Gyumri - Armenia's second city is a little Soviet town

 


If some parts of Georgia reminded me of the Soviet Union, that's nothing compared to Gyumri. Armenia's second biggest city, with a population of little more than 100 thousand, seems to be stuck in the 1980s. There are many run-down Soviet-era housing complexes and grandoise government buildings, Soviet monuments still stand, you see a large number of Soviet cars, the markets and retro fun park are also from Soviet times. And the people themselves didn't change that much: old and young still sport quite outdated fashion. Plus a large number of soldiers can be seen, including Russian soldiers who are stationed nearby, plus memorials remembering the fallen in more recent wars. But Gyumri is not an ugly city, it just feels a bit strange. There are many historic churches and beautiful old buildings in different state. Visibly, the city is improving, some parts are already nicely renovated and work is ongoing in other parts. I liked that there are many drinking fountains everywhere, and the lack of homeless and drunks make it much more pleasant than many western cities. All in all, Gyumri is a pleasant place, even if rather small and quiet.










































































































































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