The return of Love
Armenia and Georgia
Late August, 2007

J LOVE seems to have regained his sanity.
His health has improved, his conversations aren’t accompanied by a ratchety cough anymore, he no longer looks so tired, drawn and miserable.
I asked him pointedly at a group meeting when he was planning on leaving us.
“I'm not definitely going,” he replied, “That was just an option.”
I shrugged and thought it best not to push the point, but at back in Yerevan he sounded like his mind was made up.
I hope his good mood holds – he would be a sad loss to the group.


I spent a few days driving with him and he’s been good company. We enjoyed leading the convoy through the dirt tracks to Davir Gareja, and sharing responsibility for our border crossing into Azerbaijan.

Now Istvan’s gone there seems less pressure on us. We no longer have to stick rigidly to the production schedule, we can take more enjoyment from filming, knowing it is for ourselves, not anyone else. We can go where we please, and film for fun, without concern for Travel Channel’s audience.

Old Isty was a good person to have along for a month – helped to teach us about shots and filming and angles and direction. But now we can take it our own way, and it feels more natural.

ends