Well after two sleepless nights 35000 feet in the air, a quick zoom through Vienna on the U-bahn and the kind of time changing that really messes up your meals (breakfast at 2 am? say what?), Pete and I finally landed at Yerevan’s International Airport yesterday, or maybe that was this morning, just before dawn.
After making our way through a crowd of hustlers, we sped off towards the armenian capital in a raggedy green van, one of the many soviet era remnants that make-up the makeshift transport system here. The streets looked third world in the early pre-light, driving by open shack deps and gas stations and swerving around women in the middle of the road, sweeping up dust, as they came into view only in the headlights. A surreal cognac with ‘Cognac’ (the nickname for the director of the festival we are here for) at 7am followed in the hotel lobby and then finally some sleep.
This afternoon, though, Yerevan looked like just about any other small city in Europe, though with an incomprehensible alphabet and unimprovisable language. Our hotel is right next to one of the screening venues for the festival, which starts tomorrow with a few press screenings, an appricot blessing in a nearby church (you heard me) and a soiree opening ceremony at the opera club.
For now, though, I should try to remember that it is 1am and not noon which is what it feels like, so goodnight! (or Bari Luis which means good morning and is the only armeninan I know so far.)
p.s. you can see more photos of the trip to date here.
