We landed at Zvartnots airport at 3:30AM! A cab delivered us to our hotel (the Armenia Marriott Yerevan ) situated slap in the city center on Republic Square.
Yerevan is often described as a pink city as many of the buildings are built of the local pink tuff. It is considered the national stone and has been used to build everything from government buildings to places of worship and castles.
Centuries ago Armenians became convinced that tuff is a stronger stone than brick. It is formed as a result of volcanic eruption and is the mix of burning ash and pumice. An advantage is that it is lightweight, can easily be sculpted and carved, and the variations in color add interest to the structure. Being of a porous nature, the tuff ventilates and allows buildings to breathe with a natural protection against cold or heat.
The city is situated in western Armenia, on the banks of the Hrazdan River. More than 1 million people live in Armenia’s capital and 98 percent of them are Armenians.
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. As always your photos astound me. And, while I may never make it to all the gems you share, I feel like I’ve been there. Thank you for taking the time and making such efforts to share your experiences. See you way too soon, but Maine has its beauty as well, right?