RUSSIANS AND CHRISTIANS
About a third of Armenia's population live in its capital, Yerevan. Like many former Soviet cities, there is a stark efficiency to the area, though Yerevan certainly has its own style. One example of this is the Cascade, a five-storey set of steps, fountains, and flower beds leading up to a monument commemorating the 50th anniversary of Soviet Armenia. Armenia gained its independence before the project could be completed, so it remains unfinished. There's also Republic Square, which has a somewhat Roman feel in its design.
After a nice lunch in a cafe near the opera house (where I had a very interesting take on a club sandwich), there's a drive west out to Echmiadzin. This is the holiest of sites for Armenian Christians, in part because it was the capital of Armenia when Christianity was first adopted by the country. Its main cathedral, Mayr Tachar, is surrounded by 19th century buildings, though the entrance is quite modern.
The evening finds me skipping dinner in favor of an early night. I awaken fourteen hours later, finally caught up on some much needed sleep.
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