Settling In

Saturday. Independence Day here.

It is a celebration of their second independence (from the USSR) in 1991. The first was in 1918.

Apart from a lot of flags, life seemed to be going on as usual. 

I had a “first” to celebrate today. The first time I have been pulled up for jaywalking. The policeman blew his whistle and made an unkind gesture. Everyone does it, so I was surprised. 

This was during my 4 hour trek around the city centre. It is a place of squares, statues, sculptures, boulevards and parks. Very pleasant, but a bit warm in the sun. 31⁰c today, but lovely in the shade. 

Tourism is not a big thing. 

The Blip is one of the exhibits in the Tamanyan Sculpture Park - by Fernando Botero. I walk through the park on my way to & from the city centre.

One Extra is the Moskva (Moscow) Cinema on Charles Aznavour Square. 

The other is Katoghike - the older building. It is the oldest building to have survived the 1679 earthquake. In its current form it dates from 1936 when demolition of another church on the site revealed the Katoghike hidden within it. Some inscriptions on it date back to 1229. The new church (St Anna) was later built next to it.