Through Dilijan's "Old Town"

Dilijan is already an incredibly small town, but it's one that has been found to have rather rich history. With excavations throughout the years which have led to discoveries from around 2000 BC. This is quite common for the region, where settlers from various influential time periods had passed through and lived within the region. It's evident from the many pieces of history that do remain within public. Ranging from the odd sights of statues of Lenin's head from the Soviet era, to old buildings before the Russian Empire. Dating even as far back as the Roman Empire with old monasteries still standing. Some of this history remains out in the open to be appreciated, while the more delicate parts of it reside either inside Dilijan's own little history museum, or elsewhere around the world. This post is pertaining more to the odd little street referred to Old Town. And I say odd due to the mixtures of cultures and eras that are felt around it.

Old stone buildings with wooden balconies that overlook the beautiful landscape of the town, the mountains opposite, and the monument to the 50th anniversary of the Soviet Union. In the past, this little town would've held quiet a lot of important to the surrounding regions. The Greater Armenia that would've spanned into Georgia above, Azerbaijan nearby, and also what is now Eastern Turkey. A trade hub for passer's by through various industries that would've supported trade. Wood, rock, and other minerals would've held quite an importance. In some ways, walking around the Old Town street feels like walking into a set of an old western film. And I'm sure under the strong warmth of the Armenian sun on hotter days, that feeling is more felt. It's an odd location for where the older district would've been, more a steep hill with a few old buildings on either side, now most of which housing souvenir shops for tourists or being little cafes and restaurants, again more catered to the tourist than anyone else. 

Fortunately there's a lot of care for these older buildings which are around 100 years old, and even down to the flooring which was even being repaired, with cracks being filled to avoid further crumbling of the old stone slabs. A strong contrast to this atmosphere was the manhole right next to the buildings: dating a little older with an age of the 1960s, still proudly displaying the hammer and sickle of the Soviet Union right in the middle. It's something you don't really see that often these days, where most manholes are either worn down or just different, either still Soviet era or more modern. Some simply state the year and the region of production; factories throughout the Soviet Union's many republics. Some are Ukrainian, some are Armenian, many are Russian. I think this is a good example of the varying history within the region, where the environment is still evident of varying ideologies and periods in time.

I can imagine that walking through this area in autumn and winter must be incredible, with all the trees around and the river which runs through the middle just beneath the Old Town. Where the old wood and cold stone produce that freshness in the air. Just above the old street is a larger one, with more mixture of Soviet era and pre-Soviet architecture. The buildings continue from here along the side. For a quiet town, it had quite a bit of life to it. One place which was less focused on the tourists was selling their own version of Armenian Lahmajo, which was an interesting experience in the end. And went well with an Armenian beer under the humid sun. Though, aside from picking up an overpriced souvenir or grabbing some food, the Old Town is a bit thin. Dilijan is a touristic resort town, but it's one that is still incredibly small. With little life to it beyond the newer additions that people have introduced in more recent years. At best, you'll see plenty of friendly stray dogs in the area that take quite a liking to the many tourists that come through. 

Often sitting above the Old Town and waiting for people to pet them or give them food. One dog just casually walked around rummaging through the bins, others drink freely from the drinking fountains that are meant for humans. People found that funny. At this location is another viewpoint which overlooks some of the town. Nice views, but the usual ones. I think if you are to head to the Old Town, it's more with consideration that it'll be a quick walk through on the way to another area in the town, rather than expecting to see anything of actual significance. At least the museum is nearby, and all the major points of interest beyond the hiking trails are within a walking distance.