(Note: This is Part 2 of 2 about my weekend excursion to the southern part of Armenia with my fellow AVC/Birthright Armenia volunteers. Check out Part 1: Exploring Southern Armenia: Tatev & Tandzatap) We awoke with the sun the next morning and after a breakfast of eggs and tea, Allegra and I went for a […]
Exploring Southern Armenia: Vorotan Gorge and Goris Read More »
Still wiping the sleep out of my eyes, I crammed into the minivan with a dozen of my fellow volunteers and settled in for the long ride south out of Yerevan. It was a Saturday morning about halfway into my stay in Armenia and we were headed to Tatev Monastery and the village of Tandzatap
Exploring Southern Armenia: Tatev and Tandzatap Read More »
I have made no secret of the fact that I am a major planner – I like to know where I am going and what is coming up. I like to have plans. But I am also open to being flexible. And when opportunities arise or inclinations change, I want to be open to going
A Few Detours Along the Way Read More »
I cringed when a young, skinny Georgian guy popped into my four-person compartment and set down a plastic bag with a bottle of liquor peeking out the top. I was still mentally exhausted from my Black Sea ferry ordeal and, as a solo female, the thought of sharing this cramped space with three drunk Georgian
A Midnight Train in Georgia Read More »
Happy seven month travel-versary to me! Yep, as of Saturday I have been on the road a whopping seven months. I am now past my halfway point, a thought that brings me a mix of happiness and trepidation. While I am excited about all of the adventures I have left to experience in the next
7 Super Shots From 7 Months Read More »
I stood in the small excursions office at the winery outside of Chisinau and bit my lip. To my surprise, a tear was forming in the corner of my left eye. This woman standing just a foot away from me had just rather cheerfully informed me that the tour I thought I had booked couldn’t
Touring Europe’s Largest Underground Wine Cellar Read More »
I want to love Armenia, I really do. The country’s history is fascinating, dating back not centuries but millennia. It considers itself the cradle of Christianity, having adopted the religion 1700 years ago. The mountain landscapes are breathtaking and on a clear day in Yerevan you can find yourself staring directly at Mt.
Language Shock and Not Fitting In Read More »
I originally posted the following on the morning of my departure – August 30, 2011 (also my 35th birthday!). I am sharing again today in connection with Meet, Plan, Go!‘s 3rd anniversary celebration and to promote a limited time discount on their Career Break Basic Training online course. It has been about two years
Training to Pursue a Dream Read More »
As we approached the border to Transdniestria (a country not recognized by anyone in the world), the large man sitting next to me pulled out his passport. I looked over to see a red cover with gold letters emblazoned on it: CCCP. That is the Russian equivalent of the abbreviation for the Union of Soviet
Transdniestria: A Day in a Country That Doesn’t Exist Read More »
Orheiul Vechi Monastery is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Moldova, but that doesn’t mean that getting there is necessarily easy. While my guidebook mentioned a few buses that ran there, other sources on the internet insisted no public transportation would take me there. I asked the staff at my hostel to look into
A Day Trip to Orheiul Vechi Read More »
