Sometimes logging is difficult -- you don't know how much to share with perfect strangers, wonder who is reading all about your life, or wonder what would be interesting for people to read. On the other hand, it is a convenient way to share your day to day activities with your friends and relatives, and plus let anyone who cares to know what day to day activities are like in Armenia for a repatriate.
Last night I went to Ashtaraki Dzor Restaurant, half an hour outside of Yerevan for a birthday party, and everyone had a great time. What a crazy place... really any visitor should just take a cab out there and experience this locally famous restaurant/entertainment complex. It is in a canyon, with a river and pond. It has covered outdoor seating, with paddleboats, a small zoo (including bears), a massive gold stage, live music and dancing. Now the music and dancing is a pretty funny mix of Armenian and Western, with the dancers (who wear costumes and everything) taking breaks so that the patrons can have a chance to dance as well. Quite a scene, and normal prices.
So this morning a group of us went out for a bite, and it was interesting to see how much our lives have changed from the days when we just came over and were remodeling our apartments and for the most part not working, or at least not long term. Now we are all so busy with our jobs, making a positive difference in Armenia. However, it seems a couple of the folks in the group are going a little stir crazy, which I think is part of a natural cycle of moving here. Although it is much easier nowadays than in the 90's in the sense of creature comforts and entertainment/eating options, it is still nice to go and see some diversity, and the old familiar on the outside... not to mention beaches whenever possible! Afterwards, I stopped by the tourist information office I opened up 2 years ago this month which was funded IESC/USAID and ATDA to visit my friends there. I hung out for a good hour before heading home to take a nice long nap and read James Michener's Hawaii. Great book, like many of his others.
Last night I went to Ashtaraki Dzor Restaurant, half an hour outside of Yerevan for a birthday party, and everyone had a great time. What a crazy place... really any visitor should just take a cab out there and experience this locally famous restaurant/entertainment complex. It is in a canyon, with a river and pond. It has covered outdoor seating, with paddleboats, a small zoo (including bears), a massive gold stage, live music and dancing. Now the music and dancing is a pretty funny mix of Armenian and Western, with the dancers (who wear costumes and everything) taking breaks so that the patrons can have a chance to dance as well. Quite a scene, and normal prices.
So this morning a group of us went out for a bite, and it was interesting to see how much our lives have changed from the days when we just came over and were remodeling our apartments and for the most part not working, or at least not long term. Now we are all so busy with our jobs, making a positive difference in Armenia. However, it seems a couple of the folks in the group are going a little stir crazy, which I think is part of a natural cycle of moving here. Although it is much easier nowadays than in the 90's in the sense of creature comforts and entertainment/eating options, it is still nice to go and see some diversity, and the old familiar on the outside... not to mention beaches whenever possible! Afterwards, I stopped by the tourist information office I opened up 2 years ago this month which was funded IESC/USAID and ATDA to visit my friends there. I hung out for a good hour before heading home to take a nice long nap and read James Michener's Hawaii. Great book, like many of his others.
posted by Raffi K. at 9:42 PM
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