Who: Chuck, Barb and Bryce Martin of Fort Collins, Colorado
Where: Zenkov Cathedral, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Out and About: This Spring, we spent a month in Almaty while adopting our son. Who would have known a former Soviet Union country would have a city so cosmopolitan? Though the Soviet influence is still plainly evident, Almaty is a beautiful city, marked by rapid development in recent years. Its numerous parks and abundant trees make Almaty seem like a city in the forest. Almaty is situated at the foot of the Tien Shan Mountains and makes a wonderful base camp for mountain treks and day hiking. Though some Kazakh is spoken, Russian is the language of choice.
Travel Tip: Traditional Kazakh food from street vendors is inexpensive, plentiful, and delicious. The food stalls at Yubileyny Market provide a sampling of most traditional foods all in one place. Be prepared to walk a lot when visiting Almaty, but beware. Pedestrians do not have the right of way! Spring and Fall are the best times to visit.
