In 2023 I traveled to Qatar, Armenia and Chile.
Qatar impressed me with the oppressive nature of its heat, as well as the generosity of its hospitality. My flight from Doha to Yerevan was delayed for 24 hours so I stayed in Doha. This is more a pitch for Qatar Airways than anything. If you book directly with them and run into a problem, they will personally apologize. A rep from the airline got my attention, and with his hand over his heart apologized profusely. He provided free transportation, free food and a free hotel.
(Qatar Airways, photo by author)
Getting online was easy at Zvartnots Airport in Armenia. Get a sim card there, and for a dollar a day you have unlimited Internet. These days with a newer phone you can just order an eSim before arriving. I wanted to see what a city recently gentrified by 100,000 Russians fleeing the war was like. It struck me as very hipster even though that’s no longer a thing, and urbane. The center of the city seemed to be the Opera Hall.
(Noravank Monastery, photo by author)
I went to one of the ancient churches of Armenia, Noravank, a 12th century. On the road there, I could see Azerbaijan and Iran. I…
