ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

ARMENIA AND GEORGIA

Quite often, some of the most interesting talks are those provided by our own members. Last Wednesday was no exception, when Dr. Charles Buckley talked to us about a fascinating holiday he undertook last year, in the two neighbouring countries of Armenia and Georgia.

We learned that  Georgia is bounded by Russia in the north and separated from it by the Greater Caucasus mountain range.   To the west is the Black Sea  and to the south, over the lesser Caucasus mountain range,  is  Armenia.

Each country has its own Mountain of note.  Mt.  Elbrus in Georgia is Europe’s highest peak, at 18,481 ft.    And Mt.  Ararat, at 16,854 ft. and  traditionally where Noah’s Ark touched down, was long held as being in Armenian territory, although now claimed as being in Turkish territory.

Both countries have a wonderful ancient history of art and  architecture, much of it based on religious belief and tradition.   It was from this area, straddling Europe and Asia,  that orthodox Christianity is said to have spread out to the rest of Europe.  We were treated to a cornucopia of images of ancient churches and monasteries, many of them fortified and nestling on mountain sides.  Some are even cave like and were actually  carved into the mountains themselves.    We heard a sample of music and song played in one such church.

At the other extreme, we saw Joseph Stalin’s birthplace in Gori, together with his armour plated locomotive carriage.

Today, both countries feel intimidated by their larger, somewhat  belligerent  neighbours, Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan and would like to join NATO.

We were treated to magnificent vistas of mountains and valleys, many with rivers and roads meandering through them and with little villages nestling among them.   Interspersed with these pictures were many fine examples of the varied and very colourful flora.  They ranged  from Alpine varieties to exquisite little orchids.

All in all, a revealing insight into two countries that few of us have ever had the pleasure of visiting.

Bryan Webster