Once again a looong day! When I was making my travel plans with my map of Turkey, I forgot that the distances are so much great than those in Armenia! So the trip is a lot more of taking in the landscape and people and life than about monastery hunting which I was hoping for more of. But yesterday we went back to Akhtamar in the morning, then saw the spot where Narekavank used to be before heading along a peninsula to hike up to two different monasteries that were quite nice.

This morning we headed to Varagavank, quite close to Van. It had some beautiful carvings and nice fresco remnants. The row of crosses across the front facade, each one different was really beautiful. Then we blew across the landscape to Bayazit, Igdir and up to Kars. Seeing Ararat from the other side really was something, then seeing the Armenian Ararat Valley... Metsamor, Mt. Aragats, Arayi Ler, it was a beautiful clear day and all was so visible. Then we drove right along the border listening to Armenian radio and wishing we had brought our cell phones so we could call our friends from "the other side". The funny thing is all of Turkey is in one time zone, two hours ahead of Armenia. So right on this side of the border, it is 10pm, while in Armenia it is only 8pm and light out for hours to come. I much prefer Armenia's situation!

Well I am keeping this short because after such a long day in the car, finally arriving at Kars in the dark, I am ready for bed.