2026 Armenia

This is huge: note the people for scale

 

Well, I guessed that would happen.  As I drove back following Pushkin’s route, admiring the soft contours of the hills and lush landscape, as he did, I descended a hill into Stepanavan.  At the bottom, I could vaguely see flashing blue and red lights. They belonged to an extremely chunky 4x4, done out in army olive green.  Without a moment’s hesitation, the vehicle pulled out, overtook the traffic and stopped at an angle across the whole road, blocking my and everyone else’s path.  A young man in uniform got out, came across, and asked whether I minded answering a few questions.  Of course not, I said, and we both pulled over to clear the road.

A recent trip I made driving around Armenia's mountains, monasteries and huge abandoned radio telescopes...nearly getting detained by the army.