Apricots, Monasteries, and Ladas.

We couldn’t find much info online about Armenia before we visited (other than the huge amount of ancient churches everywhere!), so we just crossed our fingers and threw ourselves in.

Now we’ve been back three times and spent two months here; we can tell you that Armenia is so much more than just churches.

It’s strangers gifting you dried apricots for your journey. It’s sparkling lakes and dramatic valleys. It’s wine-making and cooking lavash in an underground tonir.

It’s climbing the iconic Cascade and hoping that the city haze will clear to reveal mighty Mount Ararat. It’s sitting in the sun and sipping on strong coffee with a slice of gata.

Armenia will surprise you.