Fashion Models and Botanical Gardens

Day 39. Major events of the day: Waiting Period day 10 of 15 (only 5 more to go!),

Morning weather report: 38, feels like 32, with light sleet in the am. Projected high: 45 and sunny
Meanwhile back in Memphis: Overnight low of 45 (today’s high temp in Petro!), heading back to 69

Since arriving, the temperatures have taken a significant dive and the number of daylight hours has decreased. Today’s sunrise was at 8:29 am and sunset will be at 5:43 pm, giving us less than 9 hours and 15 minutes of daylight. We’re still more than a month from the shortest day of the year, Dec 21st. Does anyone who was here remember how short that day will be? How about June 21st?

The long range forecast indicates there is some wintry weather heading this way. Thursday’s projected high is in the low 20s… Brrrrr! But today was warm again, warmer than projected, reaching into the upper 40s.

Kate was a real fashion model today. She had a pair of rose-colored sunglasses, so she could always see the world that way. David had to give them a try too, but they didn’t work as well. Not the fashion statement he’s looking for, I suppose. 8-D

The first question from both the kids came before the car doors were even closed: Where are we going today!?!?!?!? They pouted a bit when I explained that we were heading to the Botanical Gardens. “That’s boring! We REALLY want to go to the Park!” We have already been there two weekends and had a lot of fun on the rides, but it was time for something different today. I’m not sure exactly what Masha said, something like, “Your Dad has seen the Park and would like to do something different.” They weren’t the happiest campers, but decided that it was ok to do something dad wanted to do for a change, even if it would be boring for them. They’re really GREAT kids!

It would be very easy to miss the gardens since the signage leaves something to be desired. Sasha turned into a non-descript alley and dropped us at a little gate with a sign no bigger than an 8.5 x 11” piece of paper. Their glum attitudes quickly disappeared as soon as we saw several wedding parties that had come to the gardens for pictures. Then their elevated ho-hum attitudes turned into glee when we saw the duck and goose pen. The geese were VERY vocal and seemed annoyed that no one brought them bread today. One even tried to take a bit out of a gent’s coat as a gentle reminder to bring bread next time!

All the outdoor flowers had withered due to the successive days of heavy frost. Masha kindly told the children to be patient because there were some indoor displays and live birds and fish for them to see as well. The kids handled it well, and we proceeded inside to pay. Admission was reasonable, 600 kzt for all four of us, including the extra 100 kzt for the picture permit. From that point on, the kids were excited since there really was a lot for them to see, including a wedding party taking pictures around one of the fountains.

First we went to see the animal displays so the wedding group could finish its pictures. The botanical garden’s animal display was ok, but animal display at the Northern Kazakhstan Museum is definitely better. We went into the hot house and looked at a few of the flowers, well past their prime. They grow all of the flowers for the outdoor display here, so they are gearing down for winter. Then into the tropical greenhouse where things were much nicer. We had fun at the fountain when the kids noticed the Koi and were impressed when I leaned out and put a coin on the top of the center statue. They each tossed one and made a wish for good luck. They were further impressed when I pointed out a lemon tree and banana tree.

We worked our way through, taking many pictures. Today was a real photo-shooting opportunity. The best part came when I found a palm tree where people write their names and the date they visited. (Hilton and Suzanne and a couple other families know about all the graffiti!) And we added our own mark for good luck. We only wish Cathe were here to enjoy this part as well, though we left our whole family mark.

Next, we went upstairs. David enjoyed the mounted animal heads in the stairway and wanted to know if we could get a reindeer head for over our fireplace. (I didn’t mention the “discussion” Cathe and I had on one trip to Michigan when I found a HUGE moose head in an antique store… I still think we need something over the fireplace!) Upstairs offered many more neat things to see. There was an intricate model of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, made out of matchsticks. There were also several displays of children’s artwork from local schools. Both Kate and David paused at one very nice work done by a fourth grade student from the Northern Kazakhstan Children’s Home. They were amazed that some students had done such nice work which was now on display for all visitors to see. Masha helped me explain that they too will have opportunities to have their future work displayed once we’re back home.

As we headed back outside, David remarked that he thought the trek to the botanical gardens was going to be BORING, but that he really enjoyed the visit. Kate added a quick, “Да, тоже.” (Yes, me too).

Back outside, Kate paused under a “Ribbon Tree” where newly married couples add a bow (like the one on the way to the airport). She told us that some day she will add a bow when she gets married. (Maybe we’ll start the tradition back home in MANY years?)




We ran into yet another wedding party, this time one using one of the two Lincoln Towncar limos in town (sorry, someone already beat us to that franchise opportunity). Sasha said the other one had come and gone while we were inside. The kids didn’t pause to hear him since they were fascinated with the one parked by Sasha’s car.

After a brief atop at the apartment for a few snacks and some more paperwork (will it EVER end?), it was again time to make the long, quiet drive back to the RBS. Each day it gets a little harder to make that trip, but thankfully, we won’t be making that trip many more times.

While waiting for tomorrow’s visit, I’ll be plowing through a few more pages in the Christopher Robbins book. It has been an interesting, quick read, providing more insight into the history of Kazakhstan. Thanks Hilton for giving me a little something more to do during the non-visiting hours of each day!