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| The
outdoor market has rows and rows of paintings for sale, just as it did five
years ago. |
That
evening Natasha cooks. After the meal we have a look at some photo's Father
gave us. |
Natasha and Alexander kindly put us up in their apartment for a couple of
nights. |
Wednesday 24th
August - Alexander promised a trip to the mountains but sadly the roads to
them were all closed. |
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| Instead we walked around the mountain streams lower down near the City. |
Here
is Mark, Natasha and Alexander. It was a working day for them but they did
their best to entertain us. |
In
the background is a restaurant and footbridge. |
On the
footbridge. |
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| In
the distance - a Yurta (ancient traditional Nomadic rigid tent still used in
many places through the region). |
More
views of the mountain stream. |
We
spent the rest of the day wandering around Almaty. Here we are beneath a
statue of Maxim Gorky. |
Before we leave
Liya had to find a shop that sells her favourite chocolate |
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| Thursday 25th August - Liya and Mark went to the National Museum. It was
half empty and nothing was in english. |
Liya
outside the 'French House' in Almaty with its scale reproduction of the
Eiffel Tower. |
Later in the Market we stop to eat in an outdoor Cafe. |
Then we went to
the Military Museum. To the right are pictures from the 80's Afghanistan
conflict. |
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| Liya
at the Fountains in Astana Square. |
Liya
with the Big Apple. |
Thursday night 25th August - On the night before we flew home we dined with
a bunch of Liya's relatives. |
We went to a
Russian Restaurant called "The Bear". on the table we see a selection of
horse meats. |
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| Here
is the Shaslyck and Irene. |
Mark
and Liya at The Bear. |
Liya's uncle Vladimir is seen peeking around the Shaslyck, his wife Irene is
next to him whilst his daughter Alina is behind him. His son Tolya was
taking this picture. |
Irene, Tolya and
Alina tackle the Shaslyck. |
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| Liya
and her Uncle Vladimir tackle their Shaslyck. |
Outside the Restaurant at the end of the evening. Note the life-size wooden
Bear behind. |
Friday 26th August - we are now flying home with one brief stop over in
Ekaterinaburg, Siberia. |
In case you
don't believe us - here it is. The Ekaterinaburg Airport Terminal. |
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| Littered around this old Russian airfield are old Air Force Helicopters and
Transport planes. |
The
last photo - Siberia from the air.... |
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| Reflections........ |
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Liya and Mark outside the Cathedral in Gogol Park on our first Sunday. |
Liya and
Natasha wait to cross another street. We are on the way to Kazzinc to get
Nadezdha's help in booking Mark's Passport with the local Police. |
I love you Liya.
The effects of alcohol. |
