Founded by Russians in the 1800s, Almaty seemed to be the most developed city on our Stans tour. We happened to arrive on May 9th, Victory Day, (photos below)commemorating the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany, widely celebrated in the former Soviet Union. It was rather festive. However the holiday is not without controversy. Central Asia was basically Russian colonies. Colonized people were coerced into fighting their colonizers' war. They had a worse deal than the Sri Lankan and Tajiks mercenaries that are fighting in the Russia-Ukraine War. There will be wars as long as there are victory celebrations. Maybe somber remembrance days would make for more a peaceful world
We also happened to be in town on a Friday. The mosque was overflowing with worshippers (photo below). During Soviet time, half of the city's population would have been Russians. Many have since left, today it is about 20%. There are various day trips from Almaty, but none too close. We ended up spending the whole time in the city.
May 12 is Thomas Sunday or Bright Sunday. St Nicholas Cathedral was festive!
As we were headed home to the US, we made several excursions to the Green Bazaar to shop for souvenirs and gifts
On the day after Victory Day, there continued to be lots of activity near the Eternal Flame and War Memorial monuments.
Ascension Cathedral was busy on Victory Day as well.
One day we rode the metro to start a walking tour of Soviet Modernist Architecture (and more)
The Kazakh State Circus (SIRC)
The Wedding Palace
The Fog Fountain at Caspian University = FUN!!!
The Independence Monument
A Mosaic Mural at the Kök-Töbe Sanatorium
The Arman Cinema
Statue of Abay Kunanbayev (front), Palace of the Republic Concert Hall (rear)
The striking Kazakhstan Hotel.
Museum of the Kazakh Academic Drama Theater
The Bauhaus Main Post OFfice.
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