At a population of 120,000, Gyumri is the second largest city in Armenia, down from the height of 220,000, when it was muched damaged by a 1988 earthquake. Still, on the Saturday after we were in town, it was rather lively.
The next morning we took a train to Yerevan.
On the marshrutka (Minibus) to Ninotsminda we passed a dam and hydroelectric plant under construction, and cruised along the Kura River.
Market Day in Apsinda.
Is this a railway viaduct being built by a Chinese construction company?
Sun-Ling made an origami bird for this brave little girl suffering bouts of motion sickness.
In Ninotsminda we hired a taxi to take us to the border - beautiful green wetlands and hills.
The Georgia-Armenia border is just beyond the pyramid roof in the distance.
At the border we hitched a ride to Gyumri. Amazing landscape.
Our ride dropped us off about a mile from our guesthouse in Gyumri. Not bad. Below is Sun-Ling as we cross a bridge in the "suburbs".
After settling in, we walked on wide sidewalks and pleasant, shady, streets to the train station to buy a ticket to Yerevan. Advance tickets were not available but we confirmed the time: 8:00 am, be at the station at 7:30.
From the station we walked to the lively downtown with 2 historic churches; Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God (2nd below) and Holy Saviour's Church (rebuilt after the devastating 1988 earthquake).
City Hall.
The former Market Hall. One of the few buildings not yet rebuilt after the quake.
We took a break a Ponchik-Monchik cafe to taste the local cream-filled (round) and potato-filled (oblong) doughnuts.
Finally we strolled down the pedestrianized Aboyvan Street, north from the Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, to check out some Armenian-style architecture (1st and 2nd below), plus an Art Nouveau building; the Geghamyan House at #182 Abovyan St.
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