Leg 126, Suluymaniyah, Iraq, via Iran, Armenia, Turkey and Georgia to Ganja, Azerbaijan
DAY12_26.PLN (9.1 KB)
Today is the first time I see snow on the ground with live weather. Not sure if it’s accurate, it looks kinda odd on top of the summer textures. Since I’m generally heading North atm I’ll likely see more in the coming days.
12-26 Sulaimaniyah Intl ORSU 3:03 AM
12-26 Khaneh OIPI 3:31 AM
12-26 Malekan OIMA 3:50 AM
12-26 Sahand OITM 4:00 AM
12-26 Tabriz Intl OITT 4:21 AM
12-26 Nakhchivan UBBN 4:48 AM
12-26 Dzhermuk UGEJ 5:10 AM
12-26 Yerevan Yegvard UD21 5:32 AM
12-26 Zvartnots UDYZ 5:41 AM
12-26 Sehit Bulent Aydin LTCT 5:53 AM
12-26 Agri LTCO 6:13 AM
12-26 Erzurum LTCE 6:44 AM
12-26 Salyazi LTPU 7:11 AM
12-26 Trabzon LTCG 7:32 AM
12-26 Batumi UGSB 8:04 AM
12-26 Senaki Air Base UGSN 8:21 AM
12-26 Kutaisi West UG26 8:32 AM
12-26 Mukhrani UGMM No landing strip
12-26 Nataxtari Airfield UGMT 9:13 AM
12-26 Lochini UGTB 9:24 AM
12-26 Tbilisi Soganlug UG24 9:26 AM
12-26 Tbilisi Marneuli UG22 9:32 AM
12-26 Berd UGMO 9:50 AM
12-26 Dollyar UG11 10:00 AM
12-26 Gyandzha UBBG 10:10 AM
Flight time 7:07 24 stops
Setting out into the mountains near Shak-i Pira Magrum mountain peak
Flying to Kahneh airport
Which serves Piranshar and Darbekeh in Iran
Amazing views of this lovely valley
Tabriz, the capital city of East Azerbaijan Province, in northwestern Iran
Lots to see here like the Grand Bazaar, once a major Silk Road market on the left
And the Iron age museum with tombs of humans from 3,500 years ago in their original location
Arg Alishah of Tabriz on the left, formerly part of a vast medieval fortification that contained a mosque
Blue Mosque in the middle, partially-reconstructed 15th-century mosque
On the right at statue of the famous Iranian poet Parvin E’tesami 1907-1941. The first edition of her Diwan (book of poetry) compromised 156 poems and appeared in 1935.
Here are some lines from her poem ‘A Woman’s Place’, translated by Heshmat Moayyed:
A home without a woman lacks amity and affection.
When one’s heart is cold, the soul is dead.
In creation’s edifice woman has always been the pillar.
Who can build a house without a foundation?
If women hadn’t shone like the sun above life’s mountain.
love’s jeweler in vain would seek for gems in the mine.
A woman who neglects to buy the gems of education and learning
has sold the jewel of her precious life too cheaply.
Is there any robe more precious than that of knowledge?
What brocade is prettier than that of learning?
This really strikes a chord with me, my mother would have loved her.
Moving on to Nakhchivan, the capital of the eponymous Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan
Here you can find Yezidadad castle, a pre-medieval Sassanid castle constructed solely of mud
Flying by Heydar Aliyev Water Reservoir
With the Vaykhir Hydroelectric Power Station
The mountains are getting higher with signs of snow at Badamli
At Jermuk, the live weather snow ground cover in action
Jermuk airport, under a thin layer of snow
Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, marked by grand Soviet-era architecture
I recognize those block structures from when I was traveling through Russia
The style reflects in the Saint Gregory The Illuminator Cathedral as well
The largest Armenian Apostolic cathedral in the world.
Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex
First time I saw an Armenian Genocide Monument was back in Aix-En-Provence
Matenadaran, scientific research institute exhibiting many of its rare manuscripts, parchments & books
Cascade complex on the right. Cascading series of stairs, with many cool sculptures.
Lake Balik Gölü, patches of snow on the ground (intentional this time, not part of the aerial imagery)
Ezerum. The snow still needs some tweaks, looks inverted with all the white city roads
Flying over Kopuz creek
Soumela monastery on the mountain side on the left
The real thing, amazing place
Active from the 4th century until 1925, now a museum
Trabzon on the Black Sea
Beautiful place to land
Zooming over the Black Sea, watching the moon
Batumi, the capital of the Georgian republic of Adjara
Batumi is a Black Sea resort and port city
View of the huge variety in styles in Batumi and Ali & Nino sculpture on the right
Kutaisi, city in west Georgia with lots of historical sites, including the centuries-old Bagrati Cathedral
Flying by Ambrolauri
Sunset near Mravaldzali
Last glimpse of the sun while crossing the Kvirila River
Alaniya National Park covered under a bit of snow
I had to skip this ‘airport’, could not locate any runway
Spawning there later, the plane ends up in the field in front of the building. It is possible to take off thanks to the recent engine boost and I managed to land as well thanks to the incredible stopping power of the Bonanza. Very short ‘runway’ with trees in the way.
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia
The old town is made up of diverse styles due to a long, complicated history, with periods under Persian and Russian rule. Including Eastern Orthodox churches, ornate art nouveau buildings and Soviet Modernist structures.
Narikala fortress on the left, 4th century fortress with great views of the city
Mother of Georgia on the right, 1958 iconic aluminum statue overlooking the city
The Bridge of Peace spanning the Mtkvari river
Last stop today, Ganja International airport in Azerbaijan
The terrain quality in Georgia (in the sim) is rather spotty, however the country looks like a very interesting and beautiful place to visit.