Your trusted source

The American TV channel CNN spoke about the Armenian cuisine among other places of interest that can be found in Sochi.

“Armenians account 20% of the Sochi’s population,” the article reads. For this reason, taking into consideration also that it is geographically close to Georgia, Armenian and Georgian cuisine are famouse in this Russina town.

The author recommends to visit authentic Armenian restaurant called Amshensky Dvor which is a part of the largest private museum of Caucasian artifacts and history. Chefs make wood-fired lavash bread and clay-pot stews, the author notes.

Among other surprises found in Sochi the CNN correspondent notices also gay bars and Cossacks patrol on the streets. The author also noted that the Sochi Olympics aren't taking place in Sochi but in Adler.

The article notes that anyone who's anyone (or who can afford it) has a dacha there, Russian President Putin among them. The Olympics in Sochi are considered to be a smoke-free event. This will be a trial in a country still in love with smoking -- nearly 60% of adult males and 40% of the total adult population admitted to smoking regularly in 2012, the CNN notes.

The author of the article was astonished with the fact that Sochi had trained Russia's first space monkeys which were set out into the space in 1983.

“Olympics visitors in Sochi can enter the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” the article reads. It is one of the largest protected areas in Europe, the preserve has around 30 endemic mammals including the Caucasian bison and the Persian leopard, currently being reintroduced to the region and also a mascot for the Sochi Olympics, sums up the author.