motorcade, armenia-style

Still sick (ugh) but I'm determined to stay in the next couple days so as to be at least 90 percent better by the time Dad gets here Sunday night. That means no more lazy nights at the cafes, no more rock concerts because "it sounds so cool!" Siiiigh.

Anyhow, I wrote this up Tuesday afternoon before the plague descended upon my house and thought my D.C. readers especially would enjoy it.

Living and working in the Washington area, I've almost become accustomed to the regular traffic disruptions of motorcades. After nearly a year I can almost distinguish the presidential motorcade from the diplomatic missions from the high-ranking Congressional members.

But today was an Armenian first. An executive level motorcade for the visiting Greek president. Why is he in town? Well, he's Greek so clearly it must be the Summit of Nations that Hate Turkey.

The motorcade itself -- pretty funny. The streets were cleared a good 10-15 minutes before the presidential escort actually arrived complete with a fleet of motorcycle officers (another first for me in Armenia -- they got motorcycle officers here?), followed by black Secret Service-style SUVs carrying Secret-Service-looking agents with walky-talkies pressed to one ear. (I guess they're not advanced enough for the little ear piece thingies.)

My favorite part: The absolute silence that resulted when the police stopped nearly all the traffic in the city. No honking taxis or mashrutkas. No dirty, loud, old Opels or Nivas. Not even a flashy BMW or Mercedes revving its engine to show off. Only the quiet sound of me chomping on sunflower seeds, a few birds chirping, and the occasional cop yelling at a pedestrian to get off the street and onto the curb.

A total stand still.

And in a flash -- the arrival of the motorcade -- it was over.