Haghpat Monastery

A great start to the day with a substantial Armenian breakfast. Armed with vast amounts of picnic lunch we had an interesting morning visiting two monasteries one of which involved a long detour on account of the river being too deep and fast flowing to cross without getting soaked.
The twin monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin were impressive with their massive arched construction, they sit opposite each other separated by a ravine, and said river.
On our way to Dilijan we stopped at a Molokan community. Originating in Russia they have lived in Armenia since the Tsars evicted them from central Russia. Essentially they reject church hierarchy and the veneration of icons. They have a strong community identity and follow an extreme traditional lifestyle. The men all had beards and the women girls long dresses and head coverings, Russian is the only language they speak. Our delightful Armenia guide is a fluent Russian speaker and acted as our interpreter as we drank tea, ate Russian pastries and asked lots of questions which our Molokan host was happy to answer.
Our hotel tonight just outside Dilijan is modern, comfortable but less interesting than where we were yesterday. The food continues to be outstanding, and plentiful. There’s a hairdryer which I’m hoping won’t fuse before it’s helped to dry my washing.