{"id":13017,"date":"2018-05-21T13:17:51","date_gmt":"2018-05-21T13:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mircorp.com\/?p=13017"},"modified":"2021-05-21T14:57:20","modified_gmt":"2021-05-21T14:57:20","slug":"traveler-spotlight-interview-with-award-winning-author-anya-von-bremzen-on-her-spontaneous-surprising-trip-to-armenia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mircorp.com\/traveler-spotlight-interview-with-award-winning-author-anya-von-bremzen-on-her-spontaneous-surprising-trip-to-armenia\/","title":{"rendered":"Traveler Spotlight: An Interview with Award-Winning Author Anya von Bremzen on Her Spontaneous & Surprising Trip to Armenia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Picture yourself spinning a globe and traveling to whatever country your finger happens to land on. Now imagine that you only have 24 hours to make it happen<\/strong>. For some, that sounds like a recipe for disaster. But for Anya von Bremzen<\/a><\/strong>, an award-winning food writer and author<\/strong> of such delectable cookbooks as Please to the Table<\/em><\/a><\/strong> and Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, that moment of spontaneity was what led her on a surprising journey through Armenia<\/a><\/strong> in search of its culture and culinary traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Author Anya von Bremzen in front of the Yerevan Cascade. Photo credit: Anya von Bremzen<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On assignment for AFAR<\/em> Magazine\u2019s<\/em> <\/strong>Spin the Globe<\/strong><\/a> feature, von Bremzen utilized the services and destination expertise of MIR Corporation<\/strong> to help her plan a five-day whirlwind tour of Yerevan<\/strong>, Gyumri<\/strong>, and Lake Sevan<\/strong> \u2013 exploring the capital\u2019s socialist art and architecture, savoring succulent fresh fish and house-made vodka, and taking in the soaring melodies of an Armenian a cappella church choir.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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We chatted with Anya about her experiences on her trip to Armenia, and about some of the cultural and culinary highlights of this age-old country.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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You visited Armenia once before back when it was still a part of the Soviet Union. How did your visit this time around compare to your first?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I first visited Armenia in 1989 in search of medieval monasteries and beautiful scenery. What I witnessed was tragic and mournful \u2014 the country had just suffered a devastating earthquake the year before, and regional conflicts prompted a blockade in Yerevan, leaving residents with limited access to electricity, gas, and supplies. The gloom surrounding the city left a lasting impression in my memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yerevan is dotted with old Soviet buildings and monuments, like the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex. Photo credit: Anya von Bremzen<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This last visit however was a wonderful surprise. Old Soviet architecture is still present in places like Yerevan, but the city now has a more modern and westernized feel. Buildings and city streets have been revitalized thanks to generous investments from members of the Armenian diaspora. And all throughout our visit we met with fascinating people keen to show off Armenia\u2019s unique identity and place in history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Yerevan girl collects handfuls of fall foliage. Photo credit: Anya von Bremzen<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What were your overall impressions of Armenia and the people you interacted with?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Armenia is a beautiful country, with a very rich and proud culture. And the people are so friendly and hospitable \u2014 they made me feel very much at home during my stay. To me, traveling there is a lot like traveling back in time. The countryside is full of villages and old stone churches where you can still see these traditional ways of life that haven\u2019t changed much over the course of time. And I enjoyed seeing the old modernist and Soviet buildings of the capital \u2014 it felt so nostalgic to me, since I grew up in the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Making lavash, Armenian flatbread. Photo credit: Anya von Bremzen<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Here in the West, we\u2019re often exposed to negative images of the former Soviet republics. What would you say to travelers who might have negative misconceptions and stereotypes of these countries?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both the media and the current state of international politics unfortunately reinforce a lot of negative stereotypes. But the former Soviet republics have changed so much over the last two decades, and there\u2019s been a lot of energy and resources put into revitalizing cities and cultural landmarks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top Photo: Dusk sets in on Yerevan\u2019s Republic Square. Photo credit: Ann Schneider<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I grew up in Soviet Russia<\/a>, and in the time that\u2019s passed since my emigration to the United States, I\u2019ve seen just how dramatically different the country and other former Soviet republics have become. Take, for instance, large cities like Moscow, which now feel more like Brooklyn, especially with the current restaurant revolution happening there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One of Yerevan’s Soviet-era modernist metro stations. Photo credit: Anya von Bremzen<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

News articles and images don\u2019t paint a complete picture of a place. You have to visit firsthand to really get a sense of the people and the culture.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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How would you characterize Armenian cuisine? What makes it unique compared to its neighbors in the South Caucasus?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Armenia\u2019s cuisine shares certain similarities with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, as well as with its other neighbors in the Caucasus<\/a>. But because Armenia is rooted in a strong traditional Christian culture, you\u2019ll find lots of healthy fish and vegetable dishes, all of which are very simply spiced and mixed with a ton of fresh herbs. There\u2019s a strong emphasis on grains like emmer and cracked wheat, and on grilled meats like pork kebabs. Russia had a long presence in the country as well, so it\u2019s common to see dishes like borscht<\/em> show up on the menu. <\/p>\n\n\n

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  • \n \"Sampling <\/li>\n
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