Slightly Surreal Days in Yerevan, Armenia
okay, so i stumbled into yerevan. literally stumbled. i think the gravitational pull here is a little… off. i got this weird sequence of numbers in my head - 3085041
1616172264 - felt like a GPS coordinate or something, so i just… went with it. and here i am. the temp is a balmy 2.72°C, feels like 1.29°C. a real crispness in the air, you know? the pressure’s 1004, humidity’s a bit clingy at 61%. it’s kind of... peaceful. maybe a little too peaceful. i just checked and it's… brisk, there right now, hope you like that kind of thing.
this place is a whirlwind. the architecture is a mix of everything; ancient stone next to these brutalist concrete buildings that look like they’re perpetually shedding skin. i spent yesterday wandering around republic square - it’s surprisingly chill, despite being the central hub. lots of people just… existing. i even saw a guy juggling apples while listening to throat singing. no joke.
my little corner of this chaos is a surprisingly cozy Airbnb. the host, arina, keeps leaving little plates of dried apricots on the doorstep. sweet woman. she told me to check out the Vernissage market - supposedly a great place for souvenirs. someone told me that the prices are… negotiable, let’s just say.
and the people - man, the people. they’re warm, genuinely curious. i was trying to figure out how to order coffee (apparently, ‘coffee’ is a very specific thing here), and a guy at the cafe next door spent a good ten minutes explaining the nuances of different roasts. it was lovely. i heard that you should always accept tea if offered - it’s a sign of hospitality. i’m trying to soak it all in.
*Pro-tip: learn a few basic Armenian phrases. even just ‘barev dzez’ (hello) goes a long way. Don't be afraid to get lost. Seriously. some of the best discoveries happen when you wander without a plan.
Overheard gossip: Apparently, the best place to catch a live music show is a small bar called ‘The Cellar.’ Someone mentioned the owner has a surprisingly extensive collection of vinyl records.
I’m thinking of taking a day trip to Geghard Monastery. I’ve seen some photos online - looks incredible. Just be prepared for some serious uphill walking! If you get bored, Armenia is just a short drive away. There's a whole different vibe in the mountains.
my phone’s acting up a little - keeps losing signal. which is oddly refreshing, to be honest. it’s forcing me to actually look* around. this whole trip feels a bit like a dream. a slightly blurry, apricot-scented dream. i'm planning on checking out EatWith to find some local food experiences. and maybe some local art - there’s a cool gallery district i read about on Culture Trip. Yerevan Restaurants
wish me luck on deciphering the rest of this adventure. i’m off to find some more dried fruit.
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