I had to venture out real early today to travel across Yerevan, finding my way over to the post office in order to pick up my drone. Oh, how I have missed that little thing! Having picked it up, I sent myself over to Yerevan's central areas in search of some Soviet brutalism that I could capture with it. To no surprise, my drone batteries were completely shot. About six months since their last use so in desperate need of a long charge. To add to this, I completely forgot to bring both lenses with me, which meant I was stuck to the 85mm focal length, no particularly ideal for interior shots of old, architectural locations. While a few mistakes had already been made early into the day, including not eating or drinking anything for breakfast, the worst was assuming the day would be rainy like it usually has. First up, I forgot my umbrella, and then I wore an overshirt in 20 degrees which was just incredibly uncomfortable with the weight now in the backpack. I was not off to a great start! Oh, and I had to pay a customs fee for the drone, in cash, meaning I had to run off to an ATM to withdraw some Dram.
But upon my arrival into the city, I went straight to a location I had been missing for a while now: a Soviet era cable car station that was put out of business due to an accident a few years back. There are plans to revive it all, however, which is great news! I roamed this space a little bit, finding out there is roof access, though I was on my own and realised this was not the safest decision to make alone.
The city has been in a bit of a chaotic stance as of late. Constant protests and endless noise from the cars. It seems that nobody within the city can catch a break, and to some coincidence it appears that all tourism just dropped off alongside it. Though the oddity of a city continues, the ways in which people attempt to make a living. The interactions between commuters and general city-goers. It felt like the city was booming with a stress that came out of nowhere, as if everyone was ready to get at each other's throats for no real reason. That tension in the air that is likely a mixture of politics and poor weather as people throw back on their jackets and coats. And to much annoyance, the rain did in fact come just as I began to leave the city, and then it rained hard, crashing down hail upon everything and soaking me in my little commute back home. I don't really know how to feel about the day, it all feels a bit like an odd fever dream. Like I'm not so sure it really all happened. As if I was on autopilot within a strange environment that didn't really know of my presence as I roamed through it, observing.
I even forgot to take a lot of photographs. Which is a rarity when I enter the city. Usually I'm incredibly aware of the surroundings, with plenty of thought and things to capture. Though I think much of this was a result of tiredness. Falling asleep multiple times on the bus home.
Though despite the chaos, I did notice that Yerevan had opened up a bit in terms of nature. The parks were utterly beautiful, though in typical Armenian fashion such beautiful natural places were just completely empty. Like a complete rejection of all it stood for. Seating areas remained vacant, few people walking through the parks, and few sat at the many benches. Fountains were incredibly impressive, with Soviet structure fountains pouring out intense amounts of water, roaring splashes filled the space, and partially responsible for why nobody considered it a relaxing atmosphere, I guess. But I loved it! The dry environment was now a more wet one, more green around. The freshness of flowing water in all fountains was beautiful. I felt the urge to just walk into it having felt like a crusted-over SpongeBob all day. That feeling that I didn't care for getting drenched in that moment, which is ironic given the upcoming rain was a nightmare for me with all the electronics I had on me that I desperately tried to protect.
A sort of monkey-paw outcome having wished for some refreshing atmosphere, I guess! And I got that, just not in the way I was imagining it.
Despite the oddity of the whole day, nothing in particular really stood out. It felt like everything was quite contained, strangely in place despite the ways in which the city conveyed its mild teenage anger. Nobody was actually being rude to each other, there was no conflict, and I didn't even see any protests today. So I'm not entirely sure what my problem with everything was. But I'm glad I did a bit of scouting for upcoming locations to fully explore, to really capture and share with the world before this landscape changes more. I'm glad that the cable car station is to see a revival, who knows when, but at least some history is going to be preserved and given new life. Though, I feel there's still something sad about it all. That collapse of something that was forgotten in time, something that served great purpose in the past. So many stories it holds. Whatever comes next, it really won't be the same thing. But a shifted version of it, altered and adapted for the modern lifestyle. But that is the nature of all things now, the present is meaningless, and everything points ahead to the future for growth and change.
Sometimes I wish such locations could be left alone, not repurposed, but still maintained. To look as they did back in the past. Untouched, but capable of being explored in a sort of museum sense. There'd be a lot of things to learn from such spaces, and keeping us in touch with our pasts.
Wow, how bad it was at the beginning and what a turnaround afterwards. Nothing is so grim, there is always something behind to show us what we were missing to see or to learn.
I have missed some of your posts. So many twists and turns in my world... I always find your way of looking and telling very interesting.
Nice shots!