Our last day started off in the pouring rain with a walking tour of the capital city. It included:
– Vernissage – souvenirs, bric a brac and coffee stops in a large outdoor bazaar, which wax opposite our heritage hotel.
– Republic Square – a number of pink volcanic tuff stone buildings—including the History Museum and the National Gallery—it features dancing fountains that put on an evening light and music show in the evening, which we caught on our return from our final meal with the group
– Vardanants Street lined with Belle Epoque buildings built with black tuff stone.
– Charles Aznavour square – he was of Armenian descent and is a huge supporter of the country and this square contains a new hotel, cinema, zodiac fountain and apartment complexes.
– Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre – designed by legendary architect Alexander Tamanian, which puts on a regular programme of ballet, opera and classical music. Some of our group went to see Swan Lake the previous evening.
– The Cascade Complex containing the Cafesjian Center for the Arts – a huge terraced limestone stairway, with gardens in front, which fortunately could be accessed by escalators. The whole place is decorated with contemporary sculptures and fountains.

We then headed off to the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and Museum, fortunately the weather cleared. The memorial is dedicated to the 1.5 million victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. It is three elements –
1. The Eternal Flame: Encircling an eternal flame are 12 inward-leaning basalt slabs, representing the 12 historic provinces of Western Armenia.
2. The Reborn Armenia Column: A 44m pointed spire, split into two, that symbolizes the survival and rebirth of the Armenian people.
3. The Memorial Wall: A 100m wall engraved with the names of the towns and villages where the massacres and deportations occurred.

The Museum which contains detailed exhibits, historical documents, and photographs of the atrocities, difficult to believe these attrocites happened.

In the afternoon we did a little shopping before we headed out for our last meal with our group and Tour Leader, Anton. Another fabulous meal of traditional Armenian food – local cheeses, hummus, salad, pickles, beef in a creamy sauce, pork ribs, toast vegetables, cabbage rolls, stuffed pumpkin all washed down with a local compote made from fresh fruits.

Anton gave a quick recap of our tour and we all chipped in with our favourite thing, mine being the meals at the local winery and KE&RA inc Gorgi’s Rave Garage, Nigel’s was our first day in Baku.

Really great tour with Intrepid, our first with them, we did book a premium tour, which gives better hotels, more inclusive meals and local experiences like visiting the Kish community, cloisonne & stained glass workshops and the meal at the family run winery and polyphonic singers.