Since the inside of a classroom isn't very scenic, I've posted these photos of times that I have been able to sightsee in Almaty. I'd enjoy hearing your comments!
Almaty citizens love their trees, and I do, too! The trees help to cool the roads and sidewalks during the city's hot, dry summers. I don't exaggerate to say that this photo represents almost all Almaty city sidewalks- like walking in a cool, green tunnel. I'm a little nervous about the descriptions I've heard from locals about the baking summer sun, but I'm sure the trees will still give some relief!
This is the median (!) of a divided four-lane roadway through the city's downtown. Long stretches of city streets have medians like this one. The medians not wide enough for a walkway have large beds of roses or other types of flowers.
The sweet smell of black locust flowers (left) is filling the air right now! These trees line the median walkway of the previous photo, so maybe you can scents(e) what it's like to walk under them.
I'd never seen tulips like these red and orange quadruple flowers in a park.
The Green Bazaar is an Almaty landmark where hundreds of vendors each day sell shoes, clothes, flowers, meat, fruits and vegetables, and almost any other item you can imagine! These photos show most of the main floor of the bazaar, which I'd guess is big enough to hold four basketball courts. The left photo shows flowers, vegetables and fruit vendors, while the right photo shows meat vendors. Customers wind along aisles of small booths in the outdoor and lower floor areas, which are at least twice as large as the main floor.
This Green Bazaar vendor insisted on taking my photo after I'd taken his! I love how all of the nut and dried fruit vendors lay their varieties out in neat squares- they really make eye-catching displays.
The Panfilov War Memorial commemorates the 28 Almaty soldiers of the Panfilov Division who died in a 1941 WWII battle against Nazi tanks near Moscow. Almaty couples stop here on their wedding day to lay flowers in front of the memorial and take photos to honor the men and women who died for them.
This beautiful Russian Orthodox church is built entirely of wood, including the pegs holding the building together.
I was able to take in a blend of city and country when my host family joined others for a picnic on the edge of Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Note the skyscrapers in the background) A few men on horseback steadily moved the cows along the stream in the valley as we ate.
I just had to get my picture taken against this green backdrop!
