Photo for January 31, 2006.

paytporik, originally uploaded by loretsi.

Find the woodpecker.

Photo for January 30, 2006.

Shameless pigeons, San Juan, PR., originally uploaded by loretsi.

There's a spot in old San Juan where there is a huge flock of pigeons. These guys enjoy harassing little kids and women. I guess they sense their fear and have fun scaring them.

Photo for January 24, 2006.

DSC00100, originally uploaded by nazarian.

Khotovatz (BBQ) in progress.

This is somewhat of a typical setting for Armenian barbeque. you have a few rocks on each side of the fire, and sometimes a couple of metal rails on them (in this case there are more stones and no rails).

You light the firewood and wait until the fire subsides. This is when the egpplants, tomatoes and bell peppers start getting roasted. By the time they are done, the fire has been reduced to simmering coals. That's when the meat, usually giant pieces of marinated pork, goes on the heat.

Photo for January 20, 2006.

DSC00050, originally uploaded by nazarian.

Wild raspberries, Northern Armenia.

These berries are widely collected from the woods and usually end up in the shouka-s (markets) around the country. These berries are known as 'malina' which is I think the Russian word for them.

In addition to them, blackberries are collected, too. They are called mosh. I prefer the malinas over mosh which is more sour.

The raspberries you see in this photo were consumed right after the photo was taken :).

Photo for January 19, 2006.

DSC00057, originally uploaded by nazarian.

Sacrificial lamb.

Actually, I think this is more of a 'party sheep' than sacrificial one. So we were at a parking lot near the Sevan island monastery when this RAF minivan pulled up. Some 5-6 people got out of it and left the parking lot, either going to visit the churches of the monastery, or the nearby restaurant.

This lamb was riding together with them. The man with the purple pants is the driver who stayed in the minivan, either to take care of the animal, or to prevent it from eating the upholstery.

On the way to Sevan from Yerevan, there are a number of roadside vendors who sell different beach necessities such as towels or inflatable toys. Among such necessities are also sheep and firewood :).

Photo for January 18, 2006.

botero_cat, originally uploaded by nazarian.

The Cat in Yerevan. I find the tongue sticking out very funny. In other photographs you don't see that.

Photo for January 17, 2006.

Yerevan_povorot, originally uploaded by nazarian.

This shot was taken from the Haghtanak (Victory) Park in Yerevan, Armenia. The road you see is the one that takes you from the downtown Yerevan to the Monument area and eventually Zeitun. The gray arched structure on the left is the lower level of the Yeritasardakan Palat (Youth Palace), aka Krtzatz Kukuruz (Half Eaten Corn Cob).

The Youth Palace is being demolished at the time of this writing.

Photo for January 16, 2006.

DSC00149, originally uploaded by nazarian.

Little calf in Lori, Armenia.

Photo for Januray 13, 2006.

Fall scenes 2005., originally uploaded by nazarian.

The winter cold is getting to me.

Photo for January 11, 2006.

Fall scenes, 2005., originally uploaded by nazarian.

Leaves.

Photo for January 9, 2006.

San Juan, PR., originally uploaded by loretsi.

San Juan, PR.

Photo for January 6, 2006.

Casino during daylight, not far from Yerevan, Armenia., originally uploaded by loretsi.

Casino during daylight, not far from Yerevan, Armenia. It looked quite sad but usually the venues meant for nighttime use look sad during daytime.

Notice the plastic palm trees - I wonder if they glow at night (like the plastic palm trees near the Hooters restaurants).

Photo for January 5, 2006.

Roadside vendor near Sevan,. Armenia., originally uploaded by loretsi.

Roadside vendor near Sevan,. Armenia.

Photo for January 4, 2006.

huge_dolma, originally uploaded by loretsi.

Large dolma 'Made in Armenia'.

Photo for Jan 3, 2006.

Rainy day in San Juan, Puerto Rico., originally uploaded by loretsi.

Rainy day in San Juan, Puerto Rico.