Friday, October 03, 2003
Almaty
This is Almaty......
......where we stayed for our first day in Kaz.....and then again for our last four.
Almaty is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the most modern, by far, of all cities in this country.
To the city's immediate south are some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Sorry to say we did not even get a glimpse of these as we were not looking south on a clear day (I think we were in the mall that day!). But we've seen photos of the mountains in books...and they are stunning.
Every now and then we would find a wishing tree......
I guess it brings you good luck if you tie a piece of fabric on such a tree.
Never did try it.......we felt pretty lucky already. :)
What I found most beautiful about Almaty was the tree-lined streets.
These trees were huge and lined just about every street we saw.
Green, green everywhere.
Note: See the bus? The city buses in Almaty were very narrow. Most we saw were painted bright blue, and as in America, many had advertisements on them. One day we saw one with a huge advertisement painted on the front of the bus....it read BARF !
No joke....wish I had my camera ready for that one.
Kept looking the rest of the trip for "the Barf Bus". :)
Another common sight in Almaty, and literally everywhere we went in Kaz........sweepers.
People were sweeping the streets and sidewalks EVERYWHERE, ALL the TIME in Kazakhstan.
And always using these classic homemade brooms.
Gotta love those brooms......bought one for 53 cents and packed it home.
Okay, so not everything is green and clean in Almaty.
This is the entrance to our apartment during our first stay in this city.
The entrance to our second apartment was similiar......with that "back-door entrance" appeal, only minus the rusty pipe collection.
Our apartment during our second stay was in an awesome location......only 1/2 block from this sidestreet artist walkway. Artists would set up their paintings early in the morning and keep them up till sundown.
This walkway also had fountains and, of course, ice cream kiosks.
Handy this walkway was, too, in that it led Suzy straight to the Tsum (the three story mall of Almaty).
Just one of the many fountains of Almaty.
A photo of the inside of the Ramstore. In Almaty, the Ramstore is more than just a store...it's a mall with way-too expensive designer clothes, escalators, and, yes, an indoor skating ring.
Tommy and Papa at the entrance to Gorky Park...the city's largest recreational area.
It's a huge park with a little carnival, zoo, and water park. Most of it was closed, but it did make for a long walk and an opportunity to buy cotton candy and bubbles for the children......
Gotta love watching children with bubbles.
Remember our posting yesterday on the cotton candy?
Here's what Tommy and the girls liked best about the cotton candy....
Meet Tommy .... Kazak Cotton Candy Warrior ! ARGH !
A look into the entrance to the Zelyony Bazar.
Home of many good things to eat.
Kazakhstan has many memorials. We only made it to a few.
This one in Almaty is dedicated to the Soviet Republics that fought in World War II.
It is a HUGE and very impressive memorial that really pops out at you. Huge.
Elderly men playing chess in the park.
Love this photo.
Russian Orthodox Church in Panilov Park.
Georgeous.
We are allowed to go inside this church and take photos.
Stunning paintings covered the walls and ceilings.
People were worshipping when we went in.
Even the children sensed the need to be silent.
Here we are....Sarah, Suzy, Ana, Tommy, Nadia, Jon, and Geoff.
......where we stayed for our first day in Kaz.....and then again for our last four.
Almaty is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the most modern, by far, of all cities in this country.
To the city's immediate south are some of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Sorry to say we did not even get a glimpse of these as we were not looking south on a clear day (I think we were in the mall that day!). But we've seen photos of the mountains in books...and they are stunning.
Every now and then we would find a wishing tree......
I guess it brings you good luck if you tie a piece of fabric on such a tree.
Never did try it.......we felt pretty lucky already. :)
What I found most beautiful about Almaty was the tree-lined streets.
These trees were huge and lined just about every street we saw.
Green, green everywhere.
Note: See the bus? The city buses in Almaty were very narrow. Most we saw were painted bright blue, and as in America, many had advertisements on them. One day we saw one with a huge advertisement painted on the front of the bus....it read BARF !
No joke....wish I had my camera ready for that one.
Kept looking the rest of the trip for "the Barf Bus". :)
Another common sight in Almaty, and literally everywhere we went in Kaz........sweepers.
People were sweeping the streets and sidewalks EVERYWHERE, ALL the TIME in Kazakhstan.
And always using these classic homemade brooms.
Gotta love those brooms......bought one for 53 cents and packed it home.
Okay, so not everything is green and clean in Almaty.
This is the entrance to our apartment during our first stay in this city.
The entrance to our second apartment was similiar......with that "back-door entrance" appeal, only minus the rusty pipe collection.
Our apartment during our second stay was in an awesome location......only 1/2 block from this sidestreet artist walkway. Artists would set up their paintings early in the morning and keep them up till sundown.
This walkway also had fountains and, of course, ice cream kiosks.
Handy this walkway was, too, in that it led Suzy straight to the Tsum (the three story mall of Almaty).
Just one of the many fountains of Almaty.
A photo of the inside of the Ramstore. In Almaty, the Ramstore is more than just a store...it's a mall with way-too expensive designer clothes, escalators, and, yes, an indoor skating ring.
Tommy and Papa at the entrance to Gorky Park...the city's largest recreational area.
It's a huge park with a little carnival, zoo, and water park. Most of it was closed, but it did make for a long walk and an opportunity to buy cotton candy and bubbles for the children......
Gotta love watching children with bubbles.
Remember our posting yesterday on the cotton candy?
Here's what Tommy and the girls liked best about the cotton candy....
Meet Tommy .... Kazak Cotton Candy Warrior ! ARGH !
A look into the entrance to the Zelyony Bazar.
Home of many good things to eat.
Kazakhstan has many memorials. We only made it to a few.
This one in Almaty is dedicated to the Soviet Republics that fought in World War II.
It is a HUGE and very impressive memorial that really pops out at you. Huge.
Elderly men playing chess in the park.
Love this photo.
Russian Orthodox Church in Panilov Park.
Georgeous.
We are allowed to go inside this church and take photos.
Stunning paintings covered the walls and ceilings.
People were worshipping when we went in.
Even the children sensed the need to be silent.
Here we are....Sarah, Suzy, Ana, Tommy, Nadia, Jon, and Geoff.
