Dilijan, Armenia

If Yerevan is the mind of Armenia, then Dilijan, about 60 miles north of Armenia's capital, is the nation's heart.  This town of 16,000 is a world away from Yerevan.  Old stone and wood houses make for a soothing walk.  Surrounded by Dilijan are square miles after square miles of farms, at which produce including walnuts, stone fruits, pomegranates, and grains are grown--making Armenia a rich center for agriculture.  Some food processing occurs here, and there is a smidgen of services: the Central Bank of Armenia is reported to move many of there operations here by 2013.

Dilijan is a microcosm of what Armenia is now and what it could be:  a balance between the old sectors like agriculture, and services, of which outsourcing could bring jobs to a population that is highly skilled but needs the right opportunities in order to make a decent living.

The following pictures were taken in our 2003 visit.  Enjoy!

A door to Dilijan

An view of Dilijan

The architectural features make Dilijan rich

A chat with some locals

Stone wall with a hint of patina

Street scene, Dilijan

another view of Dilijan

Pomegranate Central: Yettem, CA

I thought I would go back to my roots and show a few pictures of Yettem, California.  Yettem is a small town just south of the Fresno County line in Tulare County, 11 miles north of Visalia.  The town is so small that chances are it will not show up on your GPS—it is generally considered to be part of Cutler.

Yettem was founded by Armenian immigrants over 100 years ago.  Many Armenians have left the town, but some still work in the citrus and pomegranate orchards, and St. Mary’s Church still serves the community.  One of their legacies is the pomegranate orchards in this region.  Pomegranates are one of the world’s oldest fruits, woven with a rich legacy of myths and of course, timeless recipes.

I drove through Yettem last January, taking a detour along state route CA-201.  I was struck by the fruit falling on the ground, the quiet except for the occasional passing truck, and the beauty of the pomegranates still hanging from the dormant trees.

In this age of a globalized food supply, it is easy to forget where our food comes from.  Driving through Yettem’s understated beauty, it is a shame that we do not visit the sources of our food more often.

I figured these pictures would be a fitting tribute to my grandmother, who emigrated from Armenia in the 1930s—she would have been 105 years old on Tuesday.

By the way, any foodie should have a bottle of pomegranate molasses in their pantry.  It does wonders for stews and meats!