I was sitting on the beautiful deck of a humble restaurant in Armenia, sipping in the decadent local coffee when a gentle autumn breeze rustled through the vine leaves. As if on cue, the clouds unfurled, revealing an incredible glow of the October-sun rising behind the towering snow-capped mountains. What a show! Kissed by Nature, the Areni valley in Armenia looked frozen in time, pure, innocent, and free from the clutches of urbanism. 

Enchanted I could hardly hear the clink of cutlery as my host, set the table for lunch, but, her delectable pork-barbecue broke the spell. Roasted potatoes, assorted pickles, goat’s cheese with parsley, and peach compote were delicious accompaniments to the hearty spread.

The most favorite part of the tour, second to eating followed; Wine-tasting, a welcome solace to assuage the cold and to be merrier. My last day in Armenia couldn’t get any better. Thanks to my guide Arthur George Davtyan who not only sponsored this sumptuous lunch, but also influenced us with his selfless Armenian spirit “I am born to make you happy”. 

Coming up-Here’s the detailed 5-day itinerary of our Armenia-trip, which covers the places and the restaurants we visited. If you aren’t into fancy details, stop and go at my headlines ( informs you just enough).