bright blue lake Sevan, the Big and Little Ararat.

Jermuk





Jermuk is one of the most popular spa towns in Armenia because of its healing mineral waters and mild climate. The town has more than 40 thermal springs! In Jermuk, you can visit the Gallery of Water for free tastings of the healing mineral waters. And don’t forget to visit the most popular attraction – Jermuk Waterfall, which is the second largest waterfall in Armenia. The water tumbles down from the height of about 70m.

I hope I will meet you soon in Armenia!

Areg 





Thursday 25 February 2016

10 reasons to visit...Cabo Verde!



The island of Cape Verde are a unique and unforgettable destination.

Bless by the sun throughout the year, there is a ritual in music and in the culture that is part of the inhabitants daily routine, while involving the visitor in the country parable mystique of the Archipelago. Only 4 hours away from Europe, the country enjoys a privileged localization, political, social and economic stability, a reference on the African continent and beyond, whish, combined with tranquility, makes it a destination not to be missed.

Indulge yourself and revel in the flavours of the delicious local cuisine and make a toast to the “Morabeza" and sensuality of this culture and of this hospitable people.

Venture in to the unusual nature and enjoy the security that Cape Verde has to offer.




10 good reasons to meet Cape Verde

1. Harnesses white beaches out of sight, with crystal clear water 24 degrees.






2. Calm water beaches, ideas for swimming; windy beaches, ideas for kitsurf, windsurfing; beaches with waves, ideas for boogie boarding and surfing.





3. Still virgin beaches, away from everything and everyone, with the company only the sea, the sky and the wind.



4. Costa rich in corals, ideal for diving sports.



5. Zones reef where the wreckage of dozens of ships, ideas for adventure diving.



6. Islands with landscape of unparalleled beauty and exoticism, ideas for long walks by mountains and deep valleys. 



7. Summer all year round. 




8. Music and dances the best there is, throughout the year; warm, coladeiras, funaná, mazurkas and even more... 





9. Food rich in shellfish and fish. 





10.The Cape Verdean are hospitable, kind, natural, a natural entertainer, with a cosmopolitan culture and The carnival of São Vicente islands is unforgettable. 



By Flávio Fortes, Volunteer 
EVS 2016 Poland – Wroclaw











Tuesday 16 February 2016

10 Things to visit in....Georgia










1.  Old Tbilisi

As you know Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and also one of the most visiting place. There you can see old buildings dated  VI century and also modern one.  Metekhy charch was the metropolis of old Tiflis, which set up Vakhtang  I Gorgasali (Wolf Head)in V century. As well as his name is associated legend of Tbilisi found. This church overlook river Mtkvari(Kura).



                         After this you can visit sulfur bath which is healing.

         
        
                                                         2.Churches and Architecture

As a Christian country in Georgia architecture was paid with great attention. Svetitskhoveli cathedral is the XI century Georgian architecture monument, which located 20 klm far away from Tbilisi.



Davit Gareji
VI century monastery complex set up by monk David in the desert. 
         
       

Gelati Monastery
The most powerful spiritual academy in the middle ages.




                                                Georgian Sightseeing

  Martvili Canyon - Located in the west part of Georgia.

       



The village “Gachedili” where is the root of river Abasha and created 2400 m long canyon. 





ტობა-ვარჩხელე“  Silver lake




Also located in the west part. Because there is no plants it consider alpine zone. There is six lake in the top of mountains.

                                         
                   


           Svaneti

 The most popular tourist destination for hiking lovers. There is the Caucasus highest vertex Ushba(4700m).




Svan Towers- It is the traditional house of Svaneti settlement.

                  

                                                 
                                                                     Sea Resorts

If you do not like mountain life, camping, riding and wild life we offer you Batumi, with many clubs. 





                                                                              WINE

East part is famous for its wine. Vintage is the most important event in Kakheti. Where lot of people are involved.




Georgian wine is characterized by a variety of tastes ,such as dry, semi dry,sweet… That’s why Georgian wine is the popular in the world.



So, I try to show you several reason why you have to go in Georgia. My country is open for everyone each season.

 Keep calm, Georgia is calling you J 

Tamar