Day 5 April 17, 2026
We start today at the produce market which has lots more food than just produce. Once again we are early so some of the vendors are not open. The market is indoors and this time of year there are no flies. The smell is good too. The meat counters even look clean and fresh. Everything is arranged so beautifully. They have many items we do not. This is especially true for fruits and vegetables.
Now its off to Megerian Carpet Manufacturers. This is one of the old families that continues to make carpets in the original way. They tie a double knot unlike some companies. Therefore they think their carpets will last longer. We watched some ladies working in the factory. What a slow process even though they are fast. A large carpet with two ladies working on it can still take several months. The museum there contains some very old carpets. One of those had been cut in half when the family members were deported. Fifty years later they managed to run into each other. At least one person in our group bought a small carpet.
Next stop was the Yerevan Ararat Brandy Distillery. It was founded in 1877. Quite the facility. One room has barrels of brandy with the names of governmental officials who have visited the distillery. None of them were Americans. We sampled 3 and 7 year old brandies. They sell some that is aged for 20 years. An Armenian tradition is to buy a bottle of 20 year old brandy when a baby is born. The baby’s name is put on the bottle and when they marry the brandy is served. Our guide was quite surprised to learn her folks had such a bottle with her name on it. So many guests came when she married.
After lunch we visited Etchmiadzin Cathedral which is the mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It was built between 301 and 303 by Armenia’s patron saint Gregory the Illuminator. The cathedral is located in the administrative headquarters of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Within the grounds is a school and seminary. In another building baptisms are performed. Numerous people were there dressed very nicely for baptisms. Inside the cathedral Is the treasury where numerous significant items are kept. Two of these are a piece of Noah’s Ark and the sword that pierced Jesus’s side.
The last stop of the day was Zvartnots Cathedral, a 7th-century Armenian cathedral located near Vagharshapat, Armenia. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned as a masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture. The cathedral was constructed between 641 and 661 but was destroyed by a powerful earthquake in the 10th century. A bride and groom were having photos taken at the site. Her dress and veil were both very long and getting dirty dragging on the ground. It was rather funny watching them trying to get all of that in the car for the get away photos.
Dinner was on our own tonight. We ended up walking a short distance down the street to a Wendy’s that had only recently opened. It was extremely busy. Tasted pretty much like home. We should have counted the number of food delivery guys picked up orders. It’s a Friday night and the streets are full of people and cars.
Spoffords Travel 