In the morning marshrutka no.75 took me to the central avtovokzal (bus station) for 100 dram. YOU pay to the driver when you leave the bus. I recognized earlier that they do not offer any big bus travel to Stepanakert – the capital of Nagorno Karabakh or ARTSAKH – as they call their country. But there are 3 minibuses departing every day between 7.30 and 10.00 am. They depart when full. My was full at 10.00. I paid 5000 AMD to the driver and took a seat in the back (the only one suitable for the long leg people). First hour we were driving on a flat valley with a hazy view of Mt Ararat and Little Ararat on the right. Then we started to climb the mountains. Road is bumpy. My backbone was very poor…. Up and down, zig-zags, bends…. Up from the town of Goris (once I was here coming from Iran) the road became better and we reached the border post of Karabakh at the bottom of the valley about 3 pm. No Armenian exit post, only Karabakh police in action. No problem with the visa. You fill the form on the spot, no photo is required and after 15 min you will get two documents with your name. You can go into this strange country. It is still more than 50 kms of bends climbing and descending to the capital city. Great green mountains around! After 6,5 hours on the road I saw down in the valley Stepanakert. Local lady from the bus was so kind to guide me to the Anush private rooms – a kind of primitive hostel, where I got a room for 4000 armenian drams (she requested 5000). They are Armenians, no wonder they use Armenian currency. Uffff…. I am very tired but happy to be in such a unusual place… Good night from montainous Karabakh!
