G – Reporting
After a good sleep despite my cold's best efforts to spoil it we checked out of the lovely if a little strange looking hotel (Business estate chic?) and started the final leg to Almaty.
The country side was very hilly and we kept catching glimpses of the huge mountains behind Almaty, about 80km out we came to what could be described as “Kaz-Vegas” a long strip of casinos very much in the mold of Vegas and just as tacky strung along the highway, we passed at the opportunity to make our fortune!
Next was Almaty and it was a very pleasant surprise unlike most ex-soviet cities we didn’t arrive through crumbling apartments and factories but tree lined suburbs, a theme that continued right to the hotel.
We checked in to this huge old Soviet hotel, that was about the only place that offered somewhat reasonable priced accommodation anywhere in a city, where a US style motel room can cost over $200 a night! so our tatty room at $56 was deal of the century if not the most inspiring place.
We then stepped out for a quick look round enjoying a lovely city with wide sidewalks trees everywhere and obviously lots of money looking out all the very expensive cars and shops
Grabbing a Table on a patio (another thing Almaty has tons of) we had some food and drinks and used the free wifi, after we wandered over to “Mad Murphy’s” which you might be surprised to find was an Irish pub but one lacking in customers and atmosphere so we quick drink and then it was back to the hotel, and looking forward to our 1st full day in Almaty, tomorrow.
After a good sleep despite my cold's best efforts to spoil it we checked out of the lovely if a little strange looking hotel (Business estate chic?) and started the final leg to Almaty.
The country side was very hilly and we kept catching glimpses of the huge mountains behind Almaty, about 80km out we came to what could be described as “Kaz-Vegas” a long strip of casinos very much in the mold of Vegas and just as tacky strung along the highway, we passed at the opportunity to make our fortune!
Next was Almaty and it was a very pleasant surprise unlike most ex-soviet cities we didn’t arrive through crumbling apartments and factories but tree lined suburbs, a theme that continued right to the hotel.
We checked in to this huge old Soviet hotel, that was about the only place that offered somewhat reasonable priced accommodation anywhere in a city, where a US style motel room can cost over $200 a night! so our tatty room at $56 was deal of the century if not the most inspiring place.
We then stepped out for a quick look round enjoying a lovely city with wide sidewalks trees everywhere and obviously lots of money looking out all the very expensive cars and shops
Grabbing a Table on a patio (another thing Almaty has tons of) we had some food and drinks and used the free wifi, after we wandered over to “Mad Murphy’s” which you might be surprised to find was an Irish pub but one lacking in customers and atmosphere so we quick drink and then it was back to the hotel, and looking forward to our 1st full day in Almaty, tomorrow.
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| Strange looking but nice (and cheap) hotel |
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| Lunch by the reservoir |
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| Drinks on a patio |
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| another patio more drinks |
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| Walking home |
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