Being in the Witness: Joshua Tree XC, 1/12 – 1/13

What a journey. This one grabbed me deep within, Craig. Thanks for letting me be a second level witness.

Thanks Craig. I always miss the desert this time of year.

I can hear Toro Peak calling.

Unfinished business to attend to there.

Riga Gold Sprats! Those are always good :)

Nice trip

I can't believe you recognized the sprats Yuri!

My wife is Armenian so my family eats mostly out of Russian/Eastern European and Middle Eastern markets.

"I can't believe you recognized the sprats Yuri!"

I can't believe I missed them. +100 to Yuri's comment. Have you gotten into the Armenian Konyak yet? It's the best I've ever tasted, by far.

Craig and Adan –
Great photos … Great trip !

Regarding the title question … one I've dwelled on often, and changed my mind on at least twice in my life. better discussed after a few more beers.

"Regarding the title question … one I've dwelled on often, and changed my mind on at least twice. better discussed afer a few more beers."

We'll do that Art.

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Tom, I've had my share of Armenian konyak. My father-in-law is pretty fond of it (and vodka). He swears Armenians make the best konyak in the world.
He also swears Armenians make the best everything in the world. :)

No better character to drink with; born in Syria, he speaks Armenian, English, Turkish, Russian, and Arabic, did a stint in the Soviet army, became a classical composer/music professor in the Soviet system, and eventually ended up in the Untied States doing construction for minimum wage in '78. The stories….

"I've had my share of Armenian konyak. My father-in-law is pretty fond of it (and vodka). He swears Armenians make the best konyak in the world."

In this case he's right, IMO. Maybe ask him if I can be an honorary Armenian? After a few shots of Konyak, of course. ;0)

"He also swears Armenians make the best everything in the world. :)" Not uncommon for folks from that part of the world. This much I can say: The Armenians are universally regarded as among the best cooks in the Middle East by Arabs from all corners of the Arab world, and that really says a lot given their fractious nature. On a personal note, the first family I stayed with when I went to the Middle East was an Armenian family in Beirut, and their cooking was fabulous.

"No better character to drink with; born in Syria, he speaks Armenian, English, Turkish, Russian, and Arabic, did a stint in the Soviet army, became a classical composer/music professor in the Soviet system, and eventually ended up in the Untied States doing construction for minimum wage in '78. The stories…."

I'll bet. They are an interesting bunch, having survived and thrived for millenia in
a rough part of the world. I had a lot of Armenian students when I taught at the University of Baghdad, and my landlady was Armenian. We used to play backgammon weekly over endless cups of tea. As you said, the stories…..

"We used to play backgammon weekly over endless cups of tea. As you said, the stories….."

Backgammon!
All of the Armenian/Arabic/Turkish cussing that I know is thanks to playing with my father-in-law. I'm not as convincing at calling you a dog in Arabic as he is though.

My mother-in-law is Armenian but from Beirut; my wife was born in Armenia.

"I'm not as convincing at calling you a dog in Arabic as he is though."

I think you have to have been born over there to get just the right amount of intensity without being offensive. I used to content myself with being on the receiving end rather than risk the consequences of offending my opponent. In most cases it wasn't necessary, because I wasn't a very good backgammon(towli) player. Usually they would just chuckle and smirk as they outmaneuvered me.

"My mother-in-law is Armenian but from Beirut; my wife was born in Armenia."

If you can remember it, ask your mother-in-law if she knows the Ekmekji family. They were the ones I stayed with. That would make this a really small world. :)