Album 6
(19 September to 18 December 1996)
When you cross the boarder from Turkey to Georgia,
you leave one world (Asia, Islam) and enter another (Europe, Christianity).
Although they still play backgammon!
There is a new faith,
but not much of an economy.
"bread lines" in reverse
Stalin was born there
(his often closed museum and the only remaining statue).
The resort that served the Soviet elite are falling apart.
Borzhoumi
But there is still a tradition of hospitality (and great champagne!)
Next, I went to Armenia and stayed with some Peace Corps people
and watched the Armenians struggle to build a country.
The only way out, curiously, was via Russia. So I went to Moscow -
a place sending mixed messages to their kids,
but with friendly travel agents
with traditional Russian names: "Julie, Elene and Marie" (!)
I went to St Petersburg, site of Lenin's revolution
Finland Station
and pride in the Tsarist past as well...
After Russian, I made a quick swing thru Eastern Europe
and flew from Turkey to
the States. I saw lots of friends
and was lucky enough to see UCLA beat USC
in
the Rose Bowl (while sitting in the USC side!)
When I got back on the road, I headed down thru Turkey:
Konya
Antalya
(site of the Greek ruins at Perge)
and also over-served in the guest house business
So - off to Syria! (my first "terrorist" country)
(Just 20 to go!)
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