"Yerevan" Yerevan by JohnniOmani

Yerevan is a modern city racing into the 21st century with a bang. Yerevan and its trendy cafes, wide avenues and extreme wealth had to be one of the biggest suprises Ive ever experienced. After arriving from Tbilisi most people expect a city with similar standards and views but Yerevan oozes wealth and class and is on par with any European capital. The entire experience reminded me of my travels in Beirut, Lebanon. Trendy guys walk side by side with gorgeous ladies while young people race around the city in hummers, mercedes and beamers. Newly repaved squares, interesting museums, buzzing cafes/ clubs and trendy shops are all proof of the citys move towards the future. The cultural life is incredible for a city of its size and it is easy to get caught up in the cafe scene. Yerevan is dramatically different than the rest of the country and the only explanation for the extreme difference among the population is foreign investment or corruption. Despite being home to corruption and incredible foreign investment, Yerevan is unlike most cities in the world. Beautiful city.

Republic Square

One of the best and most enjoyable things to do in Yerevan is to walk around and take in the buildings and vibe. The buildings are a pinkish color and the citys best architecture can be seen in Republic square. The former Lenin square is surrounded by an art gallery, Marriott hotel and the State museum. The fountains and sight of families walking around enjoying each others company makes the feeling memorable. The square is beautiful and it is the heart of the city for good reason.

Matenadaran

Yerevan has some fantastic musuems but unfortunately the museums have limited English labels but this museum is self explantory. Matenadaran is home to Armenias ancient manuscripts library. It is home to over 15,000 manuscripts and 100,000 medieval and modern documents. The building was vital for protecting and preserving Armenian heritage especially during the war times and throughout the genocide. The actual manuscripts on display are only a fraction of what is held in its vaults but what is on display is incredibly impressive. There are even manuscripts from around the world and it was one of most interesting museums Ive ever seen. It is brilliant.