Yelena Tsaturyan

Armenian to English and English to Armenian translation of the documentary film (half part of video is in English and another half is in Armenian) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1thRcKbbx7TiKUgG6cNpZZA-EUSRvQCHy/view?usp=sharing (srt in English) and https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A-B9kUzYxRyn4nFfwxJcZBM6qTVwHhae/view?usp=share_link (.srt in Armenian) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TolPg7xjJ3W_gU1IZv9X7Pr2eOrywwc2/view?usp=sharing (video) 1 00:00:14,490 --> 00:00:17,900 My mind often takes me back to Ashtarak. 2 00:00:21,380 --> 00:00:24,360 That’s where I was born but never lived 3 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:29,360 And only visited to experience some of the best moments of mind lessons. 4 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,000 Where is it that attracts me so much to Ashtarak? 5 00:00:39,850 --> 00:00:44,650 To answer this question I decided to visit my hometown once again 6 00:00:44,750 --> 00:00:49,300 and explore the places that I see so often in my dreams. 7 00:01:02,060 --> 00:01:06,620 My journey begins with my grandpa Vladik and grandma Kima’s apartment. 8 00:01:06,970 --> 00:01:09,800 In this tiny place they raised two sons 9 00:01:09,860 --> 00:01:13,690 and have been living together for more than 50 years. 10 00:01:18,650 --> 00:01:22,020 This is where my dad Garegin married in 1983 11 00:01:22,260 --> 00:01:26,010 and my uncle in 1995. 12 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:29,000 [inaudible] 13 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,320 I remember being over one by my grandparent’s caring love 14 00:01:32,340 --> 00:01:34,540 as a child and a teenager. 15 00:01:35,190 --> 00:01:39,250 Their apartment always felt like the safest and coziest place to me. 16 00:01:39,430 --> 00:01:44,280 Mentally, I kept coming back here during the most challenging times in my life. 17 00:01:57,690 --> 00:01:59,080 -O, yes, Grandpa jan! -Wow! 18 00:01:59,100 --> 00:02:01,480 Tigran jan, you are welcome! 19 00:02:01,500 --> 00:02:03,640 Hello, Grandpa jan! 20 00:02:04,110 --> 00:02:05,490 -How are you? -I’m fine. 21 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:06,800 When did you come? 22 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,270 -Today. -That’s great! That’s great! 23 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,060 -How is Grandma? - She is fine, fine! 24 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:12,920 If she knows, she will feel better. 25 00:02:14,190 --> 00:02:16,200 Well done, well done! 26 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,750 -And where are you going, grandpa? - I wanna go to the garden. 27 00:02:19,170 --> 00:02:22,250 -Let’s go to see the garden, let’s go. -Let’s go, let’s go. 28 00:02:24,110 --> 00:02:28,380 Grandpa’s garden is the place with the most delicious fruits in the world. 29 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:33,130 It’s my magical shelter where I hide from nightmares. 30 00:02:33,350 --> 00:02:35,850 The apricot is ripe for a long time, it is still there. 31 00:02:36,220 --> 00:02:39,360 I have good grapes, not ripe yet, healthy. 32 00:02:39,710 --> 00:02:44,330 I have quinces, I have plums, I have black plums. 33 00:02:44,630 --> 00:02:46,330 Now they are all there. 34 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:48,600 There is a good abundant harvest. 35 00:02:48,730 --> 00:02:52,160 I have cultivated. I water in time, I treat. 36 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,190 And I get lots of pleasure. 37 00:02:54,220 --> 00:02:55,620 It satisfies both of us, 38 00:02:55,640 --> 00:02:57,810 and our relatives and neighbors. 39 00:02:58,340 --> 00:03:01,360 Come in, Tigran jan, come in. This is our garden. 40 00:03:01,850 --> 00:03:05,580 Help yourself with the fruits I have grown. 41 00:03:05,930 --> 00:03:08,790 I have cherries, I have apples, 42 00:03:09,010 --> 00:03:11,010 there are apricots, there are plums, 43 00:03:11,170 --> 00:03:12,960 The grapes are not ripe yet. 44 00:03:13,290 --> 00:03:17,030 All the crops are grown ecologically clean. 45 00:03:18,170 --> 00:03:21,220 Selected cherries, taste them. 46 00:03:21,830 --> 00:03:24,250 The pure cherries we grew. 47 00:03:24,350 --> 00:03:27,360 Mmm, how sweet! 48 00:03:29,180 --> 00:03:30,630 This is the best variety. 49 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:32,750 This is called the Ox eye. 50 00:03:32,770 --> 00:03:34,750 The bigger fruits the smaller the harvest. 51 00:03:34,890 --> 00:03:36,380 This year we have a great harvest. 52 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:38,620 And this is a plum, a black plum. 53 00:03:38,650 --> 00:03:40,620 It’s very tasty, Tigran jan. 54 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:42,900 I pick it, you enjoy it. 55 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,050 Eat them to make me happy. 56 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,050 Well done! 57 00:03:48,410 --> 00:03:50,580 There aren't such delicious things in America. 58 00:03:53,330 --> 00:03:56,820 And look, what figs are these, what figs! 59 00:03:57,230 --> 00:03:59,290 That in no year has it been so great. 60 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,890 -This is probably on my arrival... - …occasion, yes. 61 00:04:05,070 --> 00:04:07,220 Of course, of course. 62 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,080 After having plenty of the sweetest fruits 63 00:04:11,420 --> 00:04:13,690 I took a nap under the grape vine. 64 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:17,040 It felt just like in my dreams. 65 00:04:17,390 --> 00:04:20,640 Only this time it was finally real. 66 00:04:38,980 --> 00:04:43,310 When I awoke up, an important morning lesson was awaiting for me. 67 00:04:43,750 --> 00:04:47,330 We are surrounded by 3 mountains. 68 00:04:47,490 --> 00:04:51,900 In front of us is the four-peaked mountain Aragats. 69 00:04:53,190 --> 00:04:55,240 On the left is Mount Ararat. 70 00:04:55,500 --> 00:05:00,430 To the right, from the other balcony, is Mount Ara, 71 00:05:00,580 --> 00:05:04,320 each of them has its own charm, its own beauty. 72 00:05:04,730 --> 00:05:10,500 The great poet Avetik Isahakyan loved Mount Aragats very much, 73 00:05:10,510 --> 00:05:12,180 հe always climbed there. 74 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,780 And he wrote a beautiful poem. 75 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,780 You, Aragats, a diamond shield 76 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:19,600 Of lightning swords, 77 00:05:19,660 --> 00:05:21,440 Your tops are a crystal tent 78 00:05:21,470 --> 00:05:23,120 Of wandering clouds. 79 00:05:23,340 --> 00:05:25,430 Your lofty rocks - the eagle's nest, 80 00:05:25,460 --> 00:05:27,430 Your ponds are light, turquoise. 81 00:05:27,580 --> 00:05:29,750 Your streams are shiny, luxurious 82 00:05:29,910 --> 00:05:31,940 gold-braided belts on your waist. 83 00:05:33,380 --> 00:05:36,010 When grandpa told me about the mountains 84 00:05:36,140 --> 00:05:40,120 I realized that I had visited every peak in Los Angeles. 85 00:05:40,700 --> 00:05:44,450 Is it because that I born in the place surrounded by mountains? 86 00:05:48,100 --> 00:05:51,970 From my grandparent’s apartment I walked to Ashtarak central square. 87 00:05:52,570 --> 00:05:55,490 This square seems so big to me when I was a kid. 88 00:05:55,900 --> 00:05:57,490 It feels miniature now. 89 00:05:59,370 --> 00:06:02,700 In the past when going from my grandma Kima’s apartment 90 00:06:02,730 --> 00:06:04,700 to my grandma Silva’s house 91 00:06:04,850 --> 00:06:09,760 I never missed a chance to stop for a drink of cold water from this fountain. 92 00:06:14,180 --> 00:06:16,300 A memory of me and my cousin Hayk 93 00:06:16,380 --> 00:06:20,810 secretly drinking beer in the corner of this building when we were 15 94 00:06:20,940 --> 00:06:22,980 suddenly came to my mind. 95 00:06:25,890 --> 00:06:28,070 My next stop is Ashtarak's gorge 96 00:06:28,130 --> 00:06:31,310 which is packed with breathtaking scenery and historic sites 97 00:06:31,340 --> 00:06:33,130 surrounded by legends. 98 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:35,830 When exploring my attachment to Ashtarak 99 00:06:35,990 --> 00:06:39,090 I realized that some of answers might be found here. 100 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:42,200 A local expert Nona agreed to help me. 101 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:43,420 According to legend, 102 00:06:43,420 --> 00:06:45,510 when the Lezgins has laid siege to here 103 00:06:45,530 --> 00:06:47,510 and there were no entrances to climb, 104 00:06:48,060 --> 00:06:52,920 someone named Vardik, seeing that their gardens needed watering, 105 00:06:52,950 --> 00:06:55,610 decided to secretly go down to their gardens, 106 00:06:55,630 --> 00:06:57,960 so that they don’t lose their livelihood. 107 00:06:58,910 --> 00:07:01,040 He was captured by Lezgins when going down. 108 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:02,860 They began to persuade and force him 109 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,580 to convince his supporters to get down and surrender. 110 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,910 But since Vardik did not agree with that at all, 111 00:07:10,090 --> 00:07:12,890 he starts singing loudly all over the gorge. 112 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,840 Hey, people of the gorge, my name is Vardik, 113 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,040 look at me, have pity on yourselves, 114 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:17,740 hide firmly in your places. 115 00:07:17,950 --> 00:07:22,430 Seeing that they do not achieve their goal, Lezgins kill Vardik, 116 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,290 whose tombstone we will see a little bit further on that side. 117 00:07:29,570 --> 00:07:31,660 When I was jumping around carefree 118 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,030 in my fourth birthday at the same spot, 119 00:07:34,370 --> 00:07:36,270 my little mind couldn't even imagine 120 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:38,660 that it was such a historical place. 121 00:07:38,980 --> 00:07:43,530 Surrounded by relatives I was enjoying my childhood happiness 122 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,020 Not too far from Darapavor Gates 123 00:07:50,050 --> 00:07:52,020 is Ashtarak's oldest bridge. 124 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:57,400 The old bridge of Ashtarak was built in 1664 125 00:07:57,630 --> 00:08:01,600 by a merchant from Yerevan named Mahtes Khoja Grigor. 126 00:08:01,620 --> 00:08:04,600 Before that, there was, existed another bridge, 127 00:08:04,620 --> 00:08:07,590 which was very old and it was about to collapse, 128 00:08:07,690 --> 00:08:09,720 and this Motsakents Grigor (Gregory the Mosquito), 129 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:12,640 whom the people of Ashtarak called just like that - Motsakents Grigor, 130 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:14,670 decided that there should be a new bridge 131 00:08:14,690 --> 00:08:18,170 and also - with the stones of the old bridge, 132 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,730 and with novelty… built anew this beautiful bridge, 133 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:23,320 which is quite a solid structure 134 00:08:23,340 --> 00:08:25,670 and, as you can see, it exists to our days. 135 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:29,280 Martiros Saryan made this sketching in 1933 136 00:08:29,740 --> 00:08:31,630 but 90 years before that 137 00:08:31,740 --> 00:08:34,570 another great Armenian name Perch Proshyan 138 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:40,370 escorted his mentor Khachatur Abovyan to Yerevan on this bridge as a kid 139 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,440 From the bridge we walked to the church of St. Sargis. 140 00:08:45,590 --> 00:08:49,080 where Nune introduced me to the Legend of the 3 Churches 141 00:08:49,670 --> 00:08:53,020 It is said that in ancient times three sisters lived in Ashtarak. 142 00:08:54,130 --> 00:08:55,820 The three of them, independently of each other, 143 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,320 were in love with a boy named Sargis. 144 00:08:58,730 --> 00:09:00,770 And Sargis did not know about it. 145 00:09:01,110 --> 00:09:03,670 And when the two elder sisters find out 146 00:09:03,690 --> 00:09:06,190 that their little sister is also in love with the same boy, 147 00:09:06,340 --> 00:09:09,560 they throw themselves into the gorge dressed in red and apricot clothes, 148 00:09:09,970 --> 00:09:12,350 donating their happiness to their little sister. 149 00:09:12,370 --> 00:09:14,350 When the sister finds it out 150 00:09:14,510 --> 00:09:18,450 she gets very sad, and she too, 151 00:09:18,500 --> 00:09:20,450 so to speak, is unable to enjoy her happiness. 152 00:09:20,500 --> 00:09:22,170 And she, too, in white clothes 153 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:23,940 throws herself from the gorge. 154 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,120 When Sargis finds out about that, 155 00:09:26,390 --> 00:09:28,120 he becomes a hermit. 156 00:09:28,350 --> 00:09:30,570 After a while there appear on the edge of the gorge … 157 00:09:30,580 --> 00:09:34,040 3 churches appear on one side, symbolizing the 3 sisters - 158 00:09:34,100 --> 00:09:36,690 Spitakavor (Withish), Tsiranavor (Apricot), and Karmravor (Reddish), 159 00:09:36,790 --> 00:09:39,500 and on the other side the Church of St. Sargis appears 160 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:44,360 which, like that Sargis, seems to be watching the 3 girls from afar. 161 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,480 Despite the tragedy I found the legend mesmerizing 162 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:55,880 Among the 3 churches the one that captured me the most was Tsiranavor 163 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,530 Welcome to remains of the pagan Vishap Temple 164 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,410 One can argue that this basilica church is the heart of the Ashtarak. 165 00:10:05,940 --> 00:10:09,920 Historians state that Tsiranavor is the construction of the 5th century 166 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:11,990 is the greatest evidence that the Ashtarak 167 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,400 used to be a much more populous place. 168 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:17,530 At some point Tsiranavor was fortified 169 00:10:17,590 --> 00:10:20,860 and several gun slots were erected above the walls. 170 00:10:21,710 --> 00:10:24,570 I can only imagine how much happening here 171 00:10:25,230 --> 00:10:27,420 Thousands of years of history 172 00:10:27,550 --> 00:10:29,720 that I can touch and feel. 173 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:36,280 Usually places like this are crowded and protected by UNESCO 174 00:10:36,860 --> 00:10:40,990 But here I am sitting alone among my history 175 00:10:44,940 --> 00:10:47,640 I believe all the history that has happened here 176 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,010 has left the potent force on Ashtarak 177 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,760 that's impossible to describe and can only be felt. 178 00:10:54,230 --> 00:10:58,200 I think it explains why I am attracted so much to my hometown 179 00:10:58,380 --> 00:11:00,200 from thousands of miles away 180 00:11:02,810 --> 00:11:07,140 But what does Ashtarak mean to those who actually live here? 181 00:11:07,580 --> 00:11:10,150 Ashtarak is everything to me: 182 00:11:10,180 --> 00:11:15,320 famly, childhood, memories, a whole life. 183 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,370 It seems to me that the most beautiful and best place in the world is Ashtarak. 184 00:11:19,620 --> 00:11:25,110 Even sometimes I draw parallels between Armenia and Ashtarak. 185 00:11:25,390 --> 00:11:27,150 It often happened that I say 186 00:11:27,170 --> 00:11:28,780 National Assembly of Ashtarak, 187 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,540 then I realized I was wrong, 188 00:11:30,550 --> 00:11:32,220 because it’s not the Armenia, 189 00:11:32,270 --> 00:11:33,830 it’s just Ashtarak. 190 00:11:33,900 --> 00:11:35,830 For me in the world 191 00:11:36,530 --> 00:11:38,190 there is no better place than Armenia 192 00:11:39,380 --> 00:11:41,870 and in Armenia there is no better place than Ashtarak. 193 00:11:43,060 --> 00:11:46,010 For me, Ashtarak is a priceless country. 194 00:11:46,510 --> 00:11:50,860 My cradle is my Ashtarak, what, and it’s my childhood, 195 00:11:51,660 --> 00:11:55,070 my soul, my country, my homeland. 196 00:11:56,310 --> 00:11:58,390 My Ashtarak is everything to me. 197 00:11:58,540 --> 00:12:01,760 Ashtarak is a wonderful place for humanity, 198 00:12:02,180 --> 00:12:06,070 to whom it’s served both with rocks and canyons. 199 00:12:06,250 --> 00:12:09,070 and with green spaces and plains, 200 00:12:09,300 --> 00:12:12,100 where there are all kinds of both fruits, 201 00:12:12,330 --> 00:12:14,800 and grain, and vegetables, 202 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,860 which provide the whole population of Ashtarak. 203 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,700 In its arms, you feel safe. 204 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,590 In its arms, I don’t know, you feel happy. 205 00:12:23,620 --> 00:12:26,990 As soon as you step on it, you feel like the master of the world. 206 00:12:27,030 --> 00:12:29,950 Ashtarak, I can't say, but it's everything to me. 207 00:12:30,180 --> 00:12:34,620 Even its streets, its trickling stream, 208 00:12:34,860 --> 00:12:41,290 the Moqor Tsack, the Tsraforik, the oil pond 209 00:12:41,710 --> 00:12:44,540 that, our Tarabavor, our Sephor pond… 210 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:46,860 It’s always prosperous and will still prosper. 211 00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:49,810 First of all, these buildings in front were low, 212 00:12:49,870 --> 00:12:53,360 and the church was immediately visible from our balcony 213 00:12:54,070 --> 00:12:57,080 It was very pleasant, as my grandfathers, grandmothers, 214 00:12:57,170 --> 00:12:59,420 were believers. 215 00:12:59,770 --> 00:13:02,700 Every day they were making the sign of the cross while ringing the bells 216 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:04,720 than they, as if by that 217 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,370 let’s say, they connected everything with the church. 218 00:13:07,680 --> 00:13:10,290 The good things were connected in a good way, 219 00:13:10,350 --> 00:13:12,870 and the bad ones - they brought up, that it was not allowed. 220 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:16,490 because it was not accepted by religion. 221 00:13:16,690 --> 00:13:19,840 In our childhood, we suddenly were seeing 222 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:22,560 someone running down the street shouting. 223 00:13:22,890 --> 00:13:23,850 We were asking each other 224 00:13:23,870 --> 00:13:26,870 Who is this, eh? Pahlevan! Pahlevan! Pahlevan! 225 00:13:27,270 --> 00:13:30,480 Someone in pants, someone in a wide pants was running around. 226 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:32,280 Come, people, welcome! 227 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,610 Gather in the yard of the church of the Mother of God. 228 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:35,690 We didn’t know, we were children. 229 00:13:35,700 --> 00:13:37,640 We didn’t understand what is there 230 00:13:37,830 --> 00:13:40,900 that this man invites everyone on the street to the churchyard? 231 00:13:41,130 --> 00:13:45,420 We went and saw what pahlevan really had tied the rope 232 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:48,780 standing on a rope with a stick in his hands, 233 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,680 was jumping, sitting, walking, moving, 234 00:13:51,870 --> 00:13:54,760 showing a wonderful event to the public. 235 00:13:54,980 --> 00:13:57,070 Mother and baby, we all were gathering there, 236 00:13:57,220 --> 00:13:59,070 with applause, song, pleasure 237 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,480 and the pantsman was going back and forth, pulling someone's hair 238 00:14:02,590 --> 00:14:03,890 pulling someone's clothes, 239 00:14:04,030 --> 00:14:06,320 kissing one, hugging the other - the children, 240 00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:08,390 was entertaining the children 241 00:14:08,550 --> 00:14:12,670 to participate in the attraction, 242 00:14:12,820 --> 00:14:16,120 that is, when they see the church with all its pleasures, 243 00:14:16,270 --> 00:14:18,400 and the job done by pahlevan, 244 00:14:18,530 --> 00:14:20,680 which has been wonderful to this day. 245 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:22,670 But now it doesn’t exist, pahlevan disappeared. 246 00:14:22,950 --> 00:14:25,950 It would be nice if pahlevan came to the churchyard again, 247 00:14:26,150 --> 00:14:30,170 jumped, played, invited the whole society of Ashtarak 248 00:14:30,510 --> 00:14:33,320 to see that good game that is now gone 249 00:14:33,350 --> 00:14:34,850 from all over the earth, does not exist. 250 00:14:35,150 --> 00:14:41,230 Our house where I live is very close to one of our churches, Karmravor, 251 00:14:42,540 --> 00:14:48,050 and often the Vardavar holiday was celebrated very well with us 252 00:14:48,830 --> 00:14:51,800 because there was no age limit 253 00:14:52,730 --> 00:14:56,890 I don’t know - my friend's mom, my mom, the other's dad 254 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:01,090 and all that was one of the brightest and most positive memories 255 00:15:01,140 --> 00:15:02,620 that I’m impressed with. 256 00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:05,610 The child of an Ashtaraksman gets sick. 257 00:15:06,300 --> 00:15:09,760 And the father comes and asks, "Dear son, what does your soul want?" 258 00:15:10,990 --> 00:15:13,680 Says, the child said mulberry. 259 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:15,880 It’s mid-winter, frost, 260 00:15:15,990 --> 00:15:20,030 Wow, he said. Oh dear, where can I get the mulberry in the middle of winter? 261 00:15:21,100 --> 00:15:24,640 Ara, he says, I just opened the next door, 262 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:29,060 I saw the mulberry branch had broken the window and entered. 263 00:15:29,990 --> 00:15:32,500 Ara, he says, what a mulberry, what a mulberry! 264 00:15:32,540 --> 00:15:34,030 And I shouted, hey, Heriknaz! 265 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:35,450 Hurry up and bring the cloth! 266 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:38,470 He says, she brought the cloth, we shook and shook. 267 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:40,730 Then we both made wine, we made vodka 268 00:15:40,780 --> 00:15:42,330 And the child ate and recovered. 269 00:15:42,370 --> 00:15:44,030 I’d never seen anything like that. 270 00:15:44,100 --> 00:15:46,910 I want the people of Ashtarak, the people of Ashtarak around the world 271 00:15:46,930 --> 00:15:50,570 gather and come back to Ashtarak to make our Ashtarak flourish: 272 00:15:51,420 --> 00:15:55,610 I want that no one from Ashtarak would say abroad 273 00:15:55,660 --> 00:15:57,920 that he lives close to Yerevan, 274 00:15:57,940 --> 00:15:59,390 not saying that he is from Ashtarak. 275 00:15:59,470 --> 00:16:01,380 Let them say for sure that they are from Ashtarak, 276 00:16:01,420 --> 00:16:05,930 because the people of Ashtarak are people rich in traditions. 277 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:10,800 I imagine Ashtarak will become one of the tourism centers in the future, 278 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:14,670 because Ashtarak is one of the cities that keeps the old traditions 279 00:16:15,040 --> 00:16:17,380 We see a lot, when cities with beautiful buildings 280 00:16:17,430 --> 00:16:21,200 and some architectures are being built, 281 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,010 some villages, I don’t know… 282 00:16:24,060 --> 00:16:27,520 When we see how the world's moving forward in different countries, 283 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:29,400 I'm getting more and more convinced 284 00:16:29,460 --> 00:16:32,550 that it’s the ancientness that will be valued in the future. 285 00:16:32,580 --> 00:16:36,480 And I consider Ashtarak one of the real centers of tourism, 286 00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:41,520 I see that it will have very good tourist spots, 287 00:16:41,740 --> 00:16:44,050 will develop by itself, 288 00:16:44,110 --> 00:16:46,800 by keeping their ancientness, by keeping their identity. 289 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:52,240 There is one more place that I left for the last. 290 00:16:55,070 --> 00:16:58,280 Grandmother Silva's house was like a giant playground 291 00:16:58,340 --> 00:17:01,530 for me, my brothers and my cousins 292 00:17:02,460 --> 00:17:05,860 There were summers when most of my grandma's 9 grandchildren 293 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,950 would flow back to her from the different parts of the world 294 00:17:09,170 --> 00:17:11,290 to spend our days playing games, 295 00:17:11,470 --> 00:17:15,470 singing songs and living the most carefree days of our lives. 296 00:17:20,970 --> 00:17:22,550 As I walked through the gate 297 00:17:22,650 --> 00:17:24,830 memories flooded my mind. 298 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:40,140 Silva Artyomovna makes apricot jam … 299 00:17:40,650 --> 00:17:42,240 [inaudible] 300 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:52,650 Grandma's house is almost sacred for us. 301 00:17:54,170 --> 00:17:56,650 It's like a porthole to touch the past 302 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,730 and connect with our childhood 303 00:18:08,390 --> 00:18:11,190 This mulberry tree is the symbol of the house. 304 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,770 As kids we constantly climbed it 305 00:18:14,790 --> 00:18:16,770 to reach for the biggest berries 306 00:18:17,990 --> 00:18:22,350 I can't even describe the sentiment, the value it has for all 9 of us 307 00:18:23,020 --> 00:18:26,530 I wonder if my grandpa Mukuch ever imagined any of that 308 00:18:26,630 --> 00:18:29,460 when he planted it 60 years ago 309 00:18:51,460 --> 00:18:55,070 The piano that used to be playing non-stop was quiet today 310 00:18:58,110 --> 00:19:01,110 As I opened it to check if it was still in tune, 311 00:19:01,570 --> 00:19:05,340 lyrics from my brother's song flow out of my mouth. 312 00:19:05,430 --> 00:19:08,910 Where are you, carefree years? 313 00:19:09,350 --> 00:19:11,860 Why are you not there? 314 00:19:13,270 --> 00:19:16,800 Come on, sisters and brothers, 315 00:19:17,180 --> 00:19:18,680 let's go to the gorge together. 316 00:19:20,990 --> 00:19:26,960 Fate has taken us to the United States 317 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,060 We met the nostalgia, 318 00:19:32,060 --> 00:19:34,890 It became our friend 319 00:19:36,160 --> 00:19:38,920 The years are going by, 320 00:19:40,290 --> 00:19:42,650 And the first love passes by, 321 00:19:43,790 --> 00:19:47,660 But the childhood days 322 00:19:47,740 --> 00:19:49,770 Will stay unforgettable, 323 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,890 No matter how much joy and tears 324 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,540 Will see our pair of eyes 325 00:19:55,700 --> 00:19:58,500 Let burn love in our hearts, 326 00:19:59,570 --> 00:20:02,490 And our vivid memories, 327 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:05,440 Will remain forever. 328 00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:11,220 I came to Ashtarak, 329 00:20:11,740 --> 00:20:14,160 I’m looking for you, 330 00:20:15,500 --> 00:20:18,920 All around me silent and empty, 331 00:20:19,140 --> 00:20:22,020 My heart is torn. 332 00:20:23,060 --> 00:20:26,770 As if it was yesterday, 333 00:20:26,890 --> 00:20:29,750 when we together 334 00:20:30,750 --> 00:20:33,710 Were playing games 335 00:20:34,270 --> 00:20:37,030 with the dearest brothers 336 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,650 The years are going by, 337 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,470 And the first love passes by, 338 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,440 But the childhood days 339 00:20:50,550 --> 00:20:52,590 will stay unforgettable. 340 00:20:52,630 --> 00:20:54,760 No matter how much joy and tears 341 00:20:54,780 --> 00:20:57,510 Will see our pair of eyes 342 00:20:58,620 --> 00:21:01,490 Let burn love in our hearts, 343 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,580 And our vivid memories, 344 00:21:06,630 --> 00:21:08,860 Will remain forever.