On Friday night, I met up with a couple of Aussie friends who are working in the Tavush Region in Noyemberian and an Armenian Aussie based in Vanadzor. Since they were all in Yerevan, we decided to have a feast and catch up. We were all dreaming of just sitting at a beach somewhere and thinking of different destinations close by that wouldn�t cost us an arm and a leg. I recently enquired about some flights and was quoted $700 US to Nice, $450 US to Athens and just over $300 US to Cyprus.Croatia was another option but of course too expensive. Come to think of it we left out Dubai and Beirut. Regardless I think I�m just going to have to stick with either Sevan or water world this summer.

Today was a great day, I went to Mt Aragats and it was so refreshing and cool. Of course I didn�t hike up the mountain but just lazed around the lake, which was too cold for a swim. It took me and the rest of the group about an hour to acclimatize since it�s situated at an altitude of around 3200 m. The weather changed very quickly and we all changed from shorts to jeans and fleeces but it was a welcoming change. We walked around a little and had snow fights (yes there�s still snow around the lake in August). On our way back we stopped at the fortress and Church of Amberd.

Fire works are going off as I�m writing this, setting off car alarms all over. I�ve been listening to the concert all night, which is taking place around the opera. (I guess that�s where Madlene�s Arthur is singing tonight). I can hear it so clearly; it�s so loud tonight.