Kazakhstan - Nur Sultan (Astana): A modern city

Kazakhastan is the 9th largest country in the world

Nur Sultan is the new name of Astana (since March, 2019) City was founded in 1997

Hazmat Sultan Mosque 

Nur Sultan was  the futuristic vision of President Nazarbayev who left office in March, 2019.  City is full of modern buildings, this one resembles a cigarette lighter and is owned by one of the oil companies.

Another building owned by oil companies frames the walkway and park to the Khan Shatyry

Khan Shatyry (King’s Marquis) is a shopping mall &entertainment center in the capital city 

Interesting architecture  

Baitarek Tower, the symbol of Nur Sultan (Astana) 

 

The city was built from scratch backed by oil money 

Pyramid Center - Palace of Peace & Reconciliation is a meeting center, opened in 2006. Congress of leaders of the world & traditional religions meets once every 3 years in a round conference room at the top of the pyramid

  

Yellow tinted windows made clear photos difficult from the top of the Baitarek Tower. The walkway and park starts at the President’s Palace & stretches to the Khan Shatyry (tent structure mall/entertainment center)

Armenia Photos Khor Virap to end of Armenia

Our clearest view of Mt. Ararat where Noah’s ark is said to have been found

Khor Virap (means deep well) is an Armenian Monastery in the fertile Ararat plain with Mount Ararat in the background

St. Gregory was imprisoned here in a well full of snakes & insects for 13 years because he refused to place a wreath at the foot of the pagan goddess Anahit.  He survived supposedly because a villager provided him with food.

(Closed) Turkey boarder on left (white guard house) & Armenian border on right  (dark green guard house) - about 15 miles from the monastery

Red, blue & apricot Armenian flag at the highest point on the monastery site

Our next visit was to the beautifully located Noravank Monastery 13th century

Noravank Monastery is located in a narrow gorge with tall, sheer colorful cliffs directly across from the monastery 

Garni Temple - only  Greco Roman colonnaded building in Armenia, sitting on a cliff overlooking the ravine of the Azat River & the Gegham Mountains

The pagan temple was dedicated to the the Armenian sun god Mihr, built in the middle of the first century, ruined by invasions and earthquakes it was reconstructed in the late 1960’s 

 

Gorge near the temple 

Geghard Monastery 4th century,  a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

Monastery Chapel - notice the Armenian niches

Geghard Monastery partially carved out of the adjacent mountain surrounded by cliffs

Entrance to a burial room with tombs where we  were fortunate to listen to choirs paying homage to those interned in the tomb 

Entrance to Etchmiadzin Cathedral - the center of American Apostolic Church (their Vatican)  

The Treasury on the grounds of the Cathedral contains historical artifacts.

In  this framed picture of the cross, the matte is believed to be a piece from Noah's ark found at Mount Ararat (bottom left hand side of the wood is broken off)

Sword that is believed to have been used to pierce Jesuses' side at the crucifixion.  There are supposedly 3 other swords claiming the same

Room in the Treasury dedicated to our Alex Manoogian who was a benefactor of the Treasury

Known for Masco Corporation and designing hot/cold taps on faucets

Zvarnot Tempke ruins

Armenia Photos - Dilijan & Yerevan, the capital

Driving into Armenia we passed Armenia’s underground military airport built underground during Soviet rule.

Our first stop in Armenia was at the Haghpat Monastery 10th century

Interesting benefactor of the monastery after it was ruined by an earthquake

Apostolic Church in the monastery - no icons inside

Karini, our Armenian guide, explaining khackhars, which are carved stone cross memorials

Side view of the Church, notice the niches on each side.  These were designed by Armenian builders  to limit damages to buildings during earthquakes 

We stopped for lunch in the town of Dilijan.   This is part of the restored old city 

  Lake Sevan

During Stalin’s rule, the lake was drained to create dams. It was later decided to fill the lake, but it was too late and the flora and fauna of the lake was irreparably harmed.

Sevanavak Monastery located on the peninsula of Lake Sevan

Armenia has tried to restore the lake as best as possible 

View of Lake Sevan from the restaurant where we had dinner 

Evening fountain/music light show in the capital, Yerevan

Show takes place every night from 8 to 10 

Wonderful way to spend an evening

Families and tourists enjoy the show - great people watching as well

Mother Armenia on Victory Park overlooking Yerevan, capital of Armenia

View of Yerevan from Victory Park with Mount Ararat in the back

Statue of architect who planned the cultural center of the city with the design of the Cascades. Steps from the top take you down to cultural venues and into a beautiful park

Escalators to the Cafesjian Center for the Arts

As you go up the escalator, you view art pieces exhibits  - an innovative chair 

Interesting carved bench

We ended the day on a somber note visiting the Armenian Genocide Museum and  Memorial - an unspeakable tragedy!

Eternal Flame - May they rest in peace

Sculpture represents a wound that is still bleeding.  Many countries still do not recognize the genocide