Through my Eyes - Life in Armenia

  In May I met my friends, Kathy Hanks and Michael Wilson, in Egypt for an Egyptian experience.  The antiquities, tombs, temples and pyramids were exactly as the photos and videos that I've watched over the years.  The experience of seeing them up front was mind blowing and their grandeur was awe inspiring.  I was surprised to learn the span of the ancient Egyptian civilization, extending from Aswan to Alexandria to wherever the Nile flowed.   Paintings at the tombs of the Nobles The Spinx                                                         Tutankhamun's Hunting Chest                                            Karnack Temple Ramses II Temple                  ...

  Greetings from Armenia!   A few months ago I suddenly realized that my temporary visa was expiring in 10 days, yikes!  What to do?  Leave Armenia and return anytime that's how most people address the problem.  Ahh but where to go.  Turkey?  Not now, Armenian flights have been canceled over Turkey's airspace. Why.....   "For reasons incomprehensible to us and without any visible grounds, Turkish aviation authorities cancelled the permission previously granted to the FlyOne Armenia airline to operate flights to Europe through Turkish airspace."    An example of politics in this part of the world.   Imagine Canada canceling all U.S. flights over their airspace and providing no reason. Iran?  As much as I would love to visit Iran as an American I'm restricted. Azerbaijan?  Armenia is constantly in a conflict with Azerbaijan over Artsakh, the Azerbaijanis continue  to hold the Lachin Corridor hostage....

🎄 Happy Holidays🎄 a bit delayed for the U.S. but on time for Armenia. Armenia and many other former Soviet Republic countries celebrate Christmas on Jan 6th. Why?  It has something to do with the transition from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.  Some Armenians don't know why Christmas is on Jan. 6th, it just is. During my recent visit to neighboring Georgia, where Russians are  intensely  dislike, one angry Georgian said 'it was the fault of the Russians that Christmas is celebrated on the 6th, they want everyone on their calendar.' So there it is, life in a former Soviet Republic country. Below are photos from the center of Yerevan, Republic Square, exquisitely  decorated  to impress the Junior Eurovision competition held here in early December.  You ask what is the Junior Eurovision Song Contest?  Organized by the European Broadcasting Union, 40 countries throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East send talented teenage voices to...