During my 60-day self-organized photojournalism trip to Armenia, I visited Gyumri three times. I was immensely impressed by its climate, the friendliness of its people, and the welcoming atmosphere. The city also exuded a sense of safety. Once, while struggling to lock my car doors, a passerby approached and reassured me, saying, "Don't worry, just leave it." My friend Armen intervened, suggesting that it was perfectly safe and that nobody would touch it. Driven by curiosity, I tried opening the door of another car parked nearby. To my surprise, it was unlocked. It seems that in this wonderfully carefree city, locking doors is not a common practice.

Gyumri is the regional center with a history that stretches back at least five thousand years. Geographically, it is located in the Shirak Valley, on the left bank of the Akhuryan River, and just north of Mount Aragats, the highest mountain in Armenia.

Along a certain alleyway, local artists sell their creations, which include paintings, wood carvings, and tufa stone carvings. Gyumri is also renowned for its exceptional goldsmiths.