Four of my six trips to Armenia have taken place in the fall, so when the weather begins to change and the air becomes crisp, leaves turn color, and the smell of rain is in the air, my mind wanders to Autumn in Armenia. Alongside roads, farmers set out fruit to sell. Ripe grapes hang […]
Yerevan
Armenian Genocide: 100 Year Remembrance
Every year on April 24, thousands of Armenians gather at Tsitsernakaberd, the Armenian genocide monument. But this year is significant in that it marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915. Completed in 1967, Tsitsernakaberd is dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians who perished in the first genocide of the […]
“The” Dress Shop
There is a dress shop in Yerevan that those of us in the know refer to as “The” Dress Shop. Sharan Crafts Center employs talented local artisans who produce beautiful items for family and home including sweaters, pillows holiday ornaments, Christmas stockings, toys, hair accessories. And dresses. I’ve heard the store is mostly frequented by […]
Never forget: Commemorating the Armenian Genocide
April 24 commemorates the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, where it is estimated that 1.5 million Armenians perished. April 24 was chosen as the starting date for the genocide, because, on this day the day Ottoman authorities rounded up and arrested some 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders. During our trips to Armenia, we made several […]
Two years ago in Armenia
Two years ago in Armenia…we awoke in Yerevan and made ourselves a cup of Armenian coffee. Okay, we made several cups. Next we had breakfast: Matsun (yogurt). I heart Matsun. Omelets (nice work Big Papa!)…and more Armenian coffee. of course. Then we walked down the stairs of our apartment and waited for our taxi and […]
Two planes, 26 hours and 6,336 miles
We set our alarm for 3:30 a.m. and awoke, bleary-eyed, to what would be the start of a very long day. A full, luminous moon was the only light in the pitch black sky. Two floors below us, Tumanyan Street, lay silent: no horns blaring, no cacophony of people passing below on the sidewalk. It […]
Two weeks in Yerevan
After leaving Gyumri, the three of us spent two weeks in Yerevan. We stayed in a large apartment on Tumanyan Street which was very close to the center of the city. In between applying for a passport, a visa and trying to secure a flight home, we walked all over the city. It was my […]
On the road to Gyumri
“You’re in good hands,” our agency’s attorney told as we climbed into the back of a black sedan idling in the airport parking lot. It was midnight, Yerevan time, and the moon was new which meant it was so dark outside that I wouldn’t have been able to make out the taxi if the headlights […]
Exercise and culture in Yerevan
572 steps and 991 feet. That’s how many steps you can climb if you head to The Cascade in Yerevan, Armenia. Your reward? A great workout, amazing views, and incredible art. The Cascade is a huge white stairwell built into a hillside in Yerevan. Reminiscent of a natural cascade in a river or stream, the […]
Anti-sleepy
“Look at that graffiti,” I shouted to Big Papa as we stood on the perimeter of Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia. There it was, written in plain English on the pink tuff stone: Anti sleepy. We both chuckled and I snapped a photo. Baby Bird was snugly strapped into the Baby Bjorn carrier on Big […]