Photography: Hitchhiking Armenia’s Silk Road

Hard to believe, but yes… exactly one year ago, on a gloomy Wednesday morning of November 14th, 2012 together with Emée, a traveller from France (now a good friend, but complete stranger back then), we started out on our hitchhiking trip along the Silk Road of Armenia. Eight intense days on the road, during which our initial idea to compare the life of the Armenians along the Silk Road back in the old times and now transformed into something greater. Our adventure went beyond any terms and ideas, routes and destinations, and we simply allowed ourselves to be soaked in the daily routine of regular Armenians in the cities and villages. To read about our adventures on the Road, click here – Armenia’s Silk Road Trip – 2012. As for this post, I would like to share some photographs from the Silk Road Trip.

Near the village of Ptghavan, Tavush Province of Armenia.

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Armenia’s Silk Road Trip – 2012

~HITCHHIKING ARMENIA’S SILK ROAD~
Stories. Places. People.
~ॐ~

Armenia’s Silk Road: Prologue
Part I: The Start and The Information Quest
Part II: The Family and The Night in Berdavan
Part III: The Morning, The Coffee and The Fortress

Part IV: The Monastery of Akhtala
Part V: From Monasteries to an Abandoned House
Part VI: The Monastery of Haghpat
Part VII: Father Aspet of Haghpat Monastery

Part VIII: From Kober to Russian Village
Part IX: The Russian Village
Part X: From Dilijan to Vodka Party at Lake Sevan
Part XI: The Monastery of Goshavank

Part XII: The Ancient Rocks, The Strange Drivers and The Caravanserai
Part XIII: Selim Caravanserai
Part XIV: From Vayk to Tatev
Part XV: Carahunge: The Stonehenge of Armenia

Part XVI: A Night in Tatev Monastery, Armenia
Part XVII: From Tatev to Kajaran
Part XVIII: When Journey Comes to End
Armenia’s Silk Road: Epilogue

Armenia’s Silk Road: Epilogue

Hitchhiking Armenia’s Silk Road
Epilogue

Prologue: How it all started
Part One // Part Two // Part Three // Part Four // Part Five // Part Six
Part Seven // Part Eight // Part Nine // Part Ten // Part Eleven

This is it! The journey is over. Our hitchhiking trip along the Silk Road of Armenia came to its end, and after eight intense days on the Road we were to return to our daily routine. We were heading back home. In a taxi that gave us a free ride from Meghri to Kapan, talking to the driver about our adventures, I was trying to sum up the journey in my mind. Did I find the answers I was looking for? Did I get what I was expecting? Yes, and No. The initial idea was to write a series of articles comparing the life of Armenians along the Silk Road back then and now. It didn’t work out. Partly, because I wasn’t sure if the route we were following was actually a part of Silk Road. Partly, because of lack of information. Partly, because I was lazy to do more research.

Armenia’s Silk Road: When Journey Comes to End

Hitchhiking Armenia’s Silk Road
Part Eleven

Prologue: How it all started
Part One // Part Two // Part Three // Part Four // Part Five
Part Six // Part Seven // Part Eight // Part Nine // Part Ten

After taking our breakfast, we thank Gayane for their hospitality, and leave Kajaran, walking our way out of the town under rain. We get stuck for about an hour on the outskirts of Kajaran. The weather is cold. The petrol trucks from Iran pass by honking their way up and down the Kajaran mountain pass. We play guitar and sing songs. And we are excited and also somewhat sad for this is the final day of our hitchhiking trip along Armenia’s Silk Road.

Armenia’s Silk Road: From Tatev to Kajaran

Hitchhiking Armenia’s Silk Road
Part Ten

Prologue: How it all started
Part One // Part Two // Part Three // Part Four // Part Five
Part Six // Part Seven // Part Eight // Part Nine

Novermber 20, 2012. The seventh day of our hitchhiking trip along the Silk Road of Armenia. We wake up with the first rings of the church bells of Tatev monastery. The night spent at the oil press of the monastery was rather warm, and despite the fact that camp-bed was short and my feet couldn’t fit normally, my sleep was good. We pack and leave the building. Nothing has changed from the evening. It’s still raining. There is still fog all around. Since Father Mikael, the abbot, and Harutyun, the parish clerk, are busy with the morning service, we walk to the refectory to say goodbye to Ophelia. She invites us in for a cup of tea, and gives us apples and walnuts for the road. “You need to be baptized as soon as possible. Your faith is strong,” says Ophelia to me. Not quite knowing what to answer I smile, and we leave.