With less than a week left in Armenia, I have only a few hiking opportunities remaining. Today, AVC organized a Senior and Professional Corps hike to Aghavnavank in Dilijan. I was excited to meet some more of my age-related peers, and also to see the fall colours of Dilijan. It is a 6km loop which passes a centuries old bridge as well as the Surp Asvadzadzin Monastery from the 1200’s.
The forest feels fresh and peaceful, and the path underfoot is wide and easy to navigate . The rare yew grove has trees that are 300 to 400 years old, but they can live up to 1000 years. The Eurasian Yew is in Armenia’s Red Data Book (which tracks conservation and extinction of biological species). We all enjoyed a beautiful day of walking and talking, and were rewarded with a tasty lunch with a view at the Aghavnatun Family Hotel and Restaurant near the trailhead. (The hike can be found on the HikeArmenia app and site.) Thank you to AVC, HikeArmenia, and all the organizers who made this happen for us!
Early to bed for the last hike of my stay tomorrow morning!
And another architectural find on the drive back into Yerevan, on Acharyan Street.
Totem Business Center, formerly the Soviet Research Institute of Stone and Silicates. Built between 1963 and 1968 by architects Levon Nushikyan and others, the mosaic facade is made from 12 varieties of Armenian tuff and other native stones.