Armenia now , after the Soviet Union  Implosion

When Armenia and Georgia  were mentioned as  possible wine trips….my response was “I’m not Excited.” (I went and researched them on a World Map and was less enthusiastic to see they abutted the Caucasus Mountains with the Russians on the other side.) Then Mike mentioned the discovery of  a viable “ 6000 year old Cradle of Wine cave “ …..and I was hooked.

This picture (yes, we went) of Yerevan, Armenia, backed by the beautiful Mount Ararat (initially Armenian owned but now belongs to Turkey), dominates the landscape. On your left notice the drooping  cross arms….enfolded by angel wings which became the Christian symbol for both Armenia and Georgia since the 4^rd century. Saint Nino, a 4^th century female evangelist and miracle healer, formed her cross with grape branches and bound the arms with her hair.

Over time the arms dropped, but the symbol…