Pixiq

We've made a temporary escape from the bone-chilling cold by dropping down across the Caucasus Mountains to Armenia. 

This is such an interesting stop because Armenia has a long and fascinating history, but remains largely unknown to most of us. These jet trips stop here often. Our visit is concentrating on the religious history here in the first Christian nation. 

We visited the beautiful St. Geghard monastery, where a women's choir gave us a haunting a capella concert in one of the monastery chambers cut whole out of the mountainous rock in 4th century.

Then we stopped at the Garni Temple, another ancient structure, where I recorded a man playing the traditional duduk in the ruins.

And after that, we explored the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, the “vatican” of Armenian Orthodox church for a tour of its treasures. In between, we caught some lovely scenery and even a glimpse of Mt. Ararat, said to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark. Not bad for a day’s touring.

These charter jet tours are not photography specific in their design or itinerary, and we move fast. Shooting video and stills in these conditions makes me busier than one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest...I'm beginning to think that that art professor who had a camera implanted in the back of his head wasn't such a lunatic at all.

Next stop, frigid Mongolia!  I'll keep you posted.