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Kazakhstan

We arrived from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan via air on September 23, 2020. Kazakhstan is a landlocked country located mainly in Central Asia and partly in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the north and west, China to the east, Kyrgyzstan to the southeast, Uzbekistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest, with a coastline along the Caspian Sea. In the photo is a car decorated for a wedding that day.

Kazakhstan Museum of Folk Musical Instruments is a musical instrument museum located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The wooden building was erected in 1908, The museum exhibits musical instruments of outstanding performers of the past singers-improvisers and composers.

Across the street from the museum is the Almaty's Panfiloov Park is named for the Panfilov division, a group of World War II heroes who gave their lives in the defense of Moscow. Inside the park, there’s a memorial to fallen Soviet soldiers that’s based on that famous story of heroic sacrifice. At one end of a long black plinth is an eternal flame dedicated to fallen soldiers of the Russian Civil War and World War II. At the other end is a black stone memorial, with the stoic faces of soldiers from all 15 Soviet Republics. Emerging at the front of the statue is a single soldier with arms spread up and out as if in flight, one hand wielding a fist full of grenades.

One of several statues of the soldiers in fighting. According to official Soviet history, on November 16, 1941, the Red Army’s 316th Rifle division took a heroic last stand on the road to Moscow.

The 28 infantrymen, named the “Panfilov” division after their commander, held their ground and destroyed 18 German tanks, buying precious time for the defenders of Moscow to get into position. All 28 men died, the last in a military hospital, where he recounted the details of the battle before succumbing to his wounds.

This statue, at the front of the statue, is a single soldier with arms spread up and out as if in flight, one hand wielding a fist full of grenades. However, the military prosecutor’s office was forced to open a special investigation after two of the martyrs were discovered to still be alive. The investigation found that the entirety of the Krasnaya Zvezda’s story had been fabricated. There had been no last stand and the dramatic quotes were invented. However, the 1948 memo was not released to the general public until 2015, and by then the story was well entrenched as a national myth.

People walking in the park with lots of pigeons waiting for someone to feed them.

The side entrance to The Ascension Cathedral, also known as Zenkov Cathedral, in Almaty Kazakhstan , is a Russian Orthodox cathedral located in Panfilov Park. Completed in 1907, the cathedral is made out of wood but without nails. Its height is 168 feet tall, and is claimed to be the second tallest wooden building in the world.

The belfry was erected on September 14, 1906. The cathedral survived the 1911 earthquake with minimal damage, even though it was built without any nails, which some bishops attributed to divine intervention.

Some speculate the decision to refrain from using nails was due to their contribution to the crucifixion of Jesus.

The inner structure of the cathedral was made in art workshops in Moscow and Kiev. After the Russian Revolution the cathedral was used to house the Central State Museum of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. From 1930 to 1940 it was used by notable public organizations. The first radio transmitters in Almaty were situated in the cathedral's belfry. Today it is still a work of art worth visiting.

Almaty, formerly known as Alma-Ata, the name Almaty translates to Apple, is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of over 2 million. It was the capital of Kazakhstan from 1929 to 1936 as an autonomous republic as part of the Soviet Union, then Kazakhstan gained its independence in 1991 from the Soviet Union.

Tram built in the Medeu Valley of Malaya Almatinka River on the S.E. outskirts of Almaty where the rink is located. . We visited on the weekend when hundreds and hundreds of locals walk and run up the road and then path to the top where the gondolas stop. It is a hike for sure.

Another photo of the exterior of the stadium.

The Medeu is a high-altitude sports complex near Almaty, located at an altitude of 5,073 feet above sea level. It is considered to be the world's largest high-mountain skating rink. On the opening day of the skating rink (February 5, 1951), it established two world and six all-Union records.The Medeu was fully renovated in 2011 for the Asian Winter Games, and became a major training base for the ice skaters of the USSR. Over 200 speed world records were set there in numerous sports, including speed skating and others. Medeu remains an important center for the training of winter sports athletes from Kazakhstan and other regions.

The landscape is spectacular especially in the late summer and early fall months.

Gondolas over head.

A smart Car for the Tourist Police in the Mountain area. Not quite sure where they would put the criminal if they caught one.

Stadium located in the valley of the hillsides.

National Flag of Kazakhstan

Most unusal flower on the trip. It almost lookes like snow.

Iconic communication town in the city.

The chance to take a very small rolar coaster down the hill. It was not even as big as a childs wagon. I passed.

Iconic bench statue of the Beatles at a park at the top of a hill overlooking the city of Almaty. The composition of the monument represents a bronze bench on which sits John Lennon playing the guitar, surrounded by the other members of the band standing: Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. Songs by The Beatles are constantly played from speakers.

Looking across the city of Almaty through the haze.

We had the chance to take a gondola ride down the hill to the city level.

A couple looking in the window of a local bakery probably trying to decide what to take home tonight.

Charyn Canyon National Park is a day trip from Almaty. It is indeed one of the most spectacular places in this region to see the beautiful nature of Kazakhstan. Even though the Charyn Canyon is much smaller than the Grand Canyon in the US, it looks very similar and is equally impressive. The canyon follows the Charyn river for about 30 miles. The walls of the canyon reach up to 900 feet at some point and the colors range from red to brown, yellow and black.

Our group near the first part of walking the open space in the National Park. I decided to walk faster and soon lost all track of time and enjoyed the beauty of the land. It was a weekend so there were a number of people along the walk.

I was fortunate to capture a number of photos without anyone around to enjoy the serenty of the land.

The Charyn Canyon is safe to visit, but it is good to keep in mind that it is remote. Outside of the Valley of castles there are few facilities. If you plan to do some hiking bring enough water, snacks and a mini first aid kit.

Just when you think that there cannot possibly be any more turns dozens more pop up ahead of you. Is there an end to this walk? Yep there is.

The valley of castles is the most famous canyon in the Charyn Canyon and it is where we began our tour down what seemed like 1,000 steps to the canyon floor below.

At last an oasis of running river water in the near distance. Did I mention to bring water? Yep I did. Did I mention to bring first aid? No I did not. Just as the beautiful river was in sight and I was close to it as luck would have it the ground under neath my feet gave way and I fell to the ground on my side, sliding with a camera, backpack trashing my elbow and arm. Several people came to my rescue. None spoke English. But they all had the shock of disbelief. Luckily I had only cut my arm and did not break anything. They helped apply some anti bacterial items on my bloody arm. When the rest of the group arrived I looked like I had been in battle.

The valley of castles is a beautiful walk. But it can seem endless at times walking with no end in sight. It is the only obvious hiking trail in the canyon that we saw.

I enjoyed the walk back... bloody arm and all not not bleeding. I slowed my pace.. enjoyed the walk back with friends and decided I really need to just enjoy the walk, nature and good luck to have not broken anything. More embarrassment than injuries. If traveling to this National Park Canyon be sure it is not the heat of the day in summer nor the freezing days in winter. Dress accordingly. All was well at the end of the day when I spotted those steps again. This time I had to walk up. Oh my gosh how could all those steps be so hard going up this time?

I missed the sign coming in. The name of the National Park.

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