In the city of blinding lights

I'm in Yerevan for a conference, so am with colleagues from over 30 different countries across the wider Europe. It's an event in our network which happens each year at this time, moving to a new country with each one. Armenia has been desperate to host the event for years, but for various reasons it has only happened now. But they are so keen to show us what an amazing country and people this is - the hospitality is incredible.

Fantastic dinners, attentive service, engaging converation and toasts that go on all night. The trick of a toast it appears is to get yours in early, as it gets harder as the night wears on to think of something original to say! But it is all so heartfelt and genuine, this really has been an eye-opening and wonderful experience.

Tonight we had dinner in one of the newer restaurants in the city. It was a very trendy piano bar/jazz club with lots of chandeliers and club chairs, which seems to be trying to emulate the west a bit too much for my taste. The fact I'm not a jazz fan doesn't help... However, it didn't matter, as the company was fantastic, and chatting to people from so many different countries, with so many contrasting views and experiences, was just amazing. A night which would make anyone a true internationalist - fantastic!