Saturday - what is typical Armenian pizza?

Vernissage is an open air craft market reputed to be the best place in Aemenia to buy souvenirs and craft items.  Indeed there is a large selection of carpets, embroideries, dolls, stone and wood carvings, paintings, musical instruments, and the like.  It also appears that it is indeed the makers who are also the sellers.  I am a bit surprised that there isn't more of a hard sell.  Only once or twice when we stopped to look at an item more closely were we approached.  Even then it was more of a "Do you have a question?" approach.  Guess I'm not a craft or souvenir person.  Many things were lovely but I just wasn't interested.  The only items that held any interest for me were the old cameras and tools.

In one corner of the market we noticed a bunch of dogs and cats.  Some were in cages and some were being held by people.  I have no idea if they were being sold by breeders, if it was an animal shelter promotion, or what.  People here do have dogs as pets, but one sees more strays than animals on leashes.  At least I assume they are strays as they are running loose.  On the other hand almost all look decently fed.  Unfortunately at least half are limping or only using three legs to walk.  I would imagine if a dog is running loose it is only a matter of time before it is hit by a car - traffic is crazy.

After browsing a little while we then ambled over to Artbridge for a bite to eat.  I believe I have mentioned that their French Press coffee was excellent and with Neil being the real coffee lover in the family I wanted him to try it.  He did agree it was excellent.  He wasn't as happy with his meal however.  I, on the other hand, loved mine - angel hair pasta with fresh tomatoes, garlic and spices.  The pasta was al dente, the tomatoes very fresh, and the garlic not overpowering.  It seems I am having better luck with my meals than Neil.  Perhaps I am not as picky.

When the waitperson brought our coffee she forgot to bring my milk.  Neil asks "could you please bring some milk?"  This prompts me to mention to him that I have would merely have said "milk".  I've found the fewer words used and the more to the point you can be, the better chance you have of being understood.  I feel rather impolite doing this and hope that a smile and a "thank you" will make up for what might be perceived as curtness.  Neil, I am sure, with his deeply rooted politeness will never take this route

Neil searches for the cache

The Cache

After lunch, we head to a nearby section of the Green Belt to find the Yeghishe Charenc Monument. Charenc was a famous Armenian poet of the early 1900s.  Why would we seek this out?  There is a geocache nearby.  One which gives enough clues that we are fairly certain we can find without GPS.  And we are right! Our first cache in a foreign country.  Hell, our first cache outside of Ohio.

Unfortunately Neil is feeling a bit under the weather.  We head back to hotel so he can take a nap . . . which he does - for about six hours.  When he wakes up he is feeling much better so we decide to head out for pizza.

Neil remembers a place just off Republic Square and we head there.  The restaurant is doing a good business and has a very large selection of pizza, almost all with white sauce.  We have no idea what white sauce is but give it a try.  We still have no idea what white sauce is.  I would hazard a guess that it means no tomato sauce and lots of cheese.  Other than that it seems like a pretty normal pizza with four or five toppings.  We decide to give pizza at least one more try to see whether or not this restaurant was typical.