The weather was warm last week when I was thinking of what to write this week, was it to visit Botanical garden or just go for walk somewhere in city. Momentarily, I came up with idea of revisiting Olympic Park .it is a park I have long forgotten existed.
Going to it would be my second time in five years’ time. The reason being that it is more of resort than any other things, I just don’t think about it. First time was when a popular photographer took us there for photo section. It was there I first saw this magnificent castle and did not give much thought to it then.
Olympic is a combination of park, sport center, ski-jumping field, forest, ice skating field, River Beach, Restaurant, Bars and Hotel.
Surprisingly, the park flagship castle turned out to be a hotel called LIDO . A brief check on the website confirmed it to be hotel resort and I could see that lodging cost $50 per night.
Expectedly, the hotel has fine restaurant, Hookah bar and Coffee-shop. I was particularly attracted to a coffee shop named AFRICA . I simply like its Safari style interior and the fact that it is named Africa.
Farther within the premises are cottage houses and Chinese restuarant . I saw that Chinese restaurant has unique red painting, at the entrance are two imperial guardian lion ornaments which I supposed are there to welcome visitors.
Again, there is Smiling Buddha statue, this I have seen in many places especially in shops. I heard “he brings good luck’’. Whether that is true or not, I imagined how nice it would be to come here in summer when the trees are green and flowers blossomed.
At the back of the Chinese restaurant is Gammi adventure park of which I have no doubt will evoke a thrilling experience if I decided to go in. I could see ropes and car tires tied for up to the tree trunks. Some are as high as 13 meters from the ground. Ticket prices varies from 200 Ruble for individual to 5000 Ruble for groups and organization ($ 2.68 - $67).
Next place is the Lido-sport complex, the complex has Gym center, a paintball game and an Armenian cafe named Old Yerevan. Outside is a slopy Ice-skating field majorly for experienced skaters.
Other sport facilities in the complex are strictly for professional ski jumping. There is winter Sports training center for both professional sportsmen and women. A cable car runs from top to the bottom of the field, which one can ride for a fee.
The rest of the park is covered in forest. It is calm and unruffled. It is a place where visitors go for walk and unburden their minds.