When I got up I realized I had forgotten to buy coffee yesterday. So just now I went down to the supermarket downstairs to fetch some. How I hate going out of the house before I had at least one cup of coffee! On my way down I ran into one of the neighbors, an old man with big glasses, a big old-fashioned frame and those strong glasses that enlarge the eyes of the wearer. He is generally rather annoying, as he never says hi but only complains and comments about the garbage and how the stairs are not clean etc. etc. You can probably picture the kind of dedushka I am talking about.This morning, however, he started a conversation with me, asking what I think of the whole thing. What whole thing, I answered, not having a clue what he was walking about. Well, you know with the border open and all. What border? I asked. Haven't you heard yet? The border with Turkey is open. WHAT?!?! When I continued my way down to the shop to get my coffee, people were talking about the same thing there as well. What I heard in the shop basically confirmed what my neighbor had told me on the stairs. One man said that he had heard that they had been working on this deal for a while in secret.
As soon as I came home, I called my good friend Rada who has a son serving at Anapenza on the Turkish border. She said she had also heard rumors about this in the last few days, but despite frantic trying, hadn't been able to get in touch with her son Edgar yet. She was very worried, as she didn't have much information to go on. I had to promise to get back to her as soon as I have any more news. She will call me back if and when she hears anything from Edgar. I will keep you posted on any news straight from the border (and on any news and / or rumors from town as well).
Wow! This is some news!!
UPDATE (12:20 pm in Yerevan): "Life in Armenia" has more.
Update 2: I think you should read this too: http://www.cilicia.com/2006/04/april-fools_02.html ;-)
4 comments:
you jocksters, fooled me really good. but not quite.
http://iararat.wordpress.com/2006/04/01/armenian-turkish-border-open/
Yes, Mr E and Artyom guessed it: this was indeed an April Fools joke! Raffi has come clean at Life in Armenia: http://www.cilicia.com/2006/04/april-fools_02.html
Sorry, Mr E for deleting your comment, but I hope you understand and forgive me ;-). I had forgotten to put comments on moderation for the duration of the joke.
It's okay Myrthe. It was a clever little prank. Let's hope this "prank" becomes a reality in the future.
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