Shopping in Armenia

Enjoy shopping?  Do you plan to spend a day or two shopping while visiting Armenia’s capital?  Well, if shopping is something you enjoy, you won’t be disappointed!  There is a great mix of high end and high street shops for men, women and children, alongside more ethnic markets and shops, which are frequented by locals and tourists, alike. 

Shopping in Armenia

High End

If you like to ‘splash the cash’ and prefer quality over quantity, then you will be able to find an array of recognisable western brands such as Max Mara, Stefanel, LaGalleria, Escada, Emporio Armani, Burberry, Betty Barclay, Bally, Baby Dior, D & G Junior, Gant, Max & Co., Victoria’s Secrets and Ecco, with many other high end brands to discover. 

High Street

If you prefer the high street, there is also a plethora of recognisable western brands available to cater for your tastes, such as: BSB, River Island, Nougat London, Morgan, Etam, Mexx, Debenhams, Next, Benetton, Clarks, Mango and Mothercare, plus many other high street brands for the ardent shopper to unearth.

Jewellery

Do you fancy jewellery shopping for a memento of your trip to Armenia?  Then Yerevan has plenty to offer, such as Chronograph, L’Orange GOLD, Mercury, Peter Benjamin, Franck Muller, Swarovski, Di Donna and Tatteosian, which, among them, cater for both men and women and for those with very expensive tastes or those on a budget.

Books

If you forget to take any books with you to read during your visit or run out of reading material, then why don’t you head on down to either Macmillan Bookstore, which has a few English-language novels, or Noyan Tapan, which also has a few English-language novels plus books about Armenia.

Ethnic Markets and Shops

Vernissage Market is a weekend flea market which caters to both locals and tourists.  As a tourist visiting this market, you are unlikely to be shopping for car parts or plumbing fixtures, but you may want to spend time leisurely delving in to piles of antiques or looking for a collectable communist medal.  This market also offers you the chance peruse locally produced handicrafts and maybe even purchase a stunning one-of-a-kind chess set or an elaborately carved jewellery box.

Vernissage Art Market is located across from Opera Square and offers you the chance to purchase a real bargain at a negotiable price from either an art dealer or first hand from an artist.

The Salt Shack isn’t what it first may seem!  This fascinating shop sells an array of souvenirs and handicrafts, such as maps, books, jewellery, pottery, woven salt sacks, carpets, dolls and t-shirts and is definitely worth a browse.

Dalan Art Gallery is a must-see if you appreciate arts, crafts and other beautiful handmade objects.  This is a fantastic place to buy a souvenir of your trip and then relax with a cup of tea or coffee at the gallery’s wonderful cafe.

Made in Armenia Direct sells a fantastic array of handicrafts, handmade jewellery and religious iconography and is also a fabulous place to buy souvenirs of your visit.

On the whole, Yerevan has a lot to offer to the avid shopper, no matter what you are looking for, and, as this isn’t a definitive list I am sure that you will find some hidden treasures of your own during your visit.

Dolmama Restaurant, Yerevan

Dolmama Restaurant, Yerevan

Launched in 1998, Dolmama Restaurant in Yereven took on the uncertain task of reviving Eastern Armenian cooking, which had suffered through its area of origin having been part of The Soviet Union. It is a cuisine that the world is not particularly familiar with, unlike the fare of Western Armenia – therefore, if you decide to pay this restaurant a visit, you will be getting a truly unique gastronomic experience. The chefs in the restaurant use local organic produce to rejuvinate this indigenous style of cooking; also, they have made some small changes to the original recipes to ensure that what you are served is of the ultimate quality. A more upmarket experience to most Armenian restaurants, it is unlikely that you will be dissatisfied and it is not difficult to understand why this is yet another restaurant that received a Certificate of Excellence in 2013. Courses range in price from £3.70 - £16.40, which definitely makes it one of the more expensive restaurants in Armenia.

Location and Opening Times
Dolmama is located on 10 Pushkin Street (a few feet from Abovian Street), Yervan 0010, Armenia; unfortunately, no opening times are available.

Food and Beverages
This establishment is named after the traditional Eastern Armenian dish of Dolma, which is the restaurant’s signature dish with a modern twist (instead of being made with ground meat, it is made with a slice of sirloin). If this doesn’t tempt you, they also serve delicious soups; tasty salads; a wide range of appetisers; stews from rabbit and goat to beef and lamb; and mouth watering main courses including trout, quail, sturgeon, Cornish hen, steak and veal, as well as vegetarian options. There is also a tasting menu for those of you who can’t decide between these delectable offerings. Once you have finished your savoury courses, why not finish with a sweet treat from the dessert menu?

As for drinks, Dolmama offers everything from water and soft drinks, to tea and coffee, to beer, to Armenian wines or wine of the world, to spirits and liquors – it just depends what you are in the mood for!

Other Services
Dolmama has both a website for you to browse and a Facebook page, which is a little more intimate and allows you to peruse special menus and observe videos of recipes being prepared by the restaurant’s chef.

Trip Adviser Ratings and Testimonials
Cafe Central is ranked 14th out of 199 places to eat in Armenia on Trip Adviser, awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars overall – 66 out of 117 independent reviewers giving it 5 out of 5 and 32 more giving it 4 stars out of 5. Some of the guests said the following:

‘Armenian delights!’

‘One of the best restaurants ever tried!’

‘Excellent restaurant with a very nice setting.’

‘Excellent food and good atmosphere.’

Tempted? If you want a special night out whilst visiting the capital, then this jewel offers you everything you could possibly want.

Health Tips for Travelling to Armenia

When travelling to any country outside your continent, it is essential that you ensure that you are as safe as possible – whether you are travelling independently or with your family.  Safety normally begins with ensuring you have the appropriate vaccinations and insurance in preparation for your trip.  Therefore, reading through the following advice and information should help you plan to both protect your health and cover your health during your trip.

Health Care

Vaccinations

The information given on different websites about vaccinations is conflicting – some say that you do not need any vaccinations for travelling in Armenia, some recommend certain vaccinations and some recommend certain vaccinations for visiting certain areas.  From a common sense point of view, you would be wise to visit your GP/doctor at least 8 weeks before you travel and discuss/arrange for the following vaccinations:

·         Tetanus-diptheria – if you have not had this immunisation within the last 10 years.
·         Hepatitis A
·         Typhoid – if you intend to eat or drink anywhere other than the major hotels or restaurants.
·         Hepatitis B
·         Polio – if you had the series of injections as a child, but have not had one-time booster as an adult.
·         Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) – two doses, if not previously administered.
·         Cholera – if you are considered to be a high risk.

Insurance

You should always purchase travel insurance as soon as you have booked your holiday.  However, the doctors and hospitals in Armenia will expect cash payment for their services, so, in terms of health insurance there are certain things that you should be aware of and asking questions about when purchasing.  If you have an existing travel insurance policy, make sure that it covers travel to Armenia; check that your policy covers emergency situations, such as medical evacuation; and double check as to whether payment will be directly made to the overseas provider of medical care or whether you will be reimbursed for incurred expenses upon return.

Disease and Medication

If you take any medication regularly, then you must ensure that you take enough with you, in its original container(s), to cover the period of your visit.  Pack your medication in your hand luggage and carry a letter from your GP/doctor explaining what medical condition(s) you have and what medication(s) you require for these; if you need needles or syringes then you will need an additional letter to document the necessity of these.  Also, ensure that you are carrying a duplicate of all medication(s) in your checked-in luggage, just in case. 

If you have any significant allergies or any chronic medical issues, then please make sure you wear a medical/medic alert bracelet with the details of these inside.

Diarrhoea is generally the most common ailment reported for those travelling to Armenia.  The water is considered to be very clean and safe from sources that have been chemically disinfected, or if the water has been boiled or filtered.  However, it is always better to be safe than sorry and you should:

·         avoid bottled drinks or beverages with ice;

·         avoid fruits and vegetables which are not peeled or cooked;

·         stay away from cooked foodstuff which is not piping hot or which have been left at room temperature for a significant period of time;

·         avoid milk that has not been pasteurised or milk products made from milk that has not been pasteurised;

·         stay away from food sold by street vendors; and

·         ensure you do not eat raw or uncooked fish or meat (some fish may be harmful even when cooked, such as barracuda, red snapper, grouper, amberjack and sea bass).

To be fair, no matter how careful you are, sometimes you can still contract diarrhoea.  With this in mind, it makes perfect sense to take an antibiotic and anti-diarrhoeal drug with you on your travels.  Again, it would be wise to discuss which of these would be suitable for you, or members of your family, with your doctor prior to travelling.

Malaria is only an issue if you are planning to travel to the Ararat Valley, in the Ararat and Artashat region, located in the west of Armenia near the border with Turkey.  The Masis district is considered the area of maximum risk and the height of transmission is in the period between June and October.  If you would like clarification as to the part of the country being discussed, it would be wise to go to the World Health Organisation’s website to observe their map of risk around the world at: http://www.who.int/malaria/travellers/en/.

To protect yourself if you are visiting the aforementioned region in the aforementioned period of time, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of contracting malaria, such as:

·         Ensure you wear long sleeves, long trousers and a hat;

·         Apply insect repellents (speak to a pharmacist about the appropriate one     and how to use it, especially with those under 2 years of age);

·         DO NOT sleep with the window open at night; and

·         Use a mosquito net infused with insect repellent and make certain that it is tucked under the mattress.

Medical Facilities

Finally, although there are numerous medical facilities with qualified doctors available, unfortunately, the medical facilities outside of Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan are generally considered to be poor.  Therefore, outside of this safety zone, treatment is not usually suggested for anything more than trivial or uncomplicated illnesses.  However, if you do find that you require medical services during your visit, then dial 103 and request an ambulance.  

The First Armenian Theatre

Armenian Theatre

The Theatre in Armenia has a long and colourful history. As with many countries in the region Armenian theatre has its roots in the theatre of antiquity. Interestingly, the first recorded reference to a theatre in Armenia goes back as far as 70BC. Built fourteen years before the first public theatres in Rome, it opened its doors to the public in 69BC during the reign of Tigran the Great.

Champion of Armenian Theatre
It was Tigran’s son, Artavazd II, who championed the Theatre in Armenia and wrote a number of Greek tragedies himself. He also went on to write a number of orations, historical stories and other work some which survived into the second century AD.

In Artashat, the former capital of the region, Artavazd himself commissioned the building of Armenia’s second public theatre. It was at this new theatre that the comedies of Menander and the tragedies of Euipides were shown to an eager public. These plays went down very well with the public and the theatre increasing became a part of Armenian life.

First Armenian Playwright
Due to his prominent involvement with early Armenian theatre Artavazd is considered to be the first Armenian playwright and the father of classical Armenian theatre. Records from the time tell us how, in 53 BC, the Bacchae of Euripides was directed to great applause by Artavazd himself.

Golden Age of Armenian Theatre
The 5th Century is considered by scholars to the golden age of classical Armenian theatre. It was a time when the bible was translated into Armenian and the region made great strides in medicine, technology and the theatre was no different. However, this time of creative freedom for the theatre came to an abrupt end in the 7th Century when war with their Arab neighbours resulted in an invasion and all progress stalled. The theatre was one of the few features of Armenian culture that did not suffer a decline through the 8th and 9th centuries, due to war and occupation.

Revival
It was not until the 11th century that Armenian theatre was able to make a comeback in the public eye and right through to the 14th century saw continual improvement. In fact, Armenian theatre grew to new heights with an emphasis on tragic theatre with a resurgence of epic productions from history. Incidentally, the rise of the comic theatre, which satirized the social classes, saw the theatre become much more accessible for the average patron.

In a later article I will discuss Armenian theatre from the Middle Ages where an influx of plays from Europe increased the theatres popularity and then on to the heyday of the Shakespearean plays of the 18th century.

The Armenian Premier League

Armenian Premier League

Football is hugely popular in Armenia and with the national team having its most successful year and now ranked 35th in the world by FIFA, the Armenian Premier League goes from strength to strength.

Soviet Occupation
During the Soviet occupation of Armenia (which occurred between 1936 and 1991) football was played as a regional tournament within the USSR. However, when the country gained its independence the Football Federation of Armenia was formed. The following year in January 1992 the league was recognised by FIFA and in 1993 by UEFA, which allowed teams from Armenia to compete in European competitions.

Armenian League
Armenia is a country of only 3 Million people; as such the football league is small when compared to other countries in Europe. The league consists of only two divisions and the Premier League has eight teams competing for the title.

Early Dominance
Historically, the Soviet era of Armenian Football had two dominating teams in the form of FC Dinamo Yerevan and Spartak Yerevan, both operating out of the Armenian Capital. Between them, these two teams won 12 championships during the league’s first 16 years.

USSR National Team
Furthermore, during the Soviet occupation of the country a number of Armenia players were called up to play for the USSR National team. Most notably, Khoren Hovhannisyan was called up to the Soviet national team for the 1982 FIFA World Cup. However, Hovhannisyan was not the first as Eduard Markarov was a regular in the USSR team during the late 1960’s and became an Armenian sporting hero. In fact, Markarov went on to become a coach for the Soviet national youth team, taking them to the FIFA World Youth Championship which was held in Portugal in 1991.

Trans Caucasian Championship
However, back in 1926 at the formation of the Armenian football league and before occupation by the Soviet Union, football in Armenia was contested as the Trans Caucasian Championship. Teams drawn from the Southern Caucasian countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan competed in the competition which was based in Tbilisi.

Domestic Success
In recent years, FC Pyunik of Yerevan have been the dominant force in domestic Armenia football winning an incredible 10 league titles out of the last 12. However, their dominance has been halted in the past two seasons with Ulisses and Shirak winning the 2011 and 2012 seasons respectively.

Strength to Strength
Football in Armenia continues to go from strength to strength and the success of the national team can only help the domestic league to flourish further. This in turn is attracting star players to the country’s league and with European competition available for the winners... big names will soon be arriving.

Weightlifting in Armenia

Weightlifting has rapidly become the second sport in Armenia, second only to football as the nation’s favourite. It was introduced to Armenia just after the First World War; however, it was not until after the Second World War that the sport really took off. Soviet successes in weightlifting during the 1970’s raised the profile of the sport throughout the Soviet Socialist Republics. Armenia SSR was no different and the sport grabbed the media attention when, in 1976, Vardan Militosyan won a silver medal at the 1976 Olympic Games, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Yurik Vardanyan

Olympic Champion
However, it was not until the 1980’s that Armenia SSR enjoyed its greatest success when Yurik Vardanyan became Olympic champion in 1980. Born in Armenia’s second largest city of Gyumri (which has a long history of producing Weightlifting champions) he went on to become World and European Weightlifting Champion. A great ambassador for the sport, Vardanyan became a soviet (and Armenian) sporting hero and icon, being awarded the Order of Lenin in 1985 in honour of his sporting achievements.

World Record Holder
Vardanyan became the first weightlifter to lift over 400 Kilograms in the 82.5Kg category, he went on to break a number of world records as well as amassing an impressive 22 Gold medals in World, European and Soviet championships during his career.

Minister for Sport
In 2009, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan appointed Yurik Vardanyan as his sports advisor going on to become the Armenian Minister for Sport in 2013.

Independence
After gaining independence from the Soviet Union Armenia continued its weightlifting traditions and to this day is considered to be one of the strongest weightlifting nations. To this day, Armenia still holds four world records in weightlifting.

Olympic Success
In 2010 Tigran Martirosyan became weightlifting World Champion and to this day remains their only world champion at the sport. However, two years prior at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Armenia brought home three bronze medals; this is made more impressive when you consider that Armenia is a relatively small nation. In fact, 2008 was the most successful year for Armenian weightlifting. The European Weightlifting Championship showcased the strength of the Armenian team when they achieved 1st place in style. In the same year, Tigran Martirosyan, Gevorg Davtyan and Tigran Vardan Martirosyan all went on to claim bronze medals at the Beijing Olympics, making it the most successful Olympics games for an independent Armenia.