Jan 18, 2013 - Heading Home

It's 3 a.m. in Yerevan. Somehow it wasn't hard getting up at 2:15 to shower and dress. Now I'm waiting for Keith to pick me up. He should be here in about 15 minutes. Decided to try to make one last brief entry into this log before beginning the journey home. It is hard to describe what I'm feeling and thinking about this trip. Like always, it is the people who befriended me that are the most important part. These people see themselves as belonging to a long line in a very ancient culture. Even those who leave seem to feel tied to the...

Jan 17, 2013 - Christian Ed Class

Ugh! I know, it has taken me forever to get more written on this blog. This may be the briefest travel blog ever. So since Monday I get up, do a little exercize in the room. I make coffee and eat a little breakfast. Then, I spend an hour or so going over the stuff I'm teaching for the day. I usually change the powerpoint presentations some, try to take some of the English words that they can't read anyway out of them. I go downstairs, get set up and begin teaching. We have a morning break...in the room. We have lunch...in the room. We have...

Jan 13, 2013 - Around Yerevan

Unbelievable. I'm in my fourth day in Armenia and have written nothing about the adventure. Will try to fix that now. My flight arrived into Yerevan a little early. My hosts here, Keith and Wendy, had recommended I buy a visa on-line before coming. I couldn't believe how quickly I cleared customs and was in the airport. I had never met Keith before, so I didn't know who I was looking for. He assumed it would take me about thirty minutes to get out and I would have thought it would take at least that, but I was already in the airport when...

Oct 18, 2011 - Yerevan

Tonight we head to Istanbul. We will leave at 11:55 PM and get to Istanbul at 12:05 AM, for a two hour flight (time change), take a taxi to the hotel, take a nap until time for the hotel breakfast, and start exploring. Sarah, Shawn, Anna and Will were there this past weekend, Sarah and Shawn ran the Asia to Europe Marathon and spent three days exploring the city and a have a list of must see for us. In the evening we will join our tour for an orientation meeting. We will explore Istanbul with the group for 2 more days then will head out to...

Oct 16, 2011 - Gyumri

We enjoyed a trip to the frontier city of Gyumri-Armenia’s second-largest. It sits on the border with Turkey where The Russian Army border patrol is stationed. Gyumri is in an earthquake zone and suffered a very devastating one in 1988. We also enjoyed visiting Echmiadzin, the seat of the Armenian Church and QSI, (Quality Schools International) where our grandchildren attend school. Time is flying by and soon we will be on our way to Turkey. Monday was Columbus Day so the people that work at the Embassy had the day off, so and outing was...

Oct 11, 2011 - Garni, Geghard and Khor-Virap

All temples, shrines and statues were destroyed after Armenia adopted Christianity in 301 AD. It is believed these had rivaled those in Rome and Athens. The lone exception is the Garni Temple. It was built in 77 AD. It is situated on a rocky, triangular cape. On two sides it is protected by a deep and beautiful gorge and on the third by a wall made of huge stone blocks. The site has been fortified from about 2000 BC. Shawn took the four kids and us out there Saturday. It is about 35 miles east of Yerevan on the Azat River. The canyon...

Sep 29, 2011 - Yerevan

The Republic of Armenia, covering an area 11,484 sq mi about the size of Maryland, is located in southwestern Asia, east of Turkey The terrain is mostly mountainous, with fast flowing rivers and a few forests. Weather and terrain are similar to the south part of Idaho. It has a population of 3,238,000 (2008 est.) and is the second most densely populated of the former Soviet Republics. Yerevan, the capital, has a population of 1,107,800. Armenin’s Per Capita income ranks 139th in the world. In 301 AD, Armenia became the first nation to...

Dec 17, 2010 - Satsuma Dreams

Happy Christmas! Today I sit in a friend’s house in Gyumri, the second biggest city in Armenia. I have internet. English music and good company but I find it interesting to reconcile how much I miss being near family, friends, and the comforts of home while still being glad to have the opportunity I have been allowed. By comforts I don’t really mean driving, soft pillows, having internet, being warm on a regular basis, or having a shower every day. The comforts I am missing are that last minute run to the store for something we forgot. The...

Nov 1, 2010 - Amberd Fortress

On most likely our last journey out of the city we headed north to the slops of Mt Aragats to Amberd Fortress Mt Aragats is not as picturesque as Mt Araeat but at 13,435 ft it is still an impressive mountain. The south slope where Amberd is located is rolling grass lands with deep gorges. The complex of Amberd derives its great historical importance from its uniqueness, being one of the best and the largest examples of Armenian fortress construction. The site incorporates a rich variety of buildings (church, chapel, baths, walls, gates,...

Oct 29, 2010 - Lake Sevan

Lake Sevan is about is about 50 miles NE of Yerevan. It is a high lake, 6300 ft above sea level and twice the size of Lake Pend Oreille in mountains like the Owyhee, not the Bitterroots, at spots that provide some protection for marauding bands as well as being picturesque, monasteries were built. Close by on one of the mountains is a ski area that at one time was used by the Russians for their Olympic ski team. The older kids, Anna and Will, did not have school this week so the family, minus Shawn who is in Germany at some high profile...

Oct 26, 2010 - Garni & Geghard

It is said that October is the best time to visit Armenia and since it is the only time we have been here we have to agree. The temperature has been in the high 70’s or low 80’s and the sun has been out the majority of the time. It was especially nice on our sojourn to Garni and Geghard. All pagan temples and shrines in Armenia were destroyed in 301 AD after the adoption of Christianity. Miraculously Garni was not. The site at which the temple is built is on a rocky triangular cape, on the bank of the Azat River. Two sides are protected by...

Oct 24, 2010 - Khor Virap & St Ecmiatsin

The monument of Khor Virrap is located on the top of a little hill in Ararte Valley, near the village Vedi about 35 miles south of Yereavan. In the 17th century it served as a monastery. It is a famous place of pilgrimage in Armenia. It is associated with St Gregory the Illuninator (Grigor Lusavorich) who is credited with converting Armenia into the first Christian nation. His story is long and complicated but is much revered here in Armenia. The monument is at the place that once was the capital of Armenia (Armenian Kortagen) from the 2nd...