Today is Sunday- we arrived about 3:30 am and had an uneventful ride from the airport.  Our hotel is terrific.  We are at the Jannat Regency hotel if you want to google it!  There is alot of snow still on the ground and the roads are still icy in places.  After a quiet breakfast of yogurt, cereal, walnuts, and coffee, the hotel called a driver to show "B" and I around Bishkek!  We spent about 3-4 hours sightseeing important landmarks and monuments, tourist shopping, and people watching.  We visited a cathedral, a couple of parks, universities, cultural centers, etc...  Our two guides (one spoke English fairly well, and the other not so well) took us to a 'local restaurant' for a traditional Kyrgyz lunch!  We had a soup that is somewhat comparable to our vegetable soup and homemade bread!  Please enjoy today's pictures below.

WWII monument

View of mountains from city center!

"B" with Old Airport - city was much smaller than today with 1.5 million population

Mural in Bishkek- shows diversity of population

University of Kyrgyzstan

Founder of Kyrgyzstan with his wife on the left andthier son on the right

Cathedral in Bishkek

View from my hotel window- mountains are spectacular!













 

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

I like to post country facts when visiting a country for the first time.  So here goes with 'things you need to know about Kyrgyzstan":

Kyrgyzstan is about the size of N. Dakota for a point of reference!


Flag:  red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of a "tunduk" - the crown of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt; red symbolizes bravery and valor, the sun evinces peace and wealth
 


Kyrgyzstan Emblem: 

The emblem of Kyrgyzstan was adopted following the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 2 June 1992. The emblem has a circular form which mostly bears the color blue. Light blue is known as the Kyrgyz color of courage and generosity (c.f. theflag of Kazakhstan and the emblem of Kazakhstan). To the left and right of the coat of arms, wheat and cotton are displayed. In the upper part, the name of the country appears in Kyrgyz "Кыргыз Республикасы" (Kyrgyz Respublikasy).

In the middle, the Tian Shan mountains are displayed, below which fields are shown. Behind the mountain panorama, one sees a rising sun. A hawk beating its wings stands under this panorama, which gives the impression that the panorama lies on the shoulders of the hawk.

National Anthem of Kyrgyzstan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anthem_of_the_Kyrgyz_Republic

English translation of the National Anthem:
Высокие горы, долины, поля - Родная, заветная наша земля. Отцы наши жили среди Ала-Тоо Всегда свою родину свято храня. Вперед, кыргызский народ, Путем свободы вперед! Взрастай, народ, расцветай, Свою судьбу созидай! Извечно народ наш для дружбы открыт, Единство и дружбу он в сердце хранит. Земля Кыргызстана, родная страна Лучами согласия озарена. Вперед, кыргызский народ, Путем свободы вперед! Взрастай, народ, расцветай, Свою судьбу созидай! Мечты и надежды отцов сбылись. И знамя свободы возносится ввысь. Наследье отцов наших передадим На благо народа потомкам своим Вперед, кыргызский народ, Путем свободы вперед! Взрастай, народ, расцветай, Свою судьбу созидай!	Vysokie gory, doliny, polia, Rodnaia, zavetnaia nasha zemlia, Otsy nashi zhili sredi Ala-Too Vsegda svoiu rodinu sviato khrania. Vpered, kyrgzskii narod, Putem svobody vpered Vzrastai, narod rastsvetai, Svoiu sud'bu sozidai. Izvechno narod nash dlia druzby otkryt Edinstvo i druzhbu on v serdtse khranit Zemlia Kyrgyzstana rodnaia strana Luchami soglasia ozarena. Vpered, kyrgzskii narod, Putem svobody vpered Vzrastai, narod rastsvetai, Svoiu sud'bu sozidai. Mechty i nadezhdy naroda sbylis' I znamia svobody voznositsia vvys'. Nasled'e otsov nashikh peredadim Na blago naroda potomkam svoim. Vpered, kyrgzskii narod, Putem svobody vpered Vzrastai, narod rastsvetai, Svoiu sud'bu sozidai.	High mountains, valleys and fields Are our native, holy land. Our fathers lived amidst the Ala-Too, Always saving their motherland. Come on, Kyrgyz people, Come on to freedom! Stand up and flourish! Create your fortune! We are open for freedom for ages. Friendship and unity are in our hearts. The land of Kyrgyzstan, our native state, Shining in the rays of consent. Come on, Kyrgyz people, Come on to freedom! Stand up and flourish! Create your fortune! Dreams of the people came true, And the flag of liberty is over us. The heritage of our fathers we will Pass to our sons for the benefit of people. Come on, Kyrgyz people, Come on to freedom! Stand up and flourish! Create your fortune!

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

2013 starts with a trip to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to begin talks with the CDC-KR and stakeholders from the Blood Banks and HIV labs.  These specific labs are wanting to work towards International Accreditation using one of our ASCP pathways (series of workshops and mentorships).  So far, we are as far as Istanbul- the airport is terrific and shopping at the 'Old World Bazaar' has been delightful.

ladies room in lounge

Turkish 'good luck' charms!

Too much shopping-not enough luggage space!

hand-painted bowls!

Open lounge for travelors

Old Bazaar Shops!

Looking into the Old Bazaar!

Coffee and dessert in the lounge.  I am loving United Airlines!

Many of you will chuckle when I tell you I have wanted to come to Turkey for 35+ years- after reading "The Thornbirds" en route to Germany shortly after Chuck and I were married.  So... 35 years later here I am!!  Flacotta Rugs and copper pots were on my "must have" list then- but did not find them at the bazaar- Cat, our daughter, will be arriving in 2 days and staying in town for 2-3 days on business and she promises to look for the copper pot for our kitchen!!
More later- time to charge my laptop.