My Return to the Homeland

Introduction by Weekly columnist Stepan Piligian: Andy Daquesian is from the southern Connecticut area and active in the Armenian community. A longtime contributor to the metro New York area, he is also very dedicated to his philanthropy in Armenia. During his many trips to the homeland, Andy captures the true essence of the nation by focusing on the people he meets. Over the years, he has posted short videos of his spontaneous gatherings with street vendors, farmers, villagers, soldiers and children in need. Some of his encounters sample and explain local cuisine or their entrepreneurial interests, but always give us insight into the wonderful, warm and talented people of Armenia.

This was my first trip back to Armenia in a year and a half (November 2019) and was one for the ages. After two vaccinations and a negative PCR test, I was prepared to travel to Armenia. This marked my sixth trip to Armenia in five years. I was unable to go in 2020 due to the pandemic’s travel restrictions. When I landed at Zvartnots after an uneventful but restful flight, I was cheerfully greeted by my friend Gayane, who brought along some delicious dziran (apricots), gata (sweet Armenian pastry), and my first cup of coffee in over a year. Prior to the pandemic, I began a caffeine cleanse and promised to have my next cup upon my return to Armenia. The caffeine jolt was amazing as I headed into Yerevan. After meeting my host Nunik Hovhannisyan from Luna Bed & Breakfast, I immediately proceeded to the Mer Tagh restaurant (near Tumanyan and Abovian) and effectively broke a short three-week fast. I grabbed some delicious lahmajun and jingalov hatz and happily munched away outside the Opera House. Although it was nearly midnight, I was raring to go on this arrival night that set the tone for my next three weeks in Armenia. While my activities for this trip in Armenia were mostly considered humanitarian, I did manage to adjust my schedule to include time with some of my Armenian kinfolk and experience local culture.