Armenia spent most of the 20th century as the Soviet Union's
finger stuck into the eye of the Middle East. It's still trying to
work things out with Muslim neighbors, most notably Azerbaijan, and
these conflicts have strained an already weak economy. Keep your tent
and sleeping bag handy.
We used Yerevan, Armenia's capital and one of the world's
oldest settlements, as our base for daytrips around the country. Yerevan
offers cheap prices, decent food, and many museums that display artifacts
from Armenia's long history as a cradle of early civilization. Most
attractions outside of Yerevan are religious: variations of the 'ancient-monastery-on-a-hill'
theme. You'll learn enough about the Armenian Orthodox Church to last
a lifetime.
Highlight: See how Armenia's Christianity thrives
at the doorstep of Islamic neighbors.
