Precerpt from In with the East Wind: A Mary Poppins Kind of Life - Armenia: Erevan
I have been to Armenia only once, many decades ago, but Armenia has played an outsized role in my life. Erevan and Mount Arafat In the mid-1980s, Erevan, now spelled Yerevan, was a city of paradoxes and poetry. The capital of the Armenian SSR stood apart from European Russia in both tone and temperament, offering visitors a glimpse into a republic shaped by ancient heritage and Soviet modernity—and a city that glowed pink. Erevan’s signature glow came from Armenian tuff, a volcanic stone quarried from the surrounding highlands. Rich in iron and minerals, the stone oxidized to hues of rose and coral, giving the city its nickname: the “pink city.” Buildings blushed in the morning light and gleamed at dusk, their color a quiet rebellion against Soviet gray. On clear days, Mount Ararat loomed in the distance—tall, dark, and solemn. Though politically inaccessible across the Turkish border, it remained a spiritual and visual anchor. The contrast was striking: the radiant pink ...