What a weekend, I don�t know where my energy is coming from. Friday night was a friend�s birthday and instead of presenting gifts, the friend asked all attendees to donate money instead. The party took place at Spendiarian Music School, which specializes, in vocal preservation. The school�s students presented a concert that left every single person astounded. So much talent and the whole time I was thinking what happens to those amazing voices when their voice breaks. It was later explained that this school specializes exactly in that, which is to preserve those marvelous voices. 3 young boys presented the grand finale, talk about the future 3 tenors.

Saturday night was dinner at Hin Yerevan (Old Yerevan) with the visiting doctors that Raffi K. mentioned. Although this place is great for tourists, traditional Armenian music and dance, albeit loud, it is not a place for those of us living here. I must say though, the Ishkhan fish that I had which was barbecued for a change instead of the usual boiled plate was the best fish I have had in Armenia so far in 2 years.

Yesterday my visiting cousin who only had 2 days in Yerevan visited the Memorial museum, followed by the mass in Etchmiadzin, then on to Vernisage, Garni and Geghard and finally dinner. This cousin who was traveling with 3 other Diasporans dentists had spent a week in Yeghegnadzor region at camp for orphans. There were 3 groups of orphans totaling 600 kids. Between the 3 dentists who worked round the clock, they managed to do 758 fillings, pulled out 600 teeth, and the cleaning and flossing of all kids on a voluntary basis.

My cousin left this morning and will return next year to volunteer again. One down, 2 more visiting cousins to go from Toronto.