Guest Column: A visit to Armenia benefits the homeland
My love affair with Armenia began when I stepped into the old Zvartnotz airport in Yerevan in 2001.
After a layover in Paris we were flying an Armenian airline to Yerevan. The flight was scary. The airplane seemed in disarray, with loose seats and water dripping from the sides. However, we were impressed that Armenia had an airline.
It was late evening when we arrived to Yerevan. The dimly lit airport, like Soviet-era government buildings in movies scenes we’ve seen, looked deserted and cold. The interior looked very tired and gave us an inkling of what to expect entering Yerevan.
We arrived at Hotel Ani just before midnight. The hotel was refurbished and tastefully decorated with Armenian-themed furnishings and interior design. I was not expecting to see a swanky hotel.
Another jaw-dropping experience was when we went outside to have a late night stroll in Yerevan. The street was dimly lit, but it didn’t prevent us from noticing the extremely wide sidewalks. The following morning, our first day in Yerevan started with a visit to the Genocide Museum, and from there we went around the town and saw many other monuments. Traveling through the streets of Yerevan and seeing the multitude of stylish buildings — although in dilapidated condition — was overwhelming.
I grew up in Iran with a yearning for our homeland, because it was under the Soviet Union and a forbidden destination. Growing up, I had heard that Armenia had suffered under communism. But now in Yerevan I was seeing things that were against my expectation. It seems there was a gap in my education.
So on my first visit to Armenia, I fell in love with the country. Armenia gave me an itch. I thought I should roll up my sleeves, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Armenian brothers and sisters, and rebuild the country.
I went home to Glendale, but a voice was calling me back. During the following years, I visited Armenia several times. But I never had the chance to roll up my sleeves until last year, when a few of my non-Armenian friends expressed a desire to visit Armenia.
That was a good opportunity to contribute to its tourism in some way. I organized a group tour to Armenia. My friends, just like me, were excited to discover Armenia. The experience was palpable. I took the group to the four corners of Armenia where they enjoyed the raw beauty of the land and the many unique historical sights. They too fell in love with Armenia.
They say the best time to visit Armenia is in the fall. Last year we were there for the celebration of Yerevan’s 2,975 birthday in October. We enjoyed a fabulous citywide celebration. My friends were raving about the good time they had. Armenia has a 6,000-year history and Yerevan is one of the oldest continuously lived-in cities in the world. This year we plan another tour to celebrate Yerevan’s birthday.
Today Armenia has a brand new airport and the streets are full of tourists, enjoying the ubiquitous café culture. It’s a privilege to introduce my friends to it.
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CATHERINE YESAYAN is a Glendale resident who has been active in numerous civic organizations. She can be reached at cyesayan@gmail.com.