17 - 26.10.2011

We stay at Yerevan hostel for a night and move to Horatio's place after this, a gifted guitarist. Following this we meet Kush, who had moved here to study medicine with other friends from India and is now making a living in the city, contributing to the health reform which the Armenian government is planning to pass. We meet his friend Arin, at whos place we find an extremely comfortable new home for the rest of our stay in the city.

Roland and I walk to the monument at the top of the Yerevan cascade stand in awe at the beauty of the city. Giant Mt. Ararat dominates the skyline and in general the whole city center makes a most appealing impression in its radial layout. I am at once captivated by it. If anyone were to ask me which place in the world most resembles ancient city of the Golden Gates in Atlantis, I would at once answer: the Yerevan cascade.

We visit the Matenadaran, the manuscirptorium, in which some of the worlds oldest surviving manuspcripts are kept. Apparently the largest and heaviest book is found there as well as a recently studied manuscript, the language of which no linguist worldwide understands.   Ethnologists and anthropologists are now called upon to join the search for the unknown language. Only two small rooms show manuscripts on display. The rest of the enormous, massively constructed, 4-storey building is dedicated almost exclusively to the restoration and conservation of old manuscripts.

We meet Karina, whom we have met in Tblisi before our departure and visit the Garni temple together. This was erected in Roman times, after repeated battles between Roman legions and the Armenian army, and resembles traditional Greek architecture, incorporating symbolic numerological measures. I learn from the information boards that the Armenian regent of the time, King T'rdat, had initiated emperor Nero into the Magian rites, hence those passed down to him from ancient Chaldea.

We read, write, learn languages, cook and spend some nights out. We also visit the Design Cafe at which Horatio plays Jazz and Blues one night. We also share quality time with Kush, Sumit and their friends and finally leave on the day of Divali towards the south of Armenia, after trying a fantastic curry.