Yerevan, June 16. ARMINFO. In the middle of July, Cilicia sailing ship constructed in Armenia on the drafts and descriptions of the 13th century, will be put out to sea in conformity with the route of sailors of the Middle Age Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. A member of the "Ayas" Club Karen Danielyan told ARMINFO.

He said that the project is an historical experiment as such: recreating the sailing ship of the 13th century of the Cilicia trade fleet, the crew of the ship tries to sail on the route of trade the ships that were put out to the Mediterranean sea from Ayas port.

Danielyan said in the course of the first stage of its trip, Cilicia will visit 12 countries: georgia, the Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria. Cyprus and Italy. The second stage will start in May-September, 2005 on the route Venice-Amsterdam. Besides, the project participants will try to restore the way of life and cuisine of Cilician sailors, excluding potatoes and tomatoes from it. "We have some difficulties with tobacco, as there was no tobacco in Cilicia, but several members of the crew could not refuse from smoking," Danielyan said. He added that the ship will have a special smoking-premise.

It should be noted that Cilicia sailing ship is the copy of one of the largest ships of Cilicia fleet. Danielyan said that the project participants recreated the atmosphere of that time. Especially for this purpose, earthenware crockery was prepared with the sailing-ship Cilicia indicated on it. Besides, navigation enginery of that time will be used. The only exception will be the use of up-to-date communications channels and rescuer facilities, which is a compulsory condition for sailing today. Another interesting peculiarity of the given expedition will be place for tourists, Danielyan said that 4-5 tourists can be taken on the ship. He could not mention how much such a trip will cost to a tourist, adding that it will be determined in the course of the trip, as such a project is the first in its essence, though experimental tourism is developed enough.