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Before coming to Yerevan, we'd heard about the city's Dancing Fountains, described as one of the city's most endearing attractions. We've seen that sort of thing in other places so Steven wasn't too enthralled about our going on any of our other nights in town. I was delighted when he then suggested we go on our last night even though the performance didn't start until 9 and we had a 12-hour plus day trip ahead of us the next day on to the country of Georgia.
On the ten minute walk down to Republic Square where the show was to take place, I pointed out this street art to Steven that was so common, especially in alleys throughout Yerevan. I have no idea who the figure is and who he might represent with the bird perched atop his head.
I mentioned in the first post I wrote on Yerevan about the country's prowess in chess. Here, fans of the game could play night or day.
The city was hopping and everyone seemed to be having fun, even young kids playing in one of the large squares.
This fountain was just the warm-up act to the real McCoy but fun to see just the same!
We'd probably been in Republic Square about ten times at least but it was so much prettier at night, with a mammoth crowd surrounding the fountains in front of the combined History Museum of Armenia and National Gallery, both of which we'd already seen. The city's main square used to be named after Vladimir Lenin but was renamed Republic Square in 1990.
The Armenian flag looked pretty blowing in the slight breeze above the clock tower.
One of the first songs I recognized was the music to one of the James Bond films and most other people seemed to as well. When one song ended, another song began within a few moments and the fountains again began to 'dance' in time to the music! Was it neat or what especially when one of the jets arched over the others!
When the next 'show' was to 'Rocky' music, there were many oohs and ahhs in the crowd as the jets from one side danced with the jets from another and then met in the middle!
You know when you go to a fireworks show and you and the people around you ooh and ahh when the sky lights up with a fantastic display? It was the same here, too!
I particularly loved the delicate twirling moves the fountains made when 'dancing' to a waltz.
Neither of us knew what to expect but, when color was added, it was pretty darn neat, I thought!
When the fountains 'danced' like this to the music of the famous French singer Edith Piaf, you could see the people immediately scramble up and move as they had been sitting too close to one jet and got wet!
What a joy it was to listen to Piaf's most famous song "Je ne regrette rien" and watch the fountains perform along with her magical voice. If you have a chance, google Piaf's song which means in English 'I regret nothing' and just imagine listening to it and watching the fountains move in time with Piaf.
The Dancing Fountains' show attracted a large crowd all around the plaza. The show is held nightly from May through October, I believe.
There was a huge variety of music played so as to cater to all tastes, I suspect. Thank goodness, there was limited techno and hip hop music!
I hated to leave at ten while listening to Disney's Under the Sea ringing in our ears knowing the show would still go on for another hour but we had an early wake up call. The show was so much fun and a great way to bid adieu to Yerevan!
Next post: Exploring northern Armenia en route to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia.
Posted on August 29th, 2018, from Tbilisi.
Before coming to Yerevan, we'd heard about the city's Dancing Fountains, described as one of the city's most endearing attractions. We've seen that sort of thing in other places so Steven wasn't too enthralled about our going on any of our other nights in town. I was delighted when he then suggested we go on our last night even though the performance didn't start until 9 and we had a 12-hour plus day trip ahead of us the next day on to the country of Georgia.
On the ten minute walk down to Republic Square where the show was to take place, I pointed out this street art to Steven that was so common, especially in alleys throughout Yerevan. I have no idea who the figure is and who he might represent with the bird perched atop his head.
The performance with the fountains 'dancing' to piped music started promptly at nine. I so wish I had taken a video of these particular moves as they were so pretty as the jets of water literally 'danced' from side to side and from back to front! I felt myself swaying in time to the music, too.
We had a perfect view standing right in front of the museum I mentioned earlier as the fountains are directly in front of them.
I think both Steven and I teared up a little when the late Aretha Franklin began singing R.E.S.P.E.C.T. and the fountains lit up in a spectacular array of colors.
The dancing fountains were much more magical then I ever expected splashing water could be because of the stunning water choreography! They far surpassed anything we'd seen before.
Posted on August 29th, 2018, from Tbilisi.
Loved the dancing fountains -- you captured it beautifully on your camera but I can only imagine how fabulous it was "live" especially choreographed with the amazing musical score (Bond, Rocky, Little Mermaid, and Aretha Franklin -- pretty notable characters !!). xo
ReplyDeleteI thought Yerevan's Dancing Fountains were awfully special, too. I could easily have stayed another hour until the end but we had a travel day ahead and needed to turn in early. Have since seen other so-called dancing fountains but they weren't a patch on Yerevan's.
ReplyDeleteXOXO right back at you from Baku!