Iranians flock to Yerevan for Norwuz

Iranian tourists in Yerevan

It's springtime, and that means Iranians in Yerevan.  Over 10,000 Iranians are expected to visit Yerevan during Norwuz or the Persian New Year.  Iranians come to Armenia to ditch their headscarves, enjoy outdoor concerts, and experience affordable, visa-friendly Armenia.  There aren't a lot of tourists in Yerevan in March, so the camera toting, stylish Persians aren't hard to spot.

Concert poster. Note Farsi in the bottom right corner.

I heard smatherings of Farsi while strolling the city center this weekend, but it wasn't only Iranian tourists enjoying the year's first warm weather.  Everyone was out.  Freedom Square was teeming with people, the rickety attraction rides in the park by my apartment were creakily swooshing kids through the air for the first time in 2011, and ice cream stands sprouted out of the sidewalks. 

Freedom Square

With the influx of Iranian tourists and thousands of Russians making the trip to Yerevan for the Armenia-Russia soccer match on Saturday, hotels are filled to capacity.  It's fixing to be a fun weekend.

Tsaghkadzor - Ski Armenia!

Tsaghkadzor is Armenia's only ski resort.  It's a 50-minute drive from Yerevan and worth the kamikaze marshrutkas whizzing by on bald tires. 

Tsaghkadzor boasts wide groomed slopes, 3 new European-made chairlifts, and high quality rental equipment.  I rented skies and poles for the day for $14.00, and all-day lift passes cost $27.00.

The 4-chair lift

Maybe the best part of Tsaghkadzor is the lack of people.  You can ski from the top of the mountain to the base and only pass a handful of skiers and snowboarders.  The international presence is high, and I overheard a lot of Russian speakers.            

Nick and friend

Tsaghkadzor isn't without its quirks. First, the runs aren't steep.  I couldn't find a piste with a gradient steeper than a Blue, and you may find yourself pulling your snowboarding friends along the flat stretches. 

 

Mountain Base

When you alight from a chairlift in Tsaghkadzor- watch out!  You will not find a small slope gliding you down and away from the chair's path.  When you get off in Tsaghkadzor the ground is flat and the chair doesn't slow down while scramble out of its path.

The snowcats groom at all times and will run you over.  My buddy and I were taking a tight corner and were nearly Sonny Bonoed by a snowcat moving up the mountain. 

The quirks don't dampen the fun, however, and I had a blast both times! I'll be heading back.