Yerevan

Yerevan is one of the ancient cities of the world. It was founded in 782B.C. by Urartian King Argishti I. This is evidenced by the cuneiform inscription, which was founded in the ruins of Erebouni fortress. The name of Yerevan derives from the name of “Erebouni”. Being the crossroad of trade routes, soon the fortress was built up and constructed with palaces and temples.

Currently the city with its 1.3 million population is the economic, political and cultural center of Armenia. It has included the glory and memory of the 11 capitals of the past and became the capital of all Armenians. Now Yerevan is 2800 years old city.

Being an old city at the same time it is one of the youngest cities of the world. The city chronology is traced back to the foundation of Erebouni Fortress, whose walls still remain. With Erebouni as a reference point, Yerevan is in fact 29 years older than Rome. In addition, many churches and temples have been preserved attesting to the fact that there was life in Yerevan in the middle Ages. Nonetheless, Yerevan is a modern city and its current image was formed in the mid-20th century. The next interesting fact of the Armenian capital is that although it was mostly built in its current incarnation during the Soviet era, the city still possesses a distinctly Armenian character and its spirit. During a time when a so-called “Universal Soviet style” was the widespread norm across the Soviet Union, contemporary Armenian architects revived medieval Armenian architectural traditions, giving the facades of new buildings a unique flair. Though it cannot be overlooked that during the last decades of the USSR, thousands of unremarkable buildings were built in the typical Soviet style in different districts of Yerevan, if you look closely, you’ll notice that there and here that indestructible passion of Armenians towards their own national style shone through. Even sculptures commemorating important Soviet events took on national and sacred characteristics. Today Yerevan has acquired a unique image. Here the traditional Armenian architecture and the modern style buildings are combined.

Yerevan is practically a mono-ethnic city. When Armenia gained statehood in the early 20th century after 800 years of existence without an official homeland, the small out of the way town Erivan was deemed the capital. The town quickly grew, with its new streets, avenues and squares. And its population grew due to a massive inflow of Armenian immigrants. In fact, the population of Yerevan has grown almost tenfold during the last years.

Surprisingly, having mostly come from different places in Armenia and around the world, residents of Yerevan, without an exception, call themselves Yerevantsi. They all speak the Yerevan dialect of Armenian, using their native dialects only in the home. So when speaking to a Yerevan resident you never really knows where they come from originally.

Each town and city has its unique geographical features. But Yerevan is special-it has a secret. In keeping with the paradoxical nature of Yerevan, on the one hand, you cannot overlook this secret, but on the other hand, you can only truly understand it if you live here for a while walk in the parks and streets and talk to the residents. The secret is Ararat (Mountain).Great and ancient, perfect during ever season. Understand Ararat you will understand Yerevan and its people. The emotions that this majestic mountain arouses are difficult to put towards. You simply have to feel it. While it is a splendid marvel of nature, there is more to it than that. Ararat is the guardian of Yerevan. It is the mountain that smiles to the city. And that’s Mount Ararat that unites everybody here. Armenians who have gathered from all over the world at the foot of their sacred national symbol. They have built this city of sun-for themselves, and for their guests, so that they may always remember and feel the warmth of this city, the warmth of Yerevan.

The city wakes up and goes to sleep later, that you can imagine.

Early in the morning you can smell an aromatic coffee which is a lifestyle in Yerevan. Armenian coffee, also known in Armenian as Eastern coffee or “usual coffee” Roasted and finely grounded coffee beans are boiled together with water. It’s easy and boosts your energy in a great way. Many people used to have coffee together in the cafes or balconies of their houses.

Lunch time in the city life usually lasts from 13:00- to 14:00 and of course for some people it depends on the work schedule and is very often consumed in front of the computer screen. Eating outside is very nice in the downtown of Yerevan where mostly the governmental and private offices are located. It’s more expensive than cooking at home but still, it’s affordable and convenient. Yerevan has a lot of lunch options and you can see many people friends, colleagues are having lunch with together even they are working in different areas of the city. Yerevan is a small city and it is easy and pleasant to walk around. The majority of places interest, museums, cafes and restaurants are in the city center (downtown).No matter in what part of the city you live, and you all end up navigating the streets of tiny city center multiple times a day. As a result, you are constantly bumping into each other and welcoming with a smile! You can walk across the city center in less than an hour. This is another little thing that Yerevan is unique.

However the transportation system in Yerevan is a little poor. There is one metro (Subway) line. The Yerevan Metro is quite reliable and relatively modern, having been built in the early 1980s, with 10 subway stations. It is the quickest way around the city. You must buy t token before entering. Tokens are sold right in the station.

Buses and minivans are the major means of transportation within the city. From Yerevan you can get to literally every place in Armenia within a day. Regardless of the distance, the fare is 100 drams within the city boundaries. The stops are quite close to each other and if you don’t know how to reach somewhere, passengers and the minibus drivers can help you. If you need to get somewhere and you are time- strapped, you almost always go for a taxi (cab). Fortunately, they are extremely affordable. Some people say that in Yerevan you can never meet the same taxi driver twice because there are so many.

Most of Armenian women love cooking and they like getting groceries and markets. Cooking is a really very nice experience in Yerevan in spring, summer and early fall. All the seasonal goods that are displayed on the markets are just amazing. Fresh, local and so affordable. Winter is a bit of a harder play though. In Yerevan there used to be a very nice city market which considered to be one of the most famous and impressive markets in Yerevan. The name of that market was Pak Shukain Armenian (in English it is Covered Market). This market was situated on the main artery of Yerevan’ Mashtots Avenue had a presence of its own a real museum of food. The entrance of the building still exists and it is an amazing artwork in its own right, a massive semicircular iron structure with intricate detail – a master piece! Passing through this work of art you step inside to discover another world! You were greeted by vendors of all types asking you to sample their goods – from delicious homemade dried fruits stuffed with nuts (the stuffed orange or tomatoes for something unique!), paper thin fruit. Right through to fresh “lavash” bread and organic fruit and vegetables and stalls selling herbs and spices. But recently, this market has been changed into a new modern supermarket, but the building itself has been preserved.

Talking about Armenian cuisine we can state that it is one of the oldest in this area. Armenian culinary traditions date back to ancient times and the recipes of many dishes have not changed for millennia. A lot of spices and aromatics are frequently used in Armenian food, such as black pepper, cilantro, mint, basil, tarragon, thyme, garlic and onion. Meat dishes are very popular in Armenia. The crown jewel is khorovats (barbecue). It is usually made with pork, but sometimes with lamb or beef. It’s very simple just marinated meat grilled on hot coals. Despite its simple recipe, a really tasty khorovats is made only in Armenia. Another popular local dish, dolma is made from minced meat with rice and spices and herbs. In the spring, it is wrapped in a grape or cabbage leaves while in the summer and fall, it’s stuffed into quinces, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes and other vegetables. All the subtleties of Armenian cuisine can be learned in numerous restaurants both in the center and in the suburbs of Yerevan.

Speaking of Armenia, one could not but mention the famous Armenian cognac. As early as in year 1900 the Yerevan Wine & Brandy Factory (known also as Shustov Factory) product obtained an official permission to be called “cognac”, which was an honorable privilege for a producer located outside France at that time. Local Brandy-the cognac is the pride and joy of Yerevan. Armenia produces several red and white wines. If you are in Yerevan so don’t miss your chance and have a glass of wine on a warm Yerevan evening, sitting in an open air café and enjoying the view of the city. Local fruits wines are also worth trying. Pomegranate wine, raspberry, and homemade cherry wine are especially popular.

The cozy center of Yerevan is really impressive, and with its surroundings Yerevan is diverse in culture and landscapes.

Yerevan is really rich in open-air cafes. They open in May as soon as it gets warm. Cafes stretch along the entire center, often merging into each other. Bars and pubs are very popular among Yerevan youth, and there are lots of them. They are pretty lively, regardless of the day of the week or the time and they often have live music. Cozy restaurants in the city center are more crowded towards evening. Besides, Caucasian cuisine, which is quite popular, you’ll also find a great deal of restaurants serving European cuisine. Italian food is especially popular. There are several Chinese restaurants and Sushi bars as well. Local people like having coffee or tea at one of the city’s quaint teahouses, or enjoying a nice cold beer at one of the many bars and pubs.