Finally, some down time

The last couple days have been very restful and we've needed it. I didn't realize how much energy we had spared just walking around in the cold.

Yesterday we went to an excellent photo exhibition. Tonight I'm having dinner with our friends the Aslanyans. Tomorrow is another day of rest and maybe a trip to Keghard. Harry, who's been here about a million times, has never been there. For my little odar friendsj, Keghard is a monastery carved into the side of a stone mountain. Talk about a feat in engineering. On Saturday we're going to a concert of the Armenian Chamber Orchestra.

And thus...

The Christmas decorations have only just started to come up around here. The Americans can learn a thing or two about timing from Armenians. As I sit here in the Ani lobby, they've just brought in the tree that had been sitting outside the main entrance. In Republic Square they're putting together a huge tree and lights and decorations are everywhere. It's a festive atmosphere, but I still haven't heard a single refrain of Jingle Bells. Thank God.

Speaking of God... I forgot to mention an interesting site from the other day. Six American Jehohvah's witnesses sat down next to us at Artbridge. I gave them my dirtiest look. It was just enough to get them to sheepishly turn away.

It seems everything really has made its way to Armenia.