Rally taxi driving

Ok, so this is a little late - i wrote this a couple of weeks back while still working in Yerevan.

I thought I was going to die. The majority of the day was enjoyable and passed without incident. But then we needed to go to a meeting and called a taxi. A silver lada turned up. I should have known that a lada painted silver and working for a company (aptly) named Rally would be bad.

We hurled through the streets of Yervan. Me clinging to the front seat and the door hold, bracing with my legs (they were splayed in a most unlady like manner) and maintaining an attention distracting one way dialogue with Vahe assessing the probabilities and the chances of survival (him: front seat, no belt = no chance, me: back seat, no belt but Vahe between me and the window = limited chance).

We took a wrong turn which meant that we effectively had a scenic tour of Yerevan, we drove up steep streets barely managing the make the corners and we drove down cobbled streets not slowing for anyone or any minor inconvenience like 2m deep holes dug into our side of the road.

As scary as it was (undertaking with millimeters to spare at intersections) he showed remarkable ability to approach hazardous situations at a million miles an hour and not crash.

Vahe asked the guy to slow down – twice – this is also a first – even Vahe was slightly shocked by his driving! But alas, our taxi driver seems to be genetically programmed to have a short life. I just hope that he doesn’t take too many people with him when it happens.

Oh yeah, I did an unofficial survey earlier in Yerevan. I counted 42 cars before seeing one person using a seatbelt. This is despite the fact that half of these cars had belts installed.

Blackberries and ice cream..

Fresh blackberries with icecream, sitting in my comfortable lounge (complete with computer and stuffed tiger) with the air conditioning on while it is 37 degrees outside after a hard days work... can it get much better??




I love it in the summer whent there actually is some fresh fruit and vegetables around!

Things in Georgia seem to be settling down. there is talk that the border will open again soon and the russian blockage to the ports will be moved so that shipments might start arriving.

I hope so as we dont have much diesel left in the country at the moment. There have been rumours floating around that the airport has no aviation gas left too - these are only rumours our travel coordinator tells me!

Developments in Georgia

The last day has seen terrible escalation with the problems in Georgia. Now there are bombs being dropped on towns outside of the disputed area - including the capital Tblisi and the main port Poti.

It is a little scary as there are so many Armenians on holiday around the black sea and close to Poti, the main port. To think that i was going there in 10 days time. I hope the guys i know get back to Armenia where it is safe soon!!

There are some pretty serious repercussions for our business too. The main fibre optic cable has been cut to Armenia as it runs through Georgia - meaning most people have no Internet access in the country (we run on satellite so are ok). Almost all supplies come into Georgia and all our export leaves via Poti. It wont take us long to run out of stock required for work and we wont be selling anything either.

The only way out of Armenia (assuming that it is unsafe to travel in Georgia and the airport is closed for some reason) is via Iran... talk about feeling isolated right now!!

Its all about me

You could say i don't have very good luck...
First Mt Ararat is a no go. Then i decide to go to Georgia and finally see the Black Sea from a position other than 35oooft above, but it is not to be.

Heavy fighting in South Ossetia (northern part of Georgia) has meant that it probably isn't a great idea to be a tourist in Georgia this week. ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7546639.stm

So, i have decide. I am going to London. I will cross my fingers and hope that there are no terrorists or wars started before, during or after my visit. I will head to France and Switzerland and keep my fingers crossed for their security also. After all - it must be me - right??

Curiosity the cat (and me)

My sister (who blogs here) has messaged my friend (who blogs here) to ask for her mailing address. My only role in this transaction is to pass the address on (which i have now done!) I feel like a middleman in a drug heist here, and now i am curious- Why??

What is my sister sending my friend??? Now i am living with the curiosity until one of these guys fills me in!!!

What to do now?

Well, there is no trip to climb Mt Ararat these holidays. Now i am trying to decide what to do instead.... I have a couple of days less than three weeks, and a wedding in the middle in Switzerland. Decisions to be made!

I might not be walking up Mt Ararat this summer but the almost-trip has meant that i have started walking and riding my bike around town. It was hard to start - there are lots of reasons not too - its hard to get out of bed early, its dirty and stinky in the heat with all the rubbish lying around, i am tired at the end of the day. Then there are also staring locals and lots of stray dogs. Admitedly not as many as there were since someone has been going around in the evening and shooting them. We saw the results lying on the side of the road walking to work the other day.

But - I cant believe how good it feels to ride a bike again!!!

Mulberry vodka making time

I was walking through some gardens and came across this old lady and her distillery. The old lady let me take her picture and was even prepared to let me try the rough vodka (she was only on her first distill of the mulberries). I declined as i am sure it would have made me blind!