This journey is truly unforgettable for me. With its world-famous mountain scenery, rich historical and cultural background, and the warm and lovely people, it’s hard not to fall in love with this place.
I still remember every time I told my friends, or even mentioned that I was going to the Caucasus when buying travel books, the responses I got were just “Where’s that?” or even “What’s that?” or some would loudly ask, “America?” I decided to give a brief introduction to this region.
The Caucasus region is a famous tourist destination in Europe, located between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea, bordering Iran and Turkey to the south. The North Caucasus is part of Russian territory and is divided into nine regions. The South Caucasus includes Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.
The highest peak in the Caucasus mountain range is Mount Elbrus (5642m), located in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkarskaya Republic, and this mountain range has become a popular destination for skiing and hiking in the region. This includes Georgia’s Kazbegi, Mestia, and Ushguli.
The relationships between the countries here are somewhat complex, and they have suffered from wars due to territorial disputes over the years. From the Armenian Genocide during World War I, to the Soviet Iron Curtain era, up to the recent war two years ago between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh [now called the Republic of Artsakh], and the ongoing territorial dispute between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia. However, for travelers, as long as you stay away from conflict zones, traveling in the region is quite safe. ?Though I went there in the end and nothing happened to me either?
Unlike Southeast Asian countries that share similar religious backgrounds, this region has a long history with diverse religions — from Azerbaijan, which is predominantly Islamic, to the monastery-filled landscapes of Armenia and Georgia, all within just a few hours’ drive.
The Caucasus is just like that. Maybe its public transportation isn’t great, their eating habits might be hard for Chinese people to get used to, and the pace of life might make you impatient when waiting — but their warmth and friendliness have completely melted my heart.
The Caucasus travelogue officially begins.
“Traveling ? it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” ? Ibn BattutaP.S. Here are a couple of scenic photos for you to take a look at
********************************************************
Thank you all for reading my travel reflections. If you’d like to follow my past articles, please like my page.
https://www.facebook.com/dayswithmyself/
Photo taken in Azerbaijan - Quba
Photo taken in Azerbaijan - Quba
Photo taken in Georgia - Gudauri
Photo taken in Armenia - Khor Virap (Monastery)
Photo taken in Armenia - Geghard Monastery