August 16th: Today we all took an excursion into Yerevan. We split into a number of groups according to desired destination. Some went to the national museum, some to the crafts and antiques market and some went to regular stores to do “normal” shopping. We went to the books and documents museum which has some really interesting material. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of time trying to get the local currency. Our Georgian bank cards did not work in the ATMs we encountered and there were problems using our American cards too. We finally found a place where they would take Lari. The sign outside showed a spread against the dollar of just under 1%, against the ruble of just under 2% and against the Lari of just over 20%! The banks would not take Lari, but they were still taking rubles, which was predictable and understandable, but still stuck in the craw. As in prior days, Armenian PCVs looked after us, giving up their time to help us. They were really great.

Mother Armenia. She looks a little less inviting than Mother Georgia.

Arrival in the main square.

Entrance to the books and documents museum.

We now have SIM cards that are supposed to let us call abroad. We have managed to get through to Georgia, but have failed so far to get through to the UK.

Last night, we heard from our Mako that it rained in Borjomi and the forest fires created by the Russians were now out. She said that she and the rest of the family are OK. They have food and seem to be safe, but the Russians seem to be on a binge, so we are still very worried. We were told this morning that they are looting Khashuri. It is hard to fathom what the Russians think can be achieved by all this. Georgia is hardly a country suited to looting. There are a number of rich peoples’ residences in Tbilisi, but 99% of the population of Khashuri is unlikely to have anything worth dragging all the way back to Russia or South Ossetia. Perhaps they are doing it just to “punish” the Georgians. Perhaps the Russian soldiers are simply undisciplined and are the barbarians that Sakashvili says they are.