Last Monday I went to a concert at the Opera where pieces from modern Armenian composers where performed. One of the composers was Karen, who works at the Armenian conservatory and also happens to be my piano teacher. It was a very interesting evening and a good example of the vibrancy of Armenian cultural life. I know a few people, who hated being in Armenia, because they found people here to be very rude and impolite. I think they have a point, because on the surface Armenia really is a very rough place. But, if you look a little deeper, the picture is completely different and you can find a very refined culture.

Wednesday was a tough day, as my Aussie wife and I had to go through the ordeal of watching Australia play Uruguay for a place in the World-Cup next year. She almost went into premature labor, when the penalties started. Fortunately, all went well for Australia. In the evening I watched the game Switzerland – Turkey. It was a very close and exciting game, but the way the Turks treated the Swiss at the end was really awful. The day after the match I read an article in a liberal German newspaper, where the author said that after seeing the violence in Istanbul he shortly converted to a supporter of the Christian Democrats, who do not want Turkey to enter the EU. (I myself wonder, whether the Swiss will decide to join the Union now, their only goal being to prevent Turkish membership.) I realize that there is a danger that the Armenians’ attitude toward Turkey affects my thinking. But I am sure that my more benevolent opinion will be confirmed once again once I meet my friends in Germany shortly, many of whose parents were born in Turkey.

Last week, we also went to check out the new Chinese restaurant “Bejing” on Tumanyan. I definitely recommend the restaurant; there is even a Chinese girl, who bows to you, when you enter and leave. Another culinary highlight in Yerevan is the Lebanese bakery on Pushkin street. If you enter Pushkin from Mashtots, it’s roughly 300 meters on your left. Don’t let the outside appearance deceive you, the stuff they make there, is great.