Trips

Wed., 9/19 - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

This morning was an enjoyable walk in Ala-Archa National Park on the slopes of Kyrgyz Ridge. It was a beautiful day and the birch trees were yellow among the juniper and spruce trees. The river was gray with snowmelt and the air was crisp and refreshing. We had cognac and chocolate at our turn around spot. The only animals we saw were reddish squirrels, no Alpine goats or snow leopards.

The wiring in foreign countries is always interesting!	It should say: Ala Archa National Park
Bus stop	Interesting structure
Red Squirrel
	A "we were there" photo
Next, we went to visit Ata-Beyit Memorial Complex. The complex was built in 2000 on the burial site of the bodies of 137 people of 19 nationalities who were executed without any trial during the Stalinist repression in 1938-39. In 2016, a monument to the victims of the Central Asian uprising of 1916 against the Russian Empire was installed there, during this period many Kyrgyz were forced to flee the country through the mountains to China. As a result of these tragic events, many people died, frozen on the snow-covered mountain passes of the Pamir and the Tien Shan.  In 2008, writer Chingiz Aitmatov was buried in the Ata Beyit Memorial Complex.
Ata-Beyit means "Grave of Our Fathers"	Entrance
Memorial to the 1916 Uprising	The monument has stirrups hanging from a Tunduk. The stirrups are a reminder of the horses and people trying to escape on horse back over a mountain pass into China.
Surrounding countryside	Grave of Purge Victims with Aitmatov Memorial in the Background
We ate lunch at Navat, a tea house with rich Kyrgyzstan decor - rugs on the ceiling, colorful plates on the walls, and colorful benches at tables. The ice cream dessert was better than the meal.	Navat Tea House
Before heading back, ten of us visited the Osh Bazaar. It is huge, with 2 by 2 1/2 miles of booths selling everything. We worked our way through dried fruits, spices and cookies; the meat section with beef, horse, and yak; and an aisle of crafts, mostly things made of thick felt. I bought a magnet of the three-stringed instrument played last night in case I don’t find a spoon. Please remember that my camera loves markets so there are lots of photos!
Meat market	These are chopping blocks
Ak Kalpak, the national hat for men and the symbol of Kyrgyz culture	Looks like backgammon
	More games
Pink underwear	Marge and I opted not to go out to dinner with Jalol and others in the group. We bought soft rolls and nice cheese and dark chocolate and ate in the room.

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