Armenia Day 8 - Wings of Tatev

Today, everyone had to get up early because we had to load our luggage for the first time on this trip at 8 a.m. as we were changing hotels. Shortly after, we set off south by bus, once again accompanied by Tzovinar, who provided us with interesting information during our ride through a hilly and green landscape.

However, after just two hours of driving, we made an unscheduled stop due to a technical problem with our bus. So, we had to get out of the bus and wait; most used the time for photos or a small morning snack. Thanks to our friendly and hardworking bus drivers, the issue was quickly resolved, and we continued our journey.

Along the way, we took short breaks at restrooms or market stalls.

At 2 p.m., we reached our destination, the Wings of Tatev cable car, which at 5752 meters is one of the longest cable cars in the world. Dressed in concert attire and divided into three groups, we embarked on the approximately 11-minute ride. The view from the gondola was breathtaking, and we were all very excited about the beautiful landscape. On the other side awaited us the Tatev Monastery, located in southeastern Armenia and considered one of the most significant architectural monuments of the country. While waiting for all groups to arrive, we had time to explore the monastery or take individual photos.

Once everyone was there, we got to our actual project: taking new press and drone photos. For this, Taminos and Nico’s drones were used, and countless photo spots and angles were tested so that we would end up with a variety of images and videos. Afterward, we sang “Locus iste,” “Bogoroditse Devo,” and “Lux Aurumque” in the monastery. Before taking the cable car back in three groups, we received a small tour of the monastery with important information from Tzov.

After all groups made it back to the other side, we headed to our new hotel, the Eco Resort Harsnadzor, which we reached in just ten minutes. We would spend the next night in wooden cabins and barrels, and since the cabins were situated at a higher elevation, we were able to enjoy a beautiful view of the mountains.

In the evening, we had dinner together at the resort before everyone could plan their evening individually. Many gathered around the campfire and sang a few songs like “Viva la Vida” or our newly learned piece “Yerevan Erebuni.” Others preferred to spend their time chatting or playing cards together. A few NKClers even discovered and tested the sauna.

After this day, we were all looking forward to our beds.