18 and 19 May – Yerevan (Armenia) to Bushcamp (Georgia)

Before leaving Yerevan most people went to the local supermarket to spend all the bits of Armenian money that they had left over. I bought cartons of fruit juices which are very cheap here.

Deadly Vodka

Just prior to the border the truck was refuelled and the remaining money was spent on ice-creams, at last one for everyone. It took about 40 minutes to cross both borders with no visa fees required for either.

Views from Yerevan to the Armenian border

Countryside

Farm

Town

Countryside

Copper Mine

Washing day

Views after crossing into Georgia

An old wine press. Fill with grapes and jump in.

Wine jar

Shelling walnuts to put in the bread

Bakers shop

The group

On the way to the night’s bush camp we stopped at the Davit Gareja Monastery. For once we were able to drive almost to the door and I thought that it would be an easy visit to a monastery this time. Not my luck! As it was early afternoon and very hot I covered up with sun cream, water in my pocket and hat on my head ( not like some of the others who thought that it would be an easy visit) and went to the monastery and enjoyed looking round. Then came the catch! There were some caves to be visited right on the top of the very steep mountain. I managed to get up the top then found that I had to walk just below the peak of the mountain with a long steep fall down. Too much for me but I was persuaded by the others to carry on so with Suzanne holding my arm (like a hospital patient) and walking outside me, Maggie watching from behind and with Rogan giving words of encouragement I managed to walk along the peak. It was worth it in the end but had I known at the start what it would be like I doubt that i would have gone up in the first place. The walk down was easy after that. There was plenty of puffing and panting done by us all by the end of that walk! Anita even volunteered to do my cook group work that evening as I was really tired after the walk (climb).

View from up the mountain

View from further up the mountain

Even further up the mountain

A view of the valley

Belligerent little bloke

Monks caves cut out of                                             the rocks

Beautiful frescoes

The path below the ridge looking at Azerbaijan

Monastery Buildings

The church

The church

Caves in the monastery grounds

After about 30 minutes travelling we set up another bush camp when it rained not long after we finished eating and had lit a fire to warm ourselves. It then rained most of the night.