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Published: October 21st 2017
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FACES OF ARMENIA...The Most Beautiful Women in the World. I am so embarrassed...I can't stop shaking my head in disbelief...like a snail hiding from the sun under a leaf...like a chameleon afraid to show his true colours.
What made me like this?
Is it too much sun? Past my used by date? Silly due to the oppressive heat? Politeness overcoming common sense? An over abundance of self-conscious hormones in my jeans...or is it in my genes?
The measure of a man is how he deals with disappointment.
OK I'll fess up...missed opportunity after opportunity...not wanting to look like an Ugly Tourist...Yeh that's it.
Others would say gutless I reckon.
I visit Armenia voted by reliable sources as having the most beautiful women in the World...and I'm too timid to ask if I may take their photo.
Afraid to be seen as a voyeur maybe.
A Portrait Photographer's Nightmare...reduced to Dreams Rife with Regret.
******
In 2015 the UK Daily Mail wrote:
"
It is news that Kim Kardashian will relish - Armenian women have been voted the sexiest in the world. In the survey of over 44,000
Taco Me
Geghard Cave Monastery American men, the nationality was seen as the most attractive, with Bajan, American, Colombian and English women also making the top five.
Aussies, Brazilians, Filipina, Bulgarian and Lebanese ladies also made the grade, in the poll conducted by a travel dating website.
Meanwhile, out of 66,000 women, the nationality deemed most alluring for men was Irish, followed by Australian, Pakistani and American.
English men make up the top five, with Scottish, Italian, Nigerian, Danish and Spanish making it into the top 10.
The website, MissTravel, is designed to attract two types of member: 'generous' members and 'attractive members'.
The idea is that the generous members - male - pay for the attractive members - female - to join them on exotic and glamorous trips around the world."
So far, gotta say it...seedy.
"The website states: 'It’s no surprise that diverse, exotic nationalities like Armenian and Bajan topped the women’s list, voted for by men, as superstars like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna have commanded Instagram attention in the tune of millions of followers."
Meanwhile, it attributes ladies drooling over British actor Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades of Grey, and British-Pakistani Zayn Malik to
Merri
Bridesmaid at Sevanavank Monastery for her sister's wedding the popularity of those nationalities in their survey.
There is no mention of Dornan's role as a psychopath killer in the BBC thriller, The Fall.
The previous year, Brazilian women got the top spot, while Aussie men were most popular."
Now I've read that...I feel better.
Not because I'm the Kardashian's least least fan...It's 'cos I'm not likely to be regarded as seedy.
Even so...I saw so many drop dead beautiful women in Armenia I'm prepared to say..."Delightfully hospitable people...gorgeous women."
What about the men? you say.
Sorry...my sweetheart Denise has always been my Number One...other than her...I only have eyes for the women!
******
History Museum of Armenia...The Legend of Being How can a Nation raped and pillaged for so many centuries...have such splendours not stolen by conquerors?
Where can such treasures be found?
In Yerevan on the northern end of Republic Square next to the Singing Fountains that's where.
Definitely one of the best museums I have ever seen.
Be seduced, be captivated, marvel at antiquities from Armenia in the Paleolithic Age, in the Epoch of Bronze & Iron, the
"I Do"
St Gayane Monastery, Echmiadsen Empire of Van (Urartu), History & Culture that will make you wince with the incredulity of this ancient and advanced culture...whose roots straddle early man to the present.
An exploration of Armenia MUST begin at this place.
The archeological relics excavated from various sites in Armenia showing evidence of agricultural and cattle breeding communities from the 9th millenium BC.
To see ornate daggers, pottery with complex designs, chariots and carts with massive wooden slab wheels, statuettes of the Bronze Age blew my mind. In stone, gold or clay.
Ornate axe heads, goblets and sculptures with animal , bird or chariots with drivers...decorated swords and other weaponry. Shengavit, Vanadzor, Lchashen and Lori Berd cultures to name a few...cultures that must have been among the most advanced in the ancient world...stunning.
The star of the show...the symbol of the museum itself...a bronze geocentric model of the Solar System...11th - 12th Centuries BC from the Lake Sevan region.
Said to be evidence that the ancient Armenians considered the Earth was round...also confirmed in manuscripts.
My brain swims with the number of funky bronze warriors with spears...the ornate quality of the weopanry...then I came under the spell
The Solar System 11-12Century B.C
History Museum of Armenia, Yerevan of the Van.
From the 9th to the 6th Centuries BC the first two empires of the Iron Age...the Neo-Assyrian and the Biainili (Van) emerged from the decline of the Egyptians, the Hittites, the Middle Assyrian Kingdom...even those depicted in the Trojan Wars by Homer.
The Empire of Van also referred to as the Urartu with its fortress towns...cuneiform texts on stone slabs...pointed helmets in bronze...ornate horse bridles that I'd be proud to wear... figurines of goddesses, animals, birds, pottery in excellent condition...a bronze shield that was so ornate I swooned...evidence of exotic battles and excesses.
I had not heard of the Van or Urartu before...but now my ancient world heroes...very impressive.
The coins of the ancient world with the heads of rulers of myriads of civilisations from the 1st Century BC through to the impact of Christianity from 301AD...the treasures from monasteries (see my last blog)...Khachkars (cross-stones) and monuments in stone...the Art of Sumptuousness...then there were the handmade rugs.
And by the way...if you visit the museums in Armenia you gotta get a guide...only the brain-dead would not be glad they did so!
Armenian Rugs Armenian rugs. I've got a
My Armenian Rug
The cats love it house full of Persian, Tibetan, Chinese, Afghani...know about Turkish and Moroccan...but Armenian????
A tradition in Armenian rugs since the 5th century B.C.
Gotta get one...but how will I carry it/them?
There were zillions in markets in Yerevan...excellent quality...some with the geometric dragon design...not expensive at all...fell in love with one for only US400 (but I don't need another Persian). If it was not so mind numbingly hot or I had a spare piece of floor to put one I'd have gone crazy.
OK...ended up getting two small ones...no room at home for any...but hey...two small Armenian ones surely I can find a place for!!!
******
The Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (the Matenadaran) Who'd have thought a manuscript museum would be a highlight of travels through Armenia?
Denise, Dangerous Dave, Merry Jo and I definitely do.
23,000 parchments, fragments and documents all in one place...built in 1957 to house them...the Matenadaran.
With the creator of the Armenian alphabet Mesrop Mashtots in 405AD carved in stone outside to greet us...entering halls full of the documentary history of Armenian medieval sciences, literature and the arts to the 18th Century...early
illustrated bibles embossed in gold...the healing powers of herbs and medicines...astronomical observations...ancient maps...illustrations of clashes with the Persians...in halls some based on the architecture of the ancient monasteries...beautifully presented.
If you visit Yerevan...you've gotta visit Matenadaran.
Of fridge magnets and topaz rings As I reported when we last traveled with Dave & MJ...Dave believes the sign you have traveled in a country is a fridge magnet or two.
MJ on the other hand can't see past bling.
I reckon that's why Denise and MJ together are The Dangerous Rings Duo.
But is that why I also fall under their spell?
I saw a green chunky crystal malachite in a silver vine clasp that flashed at me in a Yerevan market...could hear it calling...beckoning me before i looked at rugs...price so ridiculously reasonable (US40) I didn't want to bargain...my favourite souvenir of all our travels...Denise's conversation piece...stunning.
Then we went to a jewelry market...heaps of vendors under one roof!
MJs light blue topaz...Denise's dark green topaz and blue sapphire...Dave's and my fridge magnets.
Armenia you are a gem...in every way.
We sit in our hotel lounge sipping beers
and cocktails...smiles on our faces.
Many memories...delicious bountiful food...Armenian culture and history that blew our minds...great friends sharing and laughing...delightfully hospitable people...the world's most beautiful women.
Relax & Enjoy,
Dancing Dave
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Jules
non-member comment
Beautiful bling
Love the bling, nothing wrong with bling. Nice to note that when males vote on female attractiveness it seems to include every ethnic group on the planet.