Maria Lapuk is the spokeswoman for the Russian “Odnoklassniki” social network. It turned out that Masha liked our country so much that she agreed to make a special project for us and tell people who have never been here about Armenia.

To make Masha’s stories more vivid we have chosen the pictures of Alexander Tyagny-Ryadno, a Russian photographer who visited Armenia on Mediamax’s invitation in 2006.

Read the prevous parts here.

Part 4: Vardavar or an absolutely crazy day

Cascade

I am not a modern art lover. As it’s been said in one movie, “You see a yellow triangle in a modern art gallery, read the title “Yellow triangle” and there is no mystery at all”. But the Cascade or the Cafesjian Center for the Arts, featuring a large collection of art glass, is really worth visiting. The room with big chandeliers made of Swarovski crystals in string bags is something that one should necessarily see. But to enjoy the beautiful art, it’s not even necessary to enter the museum as a wonderful collection of modern sculptors’ works is waiting for the visitors in front of the museum- Columbian Fernando Botero’s “Fat Cat”,  the elephant and the rabbits of the “Alice in wonderland”. People choose the one they like most, take a photo in front of it and then place it on Facebook.

After visiting the Cascade, go to one of the cafés and drink a mineral water, which is just amazing. I can’t understand why they sell various BonAqua in Armenia when they have their “Jermuk”! If you only knew how much I miss the delicious Armenian water in Moscow.

There are many museums and art galleries featuring contemporary Armenian artists in Yerevan. I haven’t had enough time to visit all of them, so I’ll leave them for my future stories about Armenia.

What else can you do in Armenia?

Besides many attractions you will always find something to do in  Armenia. For example, if you want to sleep, taste homemade bread or see how it is baked, you must definitely go to Aghveran. There are a lot of comfortable hotels and resorts there. The area is interesting because you drive very long among almost “bald”, sun-burned mountains and then appear in a green paradise with the cleanest air. This is really amazing.
 
You can always listen to wonderful jazz in Yerevan. I love going to “Malkhas” café on Pushkin Street with my friends. You have to go there at midnight, take a cocktail and wait for maestro Malkhasyan. And then you close your eyes and listen to great music. You can do it every night and never get tired.


Photo: Alexander Tyagny-Ryadno.

The lovers of more unexpected entertainments can visit Armenia in late July during Vardavar. This is an absolutely crazy day when you can get wet from top to toe several times a day. Unknown people will be pouring buckets of water on you because it’s a holiday. Oh, I wanted to go to the Republic Square on Vardavar: it was amazing - not a single dry person. And the most important thing is that no one is offended, and tourists are told about what’s going on only after they get totally wet. It’s a very funny holiday! I received a portion of cold water on that hot day at the restaurant, to be more exact – when I was leaving it.

You can wake up early in the morning in Yerevan and go to Vernisazh – a fair in the center of the city, buy nice jewelry and presents for all your friends, find beautiful vases of early century, a coffee Turk with an inscription from 50s, buy beautiful jewelry made of leather and many, many unnecessary but enormously nice things.


Photo: Alexander Tyagny-Ryadno.

Then you can go to the market (unfortunately my favorite Closed Market is under reconstruction) and buy a basket of fruits.  And then you can just roam the streets and loiter in parks. In the evening you can go to the fountains and sit at a nice café with a glass of wine. You can also go to a restaurant for 2000 people, where you will dine quickly and taste delicious things. You will be surprised to see how people can have fun.

It’s always sad leaving Armenia after such wonderful trips. I always feel sad but I find the strength. I buy Armenian cognac, candies, wine and tea in Duty Free and fly back to Moscow to return to Yerevan in a couple of months!

Text: Maria Lapuk – especially for Mediamax
Photos: Alexander Tyagny-Ryadno.