Charm of an unchanging Armenia

The country has held onto its identity through the centuries, despite it occupying a fraction of its former territory

In Armenia's capital Yerevan, flowers are a common sight. Meals are well-balanced affairs with salads, cheese and meats. Music also plays a large part in Armenian life.
The iconic Mount Ararat.
The iconic Mount Ararat. PHOTO: TOURISM COMMITTEE OF ARMENIA
Part of the Geghard monastery (above) in Armenia is carved out of the adjacent mountain and the Sevanavank Monastery overlooks Lake Sevan.
Part of the Geghard monastery (above) in Armenia is carved out of the adjacent mountain and the Sevanavank Monastery overlooks Lake Sevan. PHOTO: TOURISM COMMITTEE OF ARMENIA
Part of the Geghard monastery in Armenia is carved out of the adjacent mountain and the Sevanavank Monastery (above) overlooks Lake Sevan.
Part of the Geghard monastery in Armenia is carved out of the adjacent mountain and the Sevanavank Monastery (above) overlooks Lake Sevan. PHOTO: HO AI LI
Meals in Armenia are well-balanced affairs, starting with lavish bread and cheese and salads of carrots, eggplants, zucchinis, followed by a main course, which can be a beef and potato stew or grilled pork.
Meals in Armenia are well-balanced affairs, starting with lavish bread and cheese and salads of carrots, eggplants, zucchinis, followed by a main course, which can be a beef and potato stew or grilled pork. PHOTO: HO AI LI
A street sculpture of Jivan Gasparyan, Vatche Hovsepyan and Levon Madoyan, who are masters of the duduk, an Armenian woodwind instrument made of apricot wood.
A street sculpture of Jivan Gasparyan, Vatche Hovsepyan and Levon Madoyan, who are masters of the duduk, an Armenian woodwind instrument made of apricot wood. PHOTO: HO AI LI
Florist kiosks (right) are common at street corners.
Florist kiosks (above) are common at street corners. PHOTO: HO AI LI
Mr Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, will be visiting the Republic from July 7 to 9.
Mr Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, will be visiting the Republic from July 7 to 9. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Ho Ai Li
Assistant Life Editor
Updated
Jun 30, 2019, 06:52 AM
Published
Jun 30, 2019, 05:00 AM
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The skies are overcast and seagulls are circling around Lake Sevan, which takes up a huge chunk of Armenia's land area in the east.

I climb to the top of a narrow peninsula overlooking the highland lake, a greyish blue expanse fringed by powdery dark green mountains. Little white and yellow flowers sway gently in the cool wind.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on June 30, 2019, with the headline Charm of an unchanging Armenia. Subscribe

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