"Armenia" a Armenia Travel Page by JohnniOmani

Ancient Armenia is the safest and easiest country to travel around in the Caucasus. Armenians are a great mix of cultures and peoples and they combine the traditonal mentality and customs of the region yet the lifestyle of the Mediterranean region. The tragic past of the Armenians has caused them to be displaced and spread across globe. Despite suffering a genocide at the hands of their neighbour, the nationals of Armenia are and continue to be optimistic and nationalistic. Armenia is quite unique. It is home to opera, museums, parks, cafes and Armenians know how to socialize and live life to the fullest. The countrys landscape is vast and beautiful and it includes Mt. Ararat (now in Turkey but truely Armenian), stony pastures, gorges and oak forests. Armenia has recently become one of the fastest growing economies in Europe and this is most evident in Yerevan. Earthquakes, freezing winters and no jobs are the norm for the rural areas of the country while cognac and trendy cafes line the streets of the capital. Eventhough the rural residents live a different lifestyle than their neighbours in the big city, both sets of folks dont forget their traditions or how to treat a host. If you are ever someones guest at a thome, watch how quickly the table of fresh produce, snacks and wine appears. The hospitality is legendary. Armenia has an amazing history and a country of dramatic differences. Armenia is a special destination.

It is hard to mention Armenia without some form of reference to religion. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity in AD 301 and since that date there has been countless religious structures built around the countryside and the world. Nearly all (around 90%) of Armenians align themselves with the Armenian Apostolic church. Although there are differences between the Armenian and Catholic church, their relics and structures are everywhere. The structures have even survived wars and the occupation of the Soviet Union. The church was assimilated into Communist rule by Stalin in the 30s and some religious leaders in Armenia died in the Gulags in Russia. There are thousands of churches and some of the monasteries are spectacular. Armenia has numerous UNESCO sites and it would take forever to see them all. Fantastic.

Armenia is currently experiencing dramatic changes with regards to it economy. Newspapers, magazines and guide books state that it is a country at the crossroads. A country with unlimited potential and a workforce ready to jump start the nation into the 21st century. Yerevan does have it overwhelmingly fair share of Hummers, BMWs and Mercedes Benz but outside the capital life is another story. The outer reaching areas of Armenia are still experiencing the economic troubles of the 1990s when unemployment was at a staggering 80% in the villages. It is true that the economy is expanding due to cheap Iranian fuel, aid packages from the US and other countries as well as the diamond business. The future looks bright for many Armenians but unfortunately the billions that are being pumped into the country are falling into corrupt hands of Russian and Armenia businessmen. In 2003, the average wage was around $50 US a month with an average pension being a 1/3 of that amount. Traveling around Armenia and speaking to some of the elders makes you feel like they enjoyed the communist times more than the present day capitalist system. The older folks told me that even though the communist times were difficult, the present day situation is worse. Communism was not loved by Armenians but at least the elders had a roof and pension plan. The situation may be bright for the elite in Yerevan but it is not the case for the elders and younger generation working in small towns. Millions have fled the country years ago due to persecution making the ‘brain drain’ scenario extremely evident throughout the country. It is extremely difficult to predict the future of a nation but unless the new found wealth is spread around to its people and infrastructure, Armenia will continue to have a deep divide among its people.