Day 6 (July 4, 2023): A Day at an Armenian Ski Resort
We feel very good about the things we got to see in Yerevan. Yesterday’s visit to several sites outside the city made us realize that it might be useful to spend our last day in Armenia at another location. We were able to get a cancellation on our last night at the Holiday Inn Express without penalty, and we were able to book a night very reasonably at the Marriott hotel in the popular ski resort village of Tsaghkadzor. So at 9:30 AM, we got in a taxi and an hour later, arrived at the village and checked in.
To our great delight, we were upgraded to the penthouse - a sprawling suite with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a huge living area. We stood at the reception desk upon check-in with our mouths hanging open, because the reception clerk kept listing off one benefit after another after another. It turns out that Monday to Thursday in the summertime are pretty desolate in the village, so the resort was practically empty.
A huge spread of drinks, fruit and cake was laid out for us in our living area when we arrived at the suite. Besides the upgrade and the treats, we were given a very generous number of Marriott Bonvoy bonus points, free breakfast, and a credit towards dinner. We felt spoiled, but it was nice.
After hanging out in our spacious suite for a while, we set out for the ski resort to take the ski lift to the top of the mountain. We then walked to a 13th century monastery and then returned to the hotel, where we enjoyed the huge pool and hammam facilities.
We have an early rise in the morning, so that we can get back to Yerevan for our flights to Uzbekistan. A final good night from Armenia!
In a city filled with statues of poets, writers, playwrights, politicians and changemakers, this was the last such statue we saw on our way out of Yerevan this morning.
Mount Aragats (not to be confused with Mount Ararat which Turkey stole from Armenia) is Armenia’s tallest mountain:
War memorial in Hradzan, the town next to Tsaghkadzor, where we are staying for the night.
This is the Marriott, where we decided to spend our last day in Armenia. Tsaghkadzor is a ski village one hour northeast of Yerevan.
Want an upgrade? Then check into an Armenian ski resort in July and there is a good chance of one! There is lots of capacity and there are lots of good deals to be had. We got an upgrade to a two bedroom penthouse suite and lots of welcome goodies.
The ski lift (called a “ropeway” here) for one of the slopes at the Tsaghkadzor Ski Resort was open, to take tourists up the mountain for hiking, ATV tours, and picnics. We loved the ride and views!
Ski-related murals at the top of the mountain.
Our guidebook said there wildflowers present on the ski slopes in the springtime. So we really didn’t expect to see any. But they were wild flowers everywhere!
A view of the valley and ski base, as we returned from the mountain on the ski lift.
The tiny Church of St Harutyun from the 13th century.
Kecharis Monastery in Tsaghkadzor was a famous religious and cultural centre in the Middle Ages. Some of Armenia’s most important medieval scientists and politicians lived and worked here. Hundreds of manuscripts were created and copied here, as well. The complex is comprised of four churches and a cemetery.
It was commissioned in 1033, with additions in the 13th century.
A memorial service was being conducted when we visited.
This is something we had never seen before: picnic tables in a cemetery. And really, why not! It makes sense to want to have a family get together next to deceased loved ones.
Bronze figurines of four Armenians, in the centre of the Tsaghkadzor village.
We had a wonderful dinner at the Marriott tonight: kebabs with sautéed spinach, and an appetizer of stuffed grape leaves.
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