Back into Georgia (Friday 29th July & Saturday 30th July)

Long Drive day on Friday with 3 sightseeing stops plus a lunch stop.  Left Yaravan at 09:00 first towards Mt Ararat in the south then moved north towards Lake Sevan. 

Stopped at Khor-Virap Monastery overlooking Mt Ararat, then after a winding climb through a gorge we stopped at Noravank Hopabahk Monastery.  

 

After lunch we stopped to see a reconstructed camel stop which originally on one of the silk routes.  The building was near the top of another long winding road up a spectacular valley.  

Made a bush camp on the shore of Lake Sevan. The view in the morning was pretty good - see photo. 

On Saturday we recrossed the Georgian border before bush camping the other side of Tbilisi.  It was a second long drive day with a single Monestary stop and a lunch stop in Armenia.  Crossing the border was straightforward with another 2 stamps in everyone’s passport. 

When we were driving around Tbilisi we were held up in a major traffic queue caused by a train crash which resulted in petrol spillage on the dual carriageway  next to the railway. 

On the way up to finding the bush camp we saw wedding celebrations at another monestary from a distance. 

The bush camp is near the top of a hill with fantastic views over the surrounding countryside.  The grasshoppers are big and noisy!  (see photo).  

Truck Cluedo update.  The Australian nurse strikes again and again!  On Saturday Kieran killed Rakhee with a pen on a truck stop and then within 2 hours Laura with a country guide book in the truck. Apparently Rakkee had previously killed Laura, but did not claim it at the time.   Kieran has now killed a total of 4 and husband Glen is beginning to get worried. 

Melting in Yaravan (Wednesday 27th July and Thursday 28th July)

Breakfast came early at 06:00 and we were taking the tents down and having breakfast in the dark.  This was the first time we had gone to bed and got up in the dark – sign of things to come.  We left the camp site at 07:10 heading for Lake Yaravan, capital of Armenia. 

The capital is a real surprise – modern, sophisticated, clean and westernised.  The hostel is the best accommodation to date (modern dorms with electricity and wireless internet, good showers and toilets) – we are being spoilt.
It is very hot here especially from 11:00 to 18:00. Must be around 40 deg C. 







When we arrived I managed to get a free coffee from a coffee shop which actually officially opens next week.
   

In the afternoon I went with Will, Johnie and Tonito to the Museum (which specialised in ancient books and documents), the amazing art gallery and lastly I found impressive Opera House.

 

We all slept in  on Tuesday until about 09:30.  After breakfast I went to the Central Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, the English Park, a major Church, the “outdoor” market, and the main Museum.When I had lunch at a street cafe I was in the shad, but it was so hot that the small chocolate which I had with my coffee actually melted and I drank it after my coffee.  












 














In the evening the city really comes alive.  I saw the fountain show in one of the squares (I will put a video of it on the blog). 

And so to Armenia (Tuesday 26th July)

Long Drive today from north Georgia to south Georgia.  2 stops before the border, one for diesel and the second 10 km north of the border for a lunch stop. 

Just over 2 hrs getting through the Armenian border including everyone getting a Visa (3000 AMD, approx. 10 USD).  The clocks have now moved forward 1 hr to Armenian time, so we are now 4 hrs ahead of the UK 

 

As we were later getting through the border than expected we visited Haghpat Monastery before finding a bush camp for the night.   

 

There were very few suitable sites, but Will eventually pulled off the road in a small layby, in river valley.  We didn’t finish supper until 22:30 (Armenia time), but we still managed to eat it.  The cook group did really well to prepare it that late.      

Truck Cluedo update.  Lily killed Toni with nail varnish remover outside the baggage area.

And so to the Russian Border (Monday 25th July)

Will, Johnny, Glyn and Kieran returned from an overnight camp at the glacier this morning.  Lu, Megan, Carl & Vanessa returned later in the evening from Tbilisi and Batumi after leaving yesterday on a bus to sort out the outstanding Visa’s. 

The weather today is much better, sunnier and warmer thank yesterday when we had a few light showers and it was mainly overcast. 

After breakfast I walked up to the other side of the town where Phil and Marina had found the only bank in the town.  At 10:00 it opened and we managed to get some cash on our credit cards (no ATM in the town at all) and then agreed to share a taxi to visit the Russian border. 

En route we were taken to see a pretty waterfall after the Lada 4x4 taxi managed to climb up an impossible rough track.  Some interesting road works were taking place on the road edge near the tunnel (see photo album). 

We stopped for a few minutes at the border and were asked not to take photos, but we did sneak a couple. 

On my return to Kazbegi  I visited the local church and museum.  Next to the Church was the abandoned terminal for the cable car which originally went up to the Tsminda Sameba Church. 

Sunday 24th July

Home Stay.  The facilities are basic, but adequate – we are a large group so it is obviously stretching the resources.  In the main bathroom there are 2 shower cubicles (only 1 with a hot heater), a single basin and 2 toilet cubicles.  When you turn on the shower hot water all the lights in the house dim!  The electrics need to be seen to be believed, but at least they work at the moment.  Internet is available using a single dedicated PC, so people are taking it in turns. 

Norman, Lily and I walked up to the Tsminda Sameba Church overlooking Kazbegi in the morning (90 mins up a steep slope), then caught up with laundry, internet etc.  for the rest of the day.  The church is located at 2,200m and was built in the 14^th century.