Travel with Anna

04/04/2026

Crow’s Arch is a fragile natural limestone bridge - formed by wind and erosion, and spanning around twenty meters over Famagusta Bay in Cape Greco National Park on Cyprus.

04/04/2026

Lazarus Saturday at the Church of Saint Lazarus - where, in the 9th century, a tomb was discovered bearing the inscription “Lazarus, friend of Christ”.

After his resurrection, according to tradition, Lazarus of Bethany was sought by the authorities; he is believed to have fled and miraculously reached Cyprus, where he became bishop of Kition (present-day Larnaca).

Purely out of cultural and historical curiosity, I attended the festive liturgy from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m. By around 8:00, the church could hardly contain any more people - yet they kept arriving, wave after wave. The atmosphere was dense, vivid, almost tangible in its festivity. The first tourists, other than us, it seemed, only began to appear closer to 9:00.

The locals were elegantly turned out: many of the men in suits and ties. And the elderly women - well, they were the very image of my Pontic Greek grandmothers, my grandfather Anatoly’s cousins - Nora and Mimi come back to life. The same slightly stooped gait, the same warm smiles, the same familiar lines etched into their faces. At one point, two elderly women argued fiercely over a seat, only to exchange polite bows and gentle smiles moments later.

Soon, the icon of Saint Lazarus will be carried in procession through the streets of Larnaca. And I - will go for breakfast.

17/03/2026

If you’re looking for an unusual souvenir in Armenia - I’ve got plenty!

Here’s another one: have you ever heard of Armenian paper? It turns out it’s a type of aromatic incense used to freshen and disinfect the air.

The most famous version is “Papier d’Arménie”, produced in France at a factory in the Paris suburb of Montrouge since 1885. There’s also an Italian version, “Carta d’Armenia,” made in Florence.

You can buy this paper in perfumery shops and pharmacies across Europe.

And in Armenia itself, “Papier d’Arménie” can be found in the building of the Yerevan State Puppet Theatre at 4 Sayat-Nova Street. I found it thanks to a friendly recommendation - and now highly recommend it to you!

03/03/2026

Yesterday I attended a professional tasting, “Riedel Saperavi & Qvevri Wine Glass Experience: The Shape Matters,” held for შალვა ხეცურიანის სომელიეს სკოლა • Shalva Khetsuriani Sommelier School by the Vice President of Riedel - the world leader in wine glass design - using authentic Riedel glassware specially created for Saperavi and qvevri wines.

And as for how I came to own a very special Riedel Saperavi wine glass - which has been with me for several months now - I’ll show and tell another time. Stay tuned!

28/02/2026

28/02/2026

Well, good morning!

27/02/2026

This week I’m taking part in a volunteer project, pruning vines in the vineyards of შალვა ხეცურიანის სომელიეს სკოლა • Shalva Khetsuriani Sommelier School. It’s an intense and truly fascinating experience, guided by a trainer who knows viticulture, the biodynamic approach, agriculture in general, and winemaking inside out.

It’s also quite a challenging job - both physically and mentally. Working with mechanical pruners often means holding awkward positions and cutting through fairly large sections of a vine, which can leave your lower back, arms, and hands aching. Mistakes are easy to make, so there’s no way to go on autopilot: every cut affects the next ten, fifteen, even twenty years of the vine’s life - and directly impacts this year’s harvest. The responsibility feels enormous!

There’s a flood of information, endless impressions, and an experience unlike anything else. And the people I work alongside - so interesting, so different - make it even richer. Every day we share knowledge, stories, and observations, side by side in the vineyard...

27/02/2026

Just a tiny bit depressed - this gloomy weather gets to everyone - even the little dog curled up in his cardboard house.

The floor in the future kitchen - like a sign that my dream is very, very close to becoming real.

And the p***y willow buds in bloom; planted from a small twig I brought back from Gyumri a couple of years ago.

The day after tomorrow, no matter what, it will be March…

16/02/2026

Recent discovery in Tbilisi: Eski Social Concept Store.

They sell lovely handmade pieces, cute souvenirs, lots of unique items created by people from socially vulnerable groups.

It’s not just a store — it’s a very meaningful space for conscious shopping.

Highly recommended!

13/02/2026

Cyclamens in a nearby forest (Akhateli village, Kakheti province, Georgia):

07/02/2026

Over the course of many years of travels I’ve developed a long-standing tradition of cooking Georgian food for people in different countries, and in return being welcomed into their culinary traditions as they cook their own dishes for me.

This exchange has taken place in Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, the United States and several other countries.

Most recently, during a tour in Armenia, I took this tradition to the next level and had the joy of cooking together with my clients in a fully equipped professional kitchen kindly provided by the Durr 32 hotel in Dilijan.

My personal signature: stuffed mushrooms are posing in one of the pictures that follow.