Village Life in Armenia (Part 1)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
- We visit the Armenian Village, Dimitrov,
about 20 kms south of Yerevan.
We take a tour of our friend's house and their
large vegetable garden out the back.
Marietta shows us Armenian Dolma cooking
on the stove and a yogurt soup called "Spas."
Finally, we sit down to a simple, yet delicious
Armenian meal.
As we leave, we are greeted with a beautiful
view of Mount Ararat and a lovely sunset.
Here's my comment linking my two previous comments
I accompanied three young Polish students to Sevanavank & whilst they continued on to Dilijan I had to return to my hostel in Yerevan.
In nearby Sevan I discovered I had missed the last marshutka back to Yerevan, I then walked to the main road & within minutes a Lada hatchback pulled over.
Neither of the two occupants, I assume father & son, spoken any English. Within a few minutes the father handed me his mobile & spoke to his daughter who kindly invited me back to their home for dinner.
Thinking it wouldn't too far from my hostel in central Yerevan I accepted the invitation but with a little trepidation.
They drove all the way out to the airport turned right towards Malatia-Sebastia & then down a dirt road past a large factory.
They lived on large waste ground with fields & kept a few head of cattle & horses.
Part of their home was subterranean accessible by two concrete ramps, however, they also slept in accommodation above ground
I enjoyed a fish banquet & was plied with Russian vodka, met all the family of approximately ten people & declined an offer to stay the night.
The father his son & English speaking daughter returned me to my hostel & declined my offer of payment for petrol.
@Alun Gibbon...so you've experienced the "real Armenia"...I'm happy you had that experience Alun! Many Armenians would literally give you the shirt off their back, if they could! The most warm-hearted, generous people are usually the poorest...isn't that something to think about!
Thanks for sharing your experience Alun, I really enjoyed it...and I'm sure others will too!
Stay safe and God bless dear friend. Kind regards, Mitch
My great grand mother used to tell me about life in the Armenian village when I was little.
Greetings from Glendale, CA -little Armenia here 🇦🇲
@Unknown User...it's a difficult, but great life in an Armenian village, especially if you have a small business.
Nice to hear from you in the USA🙏
I lived and studied architecture in armenia for six years. I absolutely love the people. I had many friends they treated me as one of their family members. Beautiful country and amazing people. I can never ever forget the wonderful experience of my life there.
@sandeep parthasarathy...glad you had such a positive experience in Armenia.
Kind regards, Mitch
I miss my childhood in Armenia. Imagine 12 kids from 5 families in one place. Greetings from Los Angeles. After watching your videos, I am thinking about returning to my Armenia. Always coming back to check your warm videos. Thank you.
Thanks for your lovely comment. Please come back home when you're able.
Stay safe and God bless.
Regards, Mitch
Armenians are one of the best people in this planet.
Nice people. And I think you are a good man too. Love Armenia.
@imadboles3431...thank you and may God bless you and your family🙏
Wow I absolutely love this life. These villagers are soooo blessed
I lived in yerevan for almost 3 years up untill I was thrown out of a medical university there😅. I'd say Armenia is a country I'd remember for the rest of my life! I was so much in love with the relaxed life style in the country with people being so friendly! Love this video!
Thanks Dasarthy, I'm glad you enjoyed your stay in Armenia, even though you were thrown out of medical school.🙁
All the best to you and your family.
Regards, Mitch
Why were you thrown out of the university? If I may ask
I love 💕 Armenia and Armenia people
@sarbjeetsingh5612 ... I'm happy to hear that🙏
Hello. Ths is my 1st time watchng yr vlog. I am frm malaysia. I like it how you show their house inside and their daily life. Good job.
@noorazahmad6065...We're happy that you liked this video. It's very typical of how villagers live in Armenia 🙏
“The village is made beautiful by the people that live in the village.”
@Jason PS...I'm happy you noticed that.🙏
When you said "ay qez ban" I died of laughter. Very sweet video
@Helen O...🤣🤣 That's one of the few Armenian phrases I've perfected!😅
Spas is the best Armenian soup 🍜 so delicious . What id do to taste my grandmothers spas one more time
@AnatolianArmenian...yes, and it's very healthy also👌
Good job Mr And Mrs Mitch Vartsked Gadar as we Armenians say enjoyed the u tube
@vekeensadoryan3252...thank you so much🙏
Ahh so lovely, miss my homeland so hard, such simple but tasty food doesn’t exist anywhere……. And these people they’re so sweet…
Thank you for sharing this video and the personal look into a Armenian villager's home. I became a subscriber today and look forward to future videos on your channel.
@judd442009...thanks for subscribing to our little channel.🙏 It's our pleasure to show people about life in Armenia. Kind regards, Mitch
I’ve always desired to know what living in an Armenian village was like! 💐 🍫
@Jason PS...I'm sure it's a challenge, but everybody seems to help each other. It's great to see!
many thanks for sharing these truly precious experiences from Armenian life
@user-ic6tf2oy2d...it's our pleasure...only sorry we're not in a position to film more of village life right now
I’m sure the garden 🪴 is vibrant during the summer and just beautiful
@Jason PS...I'm certain it is, but sadly we've not been able to get back to see them lately.
Their home is huge. And a massive garden. Fantastic.
As usual and always beautiful vlog wich show the peace, the culture, the beautiful Armenia and Armenian life thank you so much dear Mitch, I always prefer the village life organic, between the nature and peaceful :)
🌿✌️
Thanks Johny...we love the village life very much...couldn't agree with you more! Love from Mitch
New sub. I love seeing how people live in different parts of the world.
@Kamikazi Tsunami...thanks for subscribing to our channel! Regards from Mitch
Small info, as an Armenian who's fluent in Arabic "muraba" (jam) is an Arabic word by the way. In western Armenian dialect we say "anush" meaning sweet. Like "dzirane anush" meaning apricot jam
Hi Mitch, hope you and your family is okay from today's earthquake. I'm glad to hear no major damages.
Thanks Matthew, yes we're OK, thanks to God.🙏 We were in our apartment at the time of the quake and I must say it was very frightening. Our apartment swayed from side to side after the huge rumble. Thank God everyone was safe and I haven't heard of any casualties.🙏 It's my first experience of an earthquake and I hope it will be my last!
Regards, Mitch
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch glad to hear you’re all fine! Yes earthquakes can be scary!
I love to go to armenia
You're welcome anytime!
That dried lavash reminds me of our Sardinian pane carasau, very yummy 😋
@GreenLover...I'm sure the food from Sardinia is very wholesome and tasty! Kind regards, Mitch
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch yes it is, I’m from Tuscany but I love Sardinian food and all tasty foods no matter which part of the world they are from
G'Day Mitch and Mrs Mitch. Good to see your keeping well.
Your friends cooked up a big feast. I never forget the first time I had Lavish bread in Yerevan.
Whenever I get back to Yerevan, I hope to visit the Assyrian Village of Arzni. But since you were in Dimitrov, there are some Assyrian living there as well.
@Martin the Metalhead...I didn't know about Assyrians living in these villages...but my wife did!
It's always a good day when your with dear friends. The food is a bonus...but it's typical Armenian hospitality.👌
Mrs Mitch says you're welcome to come to Armenia, but not without Vegemite!😂
Stay safe and God bless.
Regards, Mitch
You’re so sweet guys ♥️🌟♥️
Thanks Armine, that's also very "sweet" of you to say!😊
That looked like a bottle of wine from the Areni Country winery. I was at the small winery in the summer and their wines are very good.
@Anthony Streeter...are you an Aussie living in Yerevan by any chance? Regards, Mitch
THANKS FOR VIDEO ON ARMENIAN LIFE GREETING FROM GUJARAT INDIA...JITEN PATEL GUJARAT INDIA..jzpatelut..
@jiten patel...greetings to you my friend. Hope all is well with you and your family there in India. God bless. Kind regards, Mitch
THANKS DEAR 'Mitch' FOR YOUR REPLY ON TH-cam. WELL FOR ME ARMENIA AND ARMENIAN PEOPLE ARE THE BEST OF ALL AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL WORLD IN ANY FUTURE OF TIME THEY ARE THE BEST PART OF WORLD !!!! THANKS AGAIN FOR REPLY MY REGARDS TO ALL !!! JITEN PATEL GUJARAT INDIA EMAIL jzpatel.2011@rediffmail.com OR MOBILE 00-91-9004648715 10 am SAT 3rd.APRr.2021 jzpatelut..j
THANKS ONCE AGAIN DEAR 'MITCH' FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL REPLY jzpatelut..
@@jzpatelut dude! You're being creepy!😂
❤
The food looks very good 👍🏽
@Jason PS...It's truly very good! You'd love it...and it's all very healthy.
Great video Mitch, the hospitality of your friends is great, food looked great too. Really cool to see places outside of Yerevan too :-)
@McG...thank you.
Hii sar
Am your big fain sar
The emphasis on eating and dining together is apparent. The kitchen and dining room are the largest and most elaborate rooms in the home. Much like the United States.
@Shelle G...thanks for your interesting comment. Yes, you're quite correct; in Armenian life, the main focus is on family life and so the eating areas play an important role in the gathering together of family and friends. I hope that the majority of American homes offer the same kind of welcome and homeliness as do the Armenian ones.🙏
God bless you and your family,
Regards, Mitch
Very good video love from Pakistan
@Mashooque Ali...thanks...and nice to hear from you all the way from Pakistan. Kind regards, Mitch
Nice..Nice..Nice
Your wife speaks very good Armenian. Is she an Armenian?
@GnosticByChoice...Yes, Sonia's Armenian, but her first language is Russian. Her father was a Soviet Army officer, so her family moved all over the former Soviet states. Hence, she learned Russian first, but spoke Russian and Armenian at home.
Regards from Mitch
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch 👍👍👍
Nice. I will come to Armenia but heard gettting rented aparrtment is too costly.
@prakashbandekar4927 ...yes, rental properties can be expensive, particularly in Yerevan.
Great content please keep it up! Have you visited Gyumri?
@Arman Ananian...Not yet! However, we're going there for a wedding on the 21st of Feb and staying overnight. So, we're going to try and do some filming on the 22nd before we return.🙏
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch oh awesome!! check my Channel I did a whole tour of Gyumri with a very friendly guide, I think you're gonna love the city
@@armanngu ... thanks Arman, I'll check out your video on Gyumri before we go.🙏
Tanks
You're welcome...thanks for watching! Regards from Mitch
Have you heard of the Armenian village Semiran? It is noted in the 1986 Fodor Soviet Union travel guide? It is supposed to be in Ashtarak, a district northwest of Yerevan.
@judd442009...Mrs Mitch thinks it's an Assyrian settlement, but we'll do some further investigating and let you know. Thanks for your comment, we enjoy receiving one's like this.🙏
Kind regards,
Mitch
Most interesting video Mitch. More content like this showing ordinary Armenian lives.
If you were a tourist without any knowledge of the Armenian or Russian language, what's the chances of being invited back to share a meal with a humble Armenian family?
@Alin Gibbon...Every chance! If you were to wander/walk through an Armenian village, I'd be very surprised if you weren't invited into someone's home. It's that kind of place...but you have to be willing to immerse yourself in the culture and take a chance.
The men will want you to drink vodka with them and at least offer you lavash with cheese and greens! I'm not a vodka drinker, but I will have half a shot glass just to be hospitable.🤭 I much prefer red wine, which is often on Armenian tables as well.
I appreciate your comments Alun and hope you're taking care of yourself in your time of grieving.🙏 Kind regards, Mitch
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch Thanks Mitch, you've show more kindness & empathy than my own extended family.
@@alungibbon9146 I'm sorry to hear that about your family, but often that's the way it goes with your closest relatives. Hang in there Alun!🙏
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch They say the next twelve weeks are the worse & then a gradual return to normality but we now live in uncertain & fearful times.
Who knows I may, with the lessening of travel restrictions, be in Yerevan to celebrate Armenian's 30th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union in September.
I certainly need a change of country if only a few days in Belgium or The Netherlands.
@@alungibbon9146 🙏
It appears that Armenians were better off under the Soviet Union. At least under the USSR, Armenians could afford to heat their entire house.
@Mr Bush Lied...in many ways, yes... I agree!
Greeting from Ukraine!
Hello Felix
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch 🙋♂️How do you spend these winter evenings!?? Have a good mood!!!🙏🙏👍💪
@@felixmartirosyan5176 It might surprise you to know that Mrs Mitch and I like to watch old black and white western movies!🤔
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch It's a really Good idea! Why not?😉 And I have recently watched some french movies with Louis de Funes, the last one is "Oscar"! Anyway I prefer comedy movies! But it also depends of the soul condition)) Say Hello to Mrs Mitch and frankly I'm admired of her arrivle to Armenia from sunny Australia! It's a very power motivation and example which make other armenians be inspired for repatriation motherland!👍
@@felixmartirosyan5176... thank you and God bless you and our beloved Armenia🙏
So I wonder what you and your wife offer these villagers who bring out everything they have on the table and open their homes to you?
@ednaantonian...it is typical Armenian hospitality...nothing more. Plus, it is normal to take some products, or chocolates and drinks whenever you visit an Armenian home🙏
What are the cost of these homes?
@geanieltarin814...The family in this video lives in the village of Dimitrov. I just saw a 2 story house for sale, partially renovated, 8+ rooms, 300 sqm on 1500 sqm of land for US$80,000. So, for their home, I'm guessing around $50-60k, but that's always negotiable. Often you'll find them unrenovated, sometimes with an outside toilet, but as long as the construction is sound, you can always make renovations relatively cheaply. I know one couple who bought a village home in Vanadzor for $25k just before the start of the Russia/Ukraine war. After this, the prices jumped up substantially, but not so much in the regional villages. The further out from Yerevan, the cheaper the price. Anyway, this couple spent another $25k on renovations, including a new metal roof, kitchen, bathroom and heating system (labour costs are very low here)...so altogether they spent $50k and now have a great home in a lovely village. Also, I think they have about 1500 sqm of land.
Hope that information helps a bit🙏
Are you or your wife aware of a district of Yerevan referred to locals as Bangladesh because of it's remoteness from the city centre?
@Alun Gibbon...Yes we are...we often go there and intend to do a video of the trade market there in the near future.
Your comment brought a smile to my face, because during my first visit to Armenia someone asked if I've been to Bangladesh yet! I couldn't understand why they were so interested in Bangladesh! So, I asked, "Why would I want to go there," then came the reply, "It's a far away district of Yerevan!"😂
Actually, it's not very far away at all, but during it's development in the 70's, people would ask, "why would anyone want to live in Bangladesh?" (no offence to Bangladesh people btw) It's actually quite a nice suburb (in parts) and much less expensive than many other districts of Yerevan.
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch I first came across this reference to Bangladesh in the Armenian Badt Guide.
@@alungibbon9146 ...didn't know about that guide book! Then again, don't know about many guide books at all, because Mrs Mitch is my "guide extraordinaire"😂
@@ArmenianLifewithMitch The Armenian Bradt guide of 2011 was written, from memory, by a retired husband & wife team the husband died before publication.
I was lent the copy by the hostel. Bradt are the most comprehensive guides to the more obscure destinations or should I say least travelled in my opinion.
@@alungibbon9146 Interesting!
I was so confused by your accent at the start
@Sillius Soddus...a lot of people say that. I think it's because I try not to speak with an Aussie accent!😀
Mate, I'm watching this and I realise I might be doing it wrong...
@Dashing Dave...do you mean LIVING?
Food looks great, the landscape, looks a lot cooler than Queensland is right now too!
@@dashingdave2665 Yep, the food is great, very tasty and wholesome!
I guess, just about anywhere would be cooler than Old right now, but it's a State in Oz that we fell in love with before leaving Oz in 2014. We particularly like Cairns and even further north!
Armenia has 4 "true" seasons and they all have their own beauty. Yes, winter is very cold here, but there's not much wind, as we're protected by the tall mountains. So, it's quite bearable, so long as you wear the appropriate clothing. Conversely, summer can be quite hot, sometimes reaching +40, but mostly mid 30's. Spring and Autumn are beautiful months of the year and a good time to come and visit.
Stay safe and God bless...and try to enjoy the "simple life." Regards from Mitch