I actually skip my next town, simply because there's nowhere to play music or do my video clip respectably. These towns do kind of blur together. Then, under a giant pipe that goes over the road, I reach the town of Mkhchyan. This town actually has a little plaza with a statue to its war fallen--and even a shabby little fountain!

Across the street is an abandoned supermarket with the sign in Russian . All around I see signs that this country has seen better days...

It's disconcerting. I mean, wasn't gaining independence and breaking free from the cruel tyranny of communism the best thing that could've ever happened to Armenia? Why does this feel like a country in a state of abandon?