‘Five things that will surprise you in Armenia’ – for Wandelion

Taking the train between Yerevan and Gyumri was going to be the highlight of my time in Armenia – especially the journey through Ararat province. But on the day I went, Mount Ararat was hidden by clouds. Instead, the best part of my trip was the beautiful sight of white storks gliding above the farms and fields next to the train, and making their nests on top of the station buildings at Masis and Etchmiatsin. In Armavir province, hoopoes fly next to the train tracks. … More ‘Five things that will surprise you in Armenia’ – for Wandelion

Winter in Ukraine

Over New Year I spent a week in Lviv, in the west of Ukraine near its border with Poland, and a week in Luhansk province, 1200 kilometres to the east, on the border with Russia. At both ends of the 26-hour train journey the snow on the ground was ankle-deep, sometimes falling in blizzards, and the temperature on some days was as low as minus 21 degrees celcius. … More Winter in Ukraine