Sweet Kids, Lake Sevan and Tsaghkadzor
Aren't these kids sweet?! Not the first time I've seen little boys and girls here going around like this. They are adorable. We were coming out of the zoo, which was a depressing experience. Gave me a good appreciation for zoos back home, where there's a much greater effort to simulate the animals' natural habitats. The crocodiles were in an indoor glass cage that was no longer than the length of their bodies. I felt sooooo sorry for them!
I saw the famous Armenian opera, Anoush. The music is lovely. Got a bit on video tape. The people on the right in the back row are some fellow volunteers.
In the end of July, one of our Saturday excursions was to Lake Sevan and a couple nearby villages. Pictured below is Noratus village, famous for its field of "khachkars"- carved memorial stones-- everywhere throughout Armenia, particularly around churches and of course in graveyards. They are a very interesting form of Armenian art. The earliest khachkars date from the 9th and 10th centuries, a period when Armenia had gained independence from the Arab caliphate and separate Armenian kings each ruled their individual states. The picture doesn't capture the expansiveness of the field of khachkars. It was quite a sight. Notice the three ladies hanging out.
The view from the balcony of our restaurant, where we had lunch. Lake Sevan is enormous. It is one of the highest elevation lakes in the world. It is fed by 28 rivers, but there is only one flowing out. It has been used for hydropower and irrigation purposes for many many years and is facing severe ecological issues. Environmentalists and people who care about the lake are advocating to raise its level by 6 meters, but this would put the vacation houses of the elite in danger. The cost of not raising the level of the lake has been argued to be its complete death in 20 years (which I find hard to imagine, but....).
After lunch we went to the summer house of an organization/school for physically and mentally handicapped youth. They put on a brilliant talent show for us.
Suddenly it started raining hard. I had already swam. The water was cold and so refreshing. Afterwards the lake was calm and the entire scene absolutely beautiful.
The few paddleboats reminded me of ours at Fern Ridge. Lalai made lots of little friends, who were very sad to see her go.
The following Saturday we went to Tsaghkadzor, a little resort town in the mountains, which attracts skiers in the winter. As usual, we visited the local church, where there were baptisms taking place.
A new ski lift has been installed in the last several years. Linda Yepoyan, director of Birthright Armenia, is waving below.
I plan to come back in the winter for a ski. It's only about 45 min. from Yerevan.
The view reminded me of home...green, green, green.
After our journey up the mountain, we descended to a summer camp run by Sister Arousiag Sajonian, Superior of Our Lady of Armenia Convent. Sister Arousiag, originally from Pennsylvania, started an orphanage in Gyumri after the 1988 earthquake. She later opened the summer camp with the support of many donors, mostly from the diaspora. She is a visionary who knows how to make her dreams come true, all to serve God. We participated in obstacle competitions. My team lost. :-(
All for now....
I saw the famous Armenian opera, Anoush. The music is lovely. Got a bit on video tape. The people on the right in the back row are some fellow volunteers.
In the end of July, one of our Saturday excursions was to Lake Sevan and a couple nearby villages. Pictured below is Noratus village, famous for its field of "khachkars"- carved memorial stones-- everywhere throughout Armenia, particularly around churches and of course in graveyards. They are a very interesting form of Armenian art. The earliest khachkars date from the 9th and 10th centuries, a period when Armenia had gained independence from the Arab caliphate and separate Armenian kings each ruled their individual states. The picture doesn't capture the expansiveness of the field of khachkars. It was quite a sight. Notice the three ladies hanging out.
The view from the balcony of our restaurant, where we had lunch. Lake Sevan is enormous. It is one of the highest elevation lakes in the world. It is fed by 28 rivers, but there is only one flowing out. It has been used for hydropower and irrigation purposes for many many years and is facing severe ecological issues. Environmentalists and people who care about the lake are advocating to raise its level by 6 meters, but this would put the vacation houses of the elite in danger. The cost of not raising the level of the lake has been argued to be its complete death in 20 years (which I find hard to imagine, but....).
After lunch we went to the summer house of an organization/school for physically and mentally handicapped youth. They put on a brilliant talent show for us.
Suddenly it started raining hard. I had already swam. The water was cold and so refreshing. Afterwards the lake was calm and the entire scene absolutely beautiful.
The few paddleboats reminded me of ours at Fern Ridge. Lalai made lots of little friends, who were very sad to see her go.
The following Saturday we went to Tsaghkadzor, a little resort town in the mountains, which attracts skiers in the winter. As usual, we visited the local church, where there were baptisms taking place.
A new ski lift has been installed in the last several years. Linda Yepoyan, director of Birthright Armenia, is waving below.
I plan to come back in the winter for a ski. It's only about 45 min. from Yerevan.
The view reminded me of home...green, green, green.
After our journey up the mountain, we descended to a summer camp run by Sister Arousiag Sajonian, Superior of Our Lady of Armenia Convent. Sister Arousiag, originally from Pennsylvania, started an orphanage in Gyumri after the 1988 earthquake. She later opened the summer camp with the support of many donors, mostly from the diaspora. She is a visionary who knows how to make her dreams come true, all to serve God. We participated in obstacle competitions. My team lost. :-(
All for now....
posted by Sophia Malkasian at 4:10 AM
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