I left LA Friday afternoon and arrived in Armenia Sunday morning.  After so many close calls I made it!  Friday afternoon there was a fatal motorcycle accident on the 405 causing a 3-hour back-up; had my flight not been delayed I would have missed it.  Then, after 13 hours in the air headed for the Moscow airport the pilot tells us that we’re being diverted to the St. Petersburg airport due to bad weather conditions in Moscow.  We landed in St. Petersburg and taxied for 3 hours on the ground.  Luckily we were able to fly back to Sheremetevo Airport and after another round of needless security screenings (I’m mean seriously we’d just gotten off the plane!)  I was able to make my connecting flight to Armenia in time.  At 4am Monday morning we landed in Armenia.  The Zvartnots airport has been beautifully redone.  We had to go through more hooplas waiting for an hour to obtain visas and get bags checked.  And then I finally saw the smiling faces of my friends.  Lusine, her sister Marine, and their cousin had been waiting for my arrival.  Together we had to wait for almost another hour for the ordered taxi to come pick us up (it’s dangerous to let pretend taxi drivers waiting at the airport to take you home).  By the time we got to Lusine’s house in Nor Aresh the sun was beginning to rise.   After this 24 hour plus sleepless journey, I have to say it was all worth it!  I’ve only been here for a day and I already love it.  Despite missing some of the comforts we take for granted at home, I’m totally not missing the stress.   So far I’ve met some of the friendly neighbors, taken a walk to the nearest park in Erebuni and eaten the most delicious fruits and vegetables.  The apricots have an essence that words can’t describe.  I’m going to make an effort to share some pictures and stories throughout this trip. 

This is the house across from Lusine’s house.  Their neighbor is sweeping the front of her home.  This is a common sight at almost any hour of the day.  Women are constantly sweeping because it’s a very dusty country.

Around 8pm we went for a walk around the neighborhood.  These are kids playing in one of the side streets.

And these are children with their parents and grandparents passing time in a playground.

This is the local ice-cream parlor. 

And this is the local school. 

Right now it’s well past midnight and the house is full of girls.  Tomorrow we’re going to a wedding in a city about an hour away.   I’ve been told it’s not unusual to have weddings on a Monday, or any other day in the middle of the week.  I’m looking forward to that experience. ..