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Yerevan

 

Yerevan is the capital and the largest city in modern day Armenia.  It's not a huge city with a population just over one million people. 

Although one of the oldest cities in the world, with a foundation stone from 782 BCE, it seems modern thanks to the Soviet era cityscape with some fine buildings and a construction boom in the first decades of the 21st century that is still underway at a reduced rate.  For example our hotel is so new it's a building site in Google earth and older buildings across the street are under a complete rebuild.

The city is relatively low rise, due to earthquake risk, and spread out. At this time of year it was temperate and leafy - generally very pleasant.  In popular precincts like Abovyan Street and near the Cascades there are many European style cafés and restaurants to enjoy and there are several malls and affluent shopping streets. 

 

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Around Yerevan - Outdoor dining; Charles Aznavour Square; Republic Square
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Needless to say there is also a Russian style Opera House that was surrounded by a park and adjoined by an outdoor food market and children's playgrounds. 

 

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Travel

Hawaii

 

 

 

 

 

When we talked of going to Hawaii for a couple of weeks in February 2018 several of our friends enthusiastically recommended it. To many of them it's a nice place to go on holidays - a little further to go than Bali but with a nicer climate, better beaches and better shopping - with bargains to be had at the designer outlets.

 


Waikiki

 

To nearly one and a half million racially diverse Hawaiians it's home.

 

 


Downtown Hilo

 

To other Americans it's the newest State, the only one thousands of miles from the North American Continent, and the one that's more exotic than Florida.

Read more: Hawaii

Fiction, Recollections & News

The Time Lord

 

 

 

For no apparent reason, the silver haired man ran from his companion, shook a tree branch, then ran back to continue their normal conversation. It was as if nothing had happened. The woman seemed to ignore his sudden departure and return.

Bruce had been stopped in peak hour traffic, in the leafy suburban street, and had noticed the couple walking towards him, engaged in good humoured argument or debate.  Unless this was some bizarre fit, as it seemed, the shaken tree branch must be to illustrate some point. But what could it be?

Just as the couple passed him, the lights up ahead changed and the traffic began to move again. 

Read more: The Time Lord

Opinions and Philosophy

Overthrow and the 'Arab Spring'

 

 

Back in April 2007 I was in Washington DC and wandered into a bookshop for a coffee.  On display was Stephen Kinzer's  National Best Seller: Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq.  So I bought it to read, before bed and on the plane. 

It is a heavily researched and work; very well described by the New York Times as: "A detailed passionate and convincing book... with the pace and grip of a good thriller."  And like a good thriller it was hard to put down.  I can recommend it.

Read more: Overthrow and the 'Arab Spring'

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