The drive through the mountains gave up some glorious views of the Caucuses.
The monastery complex was constructed between the 10-13th C
Ooer Missus, wondering how friendly the natives are???
The Bell Tower
I may have already mentioned that our guide was anal too the extreme, but I promised myself I would listen and soak it up.
Well, that lasted all of ten minutes,( and we are still standing in the monastery gate).
I do not need to know the intimate detail of some fucking priest who lived 1600 years ago, and how the church was built in his memory, Gregory the Illuminator, (killer name in all honesty, Good for a rock and roll band "Gregory the Illuminator and the hand held torches")
How many more times is he going to be mentioned sheesh. We get it, he is your hero, you forget I have been in his hole.
The ladies who drink wine and shop were hanging on the guide's every word, me? I wandered off, along well worn paths and dark alleys, too see what I could see and when needed reference my Lonely Planet Guide book.
Ancient inscriptions and a lovely sandstone "khachkar", Armenian stone cross,erected for various reasons, from winning a battle to the salvation of an individual's soul.
The Scriptorium, a posh word for library really, if you see the holes in the floor please note they are not ancient squat and squits, but hiding places for "sacred" documents in times of attack by hostiles. Though others say that the holes were lined and used for food storage?
Who knows?
The main altar within in the main church still visible though long faded the wall reliefs
The complex which is in remarkable condition has had little restoration over the centuries, is now under UNESCO protection (free money)