Fate placed Armenia at the point where the European and Middle Eastern continental plates collide, with a resulting mix in fortunes. Geography has brought the natural of the Cuacasus – majestic mountain ranges, snowy peaks, alpine lakes and forests. History, however, has seen Armenia suffer at the hands of conquering armies passing through – Roman, Persian, Arab, Ottoman Turk and Russian. These factors define the Armenians, a nation of artists, merchants, poest and stonemasons, who are fiercely proud of their language, culture and homeland.

March to June – or the 10 th century the golden age of Armenian literature and art

Photographing the domes and cupolas of the national treasury in Echmiadzin

Enjoying cosmopolitan Yerevan’s choice of opera, concerts, museums and dining Visiting the reconstructed temple to Helios, Roman god of the sun, Garni lmagining life on the ancient Silk Road at Selim Caravanserai

Travelling to dramatic Tatev Monastery, rising high above the Vorotan Canyon

Read Phillip Marsden’s The Croosing Place -a thought – provoking journey through the Armenian diaspora

Listen to Black Rock by Djivan Gasparian, master of the duduk ( traditional reed flute ), the quintessential Armenian sound

Watch Sergei Paradjanov’s The Colour of Pomegranates, a visually striking Armenian epic, dizzy with colour and symbolism

Eat Khoravatz ( lamb or pork, skewered and barbecued ) and lavash, the wafer – thin bread that accompanies every meal

Drink stong and gitty coffee; vodka; Armenian cognac – a national speciality

Genats! ( cheers! )

Solitary churches on rocky peaks; intricate stonemasonry; medieval manuscripts; bracing breezes from snow – capped mountains; rich vestments on bearded priests; vital people said to have their minds in the West but their hearts the East

Tosts ( lots of them ) before, during and after every meal; a culture imbued with literature and poetry; the delights of summer fruits

Armenians remember the denials and unanswered prayers of their long history ( a local from of ‘ good to see you’ is ‘tsavoot danem’ – ‘let me take your pain’), but they always put on a good face for visitors. lf you’re ever someone’s guest at home, watch how quickly a table of fresh produce, snacks, cognac, fruit vodkas and wine appears.

Carrying on, rebuilding by stone, is how the centuries pass in Armenia.