Yerevan Cascade in pictures

Today I've been looking at some pictures from Armenia and I thought you might like to see a few as well. We arrived in Yerevan at night and got into our accommodation around midnight. The next day, although very cold, was sunny and we spend it exploring the capital city. Late in the afternoon we went to the top of the giant stairway called The Cascade. It was designed during the Soviet rule. 'Inside the Cascade, underneath the exterior steps, are seven escalators that rise along the length of the complex. There are also exhibit halls connected to some of the landings along the escalators which compose the Cafesjian Museum of Art.

The exterior of The Cascade features multiple levels adorned with fountains and modernist sculptures from the Cafesjian collection. The stairs afford walkers unobstructed views of central Yerevan and Mount Ararat. At the base of the Cascade is a garden courtyard with statues by contemporary sculptors such as Botero.', says Dear Wiki.

Mount Ararat in the distance

Yerevan Cascade, you can climb the stairs outside or use the elevators inside.

Yerevan and Mount Ararat from The Cascade, on the way to the top

Still a long way to go to the obelisk Monument to 50 Years of Soviet Armenia

    

Monument to 50 Years of Soviet Armenia

  
The Cascade houses The Cafesjian Center for the Art  and is well worth a visit. Its founder, businessman, philantropist and art collector, Gerard Cafesjian, was not an ordinary man. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to Armenian parents who escaped the Armenian Genocide in 1915, he achieved a lot in his life and helped others, especially his nation, a great deal.

 

Inside The Cascade renovated by Gerard Cafesjian 

Fernand Botero's 'Smoking Woman' under the tree in Yerevan.

When I was a schoolgirl, I collected sets of postcards, especially those of famous paintings. One of my favourite sets was that of Ivan Aivazovsky's works. I am not sure if 'Descent from Noah from Ararat' was among them.