Yesterday was a bit of an everything sort of day. One in which so many different things took place that it's actually surprising how fun it was, from walking to different shops and experiencing a sudden revival to the life in Yerevan, things felt fresh. Despite the intensity of the heat that really wasn't all that fresh in feeling. At around 35 Celsius, you could feel the dryness in the air, and iced latte from a new Russian cafe that actually had quite a good quality to it for once started things off quite nicely, while meeting up with someone that had been all over the place as of late doing their own thing. It was a great catch-up, followed by a little exploration throughout Yerevan in search of something one may usually think is quite simple to find: swimming gear. I've wanted to go swimming here for months, especially with the heat picking up. Armenia's a landlocked nation that has elites that seem to hate the idea of water, and under the sun there's nothing more that you could want than to find a body of cold water and just jump into it. You're teased with the outdoor swimming pools of the Soviet Union that have been left to rot. Drinking fountains which hydrate but just tease the idea of cold, freshness that you want more of. Yerevan's riddled with actual fountains now, and some are incredibly beautiful. Areas of water now actually exist in the city, you just can't go swimming in them.
I managed to actually get what I needed, with some intent to swim later today at the nearby Olympic Soviet era swimming pool that somehow still operates in this more decayed, rural area outside of Yerevan. Less about swimming, though, yesterday was a day that held a lot of strange weather. A lot of changes from intense heat, to strong winds, and electrical storms in the distance. Flashes of purple bolts over the hills as the wind through all kinds of leaves around the city.
I didn't take a whole lot of photographs though. I enjoyed walked around and looking at things, taking in the atmosphere that definitely felt a bit more revived. I found myself interested in a lot of textural things in the city, the pavement with dry leaves that fell from above. The ways in which cafes would hose down the pavement in front of their buildings to create a bit more of a fresher environment, removing a lot of the dust and dirt that had accumulated. People sat around outside with books, drinking their coffee and taking in the more comfortable Sunday atmosphere. The last Sunday I had in Yerevan, things felt dead. It was an odd place to be in, where nothing was taking place at all, and the streets were so empty. But this day they were packed with life, even going into the later hours of the night. I wrote a post the other day that said I was falling out of love with Armenia, but there are still so many things I do love about this place, and walking around yesterday was a reminder of this. A nice contrast from the endless stress that I had felt from the problems that are more evident outside of Yerevan. Naturally, capital cities tend to have more of the quality of life than the outer parts. To no surprise. It made me realise that I probably could remain in Armenia, I just need to move into a more comfortable area that suits my interests a bit more. Knowing I could easily walk out and experience these aspects of every day life, without the power cuts and poor Internet speeds, and with the fun of being able to just sit outside with a book sometimes like the others.
Underneath the green, the trees and sounds of life. The many faces crossing by all with such joy on them. Tourists in their droves walking by and showing their interest in the surroundings, something I again hadn't really seen so much of when the weather just wasn't that great. It seemed the tourism here actually decreased a bit more over the past few weeks, which is no surprise when it comes to the fact that most are Russian, and the current government seems to be stupid enough to alienate a lot of them despite the money they have and want to spend here. Particularly in how many of them start businesses.
These differences in life were visible from the normal events of people enjoying the weather, to stages being set up for something. I have no idea what, but I walked through the area and caught a glimpse of the fun. Some musicians preparing things, some people observing and ensuring things ran smoothly. One thing that made me feel a bit strange was seeing how normalised drones now are, hearing and seeing them flying around like it's nothing. It made me think of the changes in society and technology. How one time as a young teen I fell in love with the world of cyberpunk, the high tech and low life aspects in literature and entertainment, which just fascinated me. Seeing such things now makes me realise that the environment I once had to imagine is now a reality. Electric cars, drones flying around, nobody really paying attention to them as it's now considered normal. It makes you think of where things are going to go from here. If this is how things are in a poorer former Soviet Republic, I can't imagine how things must be in spaces of intense wealth. Again realising that I really haven't travelled enough, seen the world or just gone out enough. It's odd to think about how quickly life changes around us, and how we don't even really notice those changes. Especially in how fast these changes take place with the speed in which we also adapt to them.
Have you ever thought of such things? How your surroundings are suddenly so different? Do you question how and when such changes even took place? How you failed to even notice them at first? I think this happens to me far too often, and I consider myself quite an observational person. Constantly in thought, always looking around and seeing what others are up to. A constant state of curiosity within.
What makes this aspect of constant curiosity so fun is that awareness of how many different stories are all taking place at once, how there's always something to notice and take in. For example those people up on the stage, all running something together to prepare some grand spectacle for an audience sometime. All of them coming together to create, and I just happened to stumble across them and snap a few photographs. That in itself resulting in stories as I now share them with the world. Strange to think about, isn't it? That realisation of how similar we all are. Total strangers we share a space with but don't even talk to, not even a second of eye contact. But within are the same emotions and struggles, motivations and intents. People just living. Trying to get by and pursue their interests. Sometimes when I have the camera and come across such moments, I almost feel a bit too confident in this curiosity and have the urge to talk to them, to tell them I'd love to stick around and photograph them more, then I realise that I'm best probably just staying from afar and snapping a few and then leaving, not getting too caught up in the things that others are doing, preferably minding my own business. I don't know how or when this side of me came out, because I wasn't always this way. I was stupidly introverted and afraid of any social interaction, but now I have to fight the urges to initiate it with total strangers.
I do think it's good though, and perhaps I probably could release some of that by talking to people that clearly would seem up for it. Seeing where things go and what ideas could be shared. There's always something new to learn from people, and that fascinates me.
I'll finish the post with another aspect of observation. From above, looking out into the people walking by the water under the wind as the sun had gone down. The city life still strong, and all these people enjoying the final moments of the day. Each in their own ways, alone or with someone.
Awesome photos and so beauty story. Im glad be part oh your post. Enjoyed so much.