Fortunately, it is faster to leave the city of Tbilisi than to enter. The landscape quickly changes into vast dry plateaus. There is a strong, fresh wind and the temperature only just reaches 20 degrees. There is a lot of dust in the air and despite the wind a lot of dust collects on the visor of my helmet and the screens in front of my nose. You'd say the wind blows it off, but I think it's more the other way around.
When you arrive at the border, everything goes smoothly. I leave Georgia with a stamp in the passport and entry into Armenia is also no problem. A counter for passport control, a counter for vehicle data and a customs officer who asks me to open a bag but doesn't really look in it. I also have to take out separate insurance for the motorcycle for Armenia, a little further on, but when the papers are signed and I want to pay with my bank card or credit card, the good man says that is not possible. But I had asked him beforehand and was told a clear 'yes'. Not so. Of course I don't have any Armenian Dram in my wallet yet, but luckily I do have dollars. I can exchange it at the exchange office next door and hand him the 8,000 Dram (20 euros). Everyone is happy and after also scoring a SIM card I continue my way.
Slowly the plateaus change into mountains and considerable mountain passes are presented. Brrr, the temperature drops considerably again and taps 12 for a moment. Luckily my bike has heated grips and handlebar covers that keep the cold wind away from my summer gloves.
When I descend from the barren, bleak mountains I arrive at the gigantic Sevan Lake, where I continue to drive for almost 100 km. Beautiful to see how the mist drifts over the ridges to the lake. The sun is already quite low and in the last southernmost town on the lake I stop to make my plan: continue or spend the night here. Next to me is a taxi driver who starts telling me whole Armenian stories that I can't bake bread with. He understands that I'm from Holland, he immediately makes a video call to someone and hands me the phone.
I get his daughter on the phone who has been living in Almere for 10 years. Hahaha, very nice, but of course we both don't really get anything with it.
Next to the place where we are is a hotel where I go to inquire if they have room. They have room for € 25,-. That's not cheap by Armenian, and my standards, for that place, but luckily I can negotiate a breakfast with it.
The restaurant consists of all small rooms where 6 people can sit at the table. Not really cozy, but I'm the only guest, so I'm alone anyway. It's hard to order food because they don't have a menu and nobody speaks English. Fortunately I have an app (Point It) that consists of all pictures and I can point out what I want. I skip the meat in the soup.
