Top Menu

Navigation

Author Archive | Heidi Sequenz

Ejminatsin – The Armenian Vatican

By on 22. April 2016 in Armenia, Europe

Armenians are deeply religious, churches are packed with people of all ages during mass. Around Easter is an excellent time to visit Armenia, lots of fascinating ceremonies like the candle-lightening ceremony or the blessing of small wreaths offer great photo ops. Both of these ceremonies I did not know about, but literally ran into them. Like when I passed street vendors selling little green wreaths on a street corner near my hotel, I simply followed the buyers and ended up at a small church dating back to 1694. A week later I noticed  people in the street carrying small, lit candles.  I quickly walked back to this church and again I stumbled into the most moving ceremony, the lightening of candles.

(1 von 1)

Candle Lightning Ceremony

Continue Reading →

0

Windswept Lake Sevan

By on 21. April 2016 in Armenia, Europe

Being the biggest lake in the Caucasus region makes it a very popular summer destination for Armenians. End of March was certainly not the best time to visit this lake high up at almost 2000m. Windswept, bare and snow-covered mountains in the distance did not allow any summerly feelings. Nevertheless the place was packed, mainly with Iranian tourists who literally let their hair down during those trips.

Lake Sevan - bare and windswept

Lake Sevan – bare and windswept

Continue Reading →

0

A Day of monastery hopping: Noravank – Garni – Geghard Monastery

By on 21. April 2016 in Armenia, Europe

Armenia prides itself to be the first country that made Christianity its state religion. Consequently, the country is plastered with monasteries that have one thing in common: a setting with a breathtaking view. The inside of these mostly small stone buildings is usually simple: an altar without much décor, no seats, very few paintings, the omnipresent candle tray, that’s it. Those monasteries are Armenia’s main touristic attractions, although I wanted to avoid this touristic itinerary, I ended up doing exactly that, for one long day.

Typical interior of Armenian churches

Typical interior of Armenian churches

Continue Reading →

0

Stepanakert – the charming capital

By on 20. April 2016 in Asia, Nagorno Karabakh

If I did this trip again, I would spend more time in Stepanakert, I found this a lovely town to stroll around, lots of restaurants, impressive government buildings and two excellent tiny museums reminding of the war. Generally, a very inviting city. The news that one week after I had left, fighting broke out again was extremely shocking. I remembered the people sitting in street-side cafés, children buying ice-cream on the way home from school, couples on benches in the many parks. All in all, living a life as we all do and I wondered what happened to them.

Approaching Stepanakert

Approaching Stepanakert

Continue Reading →

0

Armenian Genocide of 2015

By on 10. April 2016 in Armenia, Middle East/Caucasus

In 2015 Armenia commemorated the 100th anniversary of the genocide of 1915. The number of victims is incomprehensible –  1,5 million Armenians lost their lives. They were executed or marched across the Syrian desert. Many died along the way  of exhaustion, exposure and starvation. In Yerevan the Genocide Museum is a stark reminder of this very dark part of Armenian history.

Genocide Memorial

Genocide Memorial in Yerevan

Continue Reading →

0

Gandzasar Monastery meets kitschy Vank

By on 8. April 2016 in Asia, Nagorno Karabakh

By the time I visited Gandzasar I had had my dose of monasteries and had chosen my clear favorites: Khor Virap with majestic Mount Ararat as a backdrop and fairyland-like Noravank wrapped in a blanket of snow. Gandzasar became the perfect number three. Why? It was so quiet there, I hardly wanted to leave. You could hear nothing, absolutely nothing, but a few birds. At the end of March I was the only tourist, summers are busy I was told. Besides it is a popular wedding destination for Russians.

Gandazhar Monastery 10th century

Continue Reading →

0

Khor Virap Monastery comes with a view

By on 2. April 2016 in Armenia
Khor Virap

Mount Ararat, 5300m, Khor Virap Monastery

From Khor Virap Monastery the view of Mount Ararat is unbeatable, but unfortunately its summit is almost always hidden behind thick clouds. Therefore, I had watched the weather forecast carefully, and Monday March 21st, was the day to do it! Clear skies, off to Khor Virap.

Though Mount Ararat is 8km across the border onTurkish territory, this 5,300m high mountain seems so close. While marveling at its beauty you wonder where exactly Noah’s Ark stranded on the mountain, during the biblical flood.  If you have time to visit only one monastery while in Armenia, choose this one. Continue Reading →

0

Armenia’s South – Goris

By on 2. April 2016 in Armenia, Middle East/Caucasus
Goris - rock formation and ancient cave dwellings

Goris – rock formation and ancient cave dwellings

Ancient Goris

The absolute highlights in Goris are the majestic and bizarre rock formations. Many are punctured with wide caves hewn into the soft rock where people used to live and shelter their animals. Accounts of a Greek historian mention cavemen living here in the 5th century BC, now beat that. This sight came completely unexpected, since my guidebook did not mention it.

The scenery is really dramatic; spires rise up into the sky from the very green carpet of grass that covers the less vertical parts, with a huge cemetery at its feet. It was definitely worth walking up to the feet of the rocks: great view with the river below, snow covered mountains around it, all in a secluded valley. Continue Reading →

0

Yerevan beyond the radio

By on 1. April 2016 in Armenia

I didn’t know what to expect. All I ever associated with Yervan was the bad joke about Radio Yerevan during Communist days. By and by I discovered a thriving, enterprising city. Businesses are open seven days a week, often until late in the evening.

What Yerevan has plenty of is museums. The must-see: the Genocide Museum – a powerful and well-made reminder of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. About 1,5 million Armenians fell victim to the mass killing ordered by the decaying Ottoman Empire.

Genocide Museum

Genocide Memorial and Museum, bleak reminder of the 1,5 million Armenians killed during the 1915 genocide

Continue Reading →

0

Senja – a photo selection

By on 6. March 2016 in Europe, Europe – Photos, Norway

February 2016 I finally did it. Seeing and photographing the northern lights has been on my mind for a long time. For this photography workshop I chose http://arr.at because of the location, Senja in northern Norway. A great choice. Picturesque fjords, scenic fishing villages and majestic mountains provide great photo-ops during the day, in the evenings we chased the northern lights. Being right on the ocean had various advantages: temperatures were surprisingly mild (given that we were 400km north of the polar circle)  and the weather changes rapidly, bright sunshine and heavy snowfall within an hour. Of course the northern lights are as spectacular in the interior of Lapland, but there you can easily be stuck in a storm for a week at minus 35 degree Celsius. Only the Sami people enjoy this battery-eating temperatures.

Read More

1