Friday, 28 November 2014

Day 27 - Kazakhstan

Ok, let's not beat about the bush. I'm in no way geared up for this kind of weather. It's WELL into minus temps in Almaty. Someone in the bar said -10 but I don't know if that's true. I've basically got on everything I own that is reasonably clean to go out in. The streets are covered in snow and ice and I'm slipping around like a puppy on highly polished Lino.
That said, Almaty seems like a very reasonable place. It looks clean, well to do, with a bunch of parks and stuff within an easy walk. It helps that I've spoiled myself with a nice hotel probably. That is, an actual hotel. Not a hostel, or a hostel calling itself a hotel, a real life hotel with everything that a hotel should have, including concierge, proper restaurant, illuminated sign over the door, the lot. I'm cheating aren't I? Well bollocks to it. It's my holiday, not yours. 

Went to Ye Olde Shakespeare Pub last night for my first beer in a good few days and they had The Scorpions playing in the background - just for me I'd like to think. And then they put James Blunt on. I hope that wasn't for me too. If it was they got that badly wrong. And yes, going there WAS cheating. I concede that one. I was having a clean shaven, clean body, clean clothes, night off. 

The overnight from Shimkent to Alamty was not the luxury train ride to which I've become accustomed. I couldn't get a carriage to myself. Far from it in fact. It was a bit of a bazaar in there. Families, food, booze and a very firm perch for me that was about bum width and approximately 3 inches shorter than I am tall. I didn't in all honesty get much sleep but that which did come, interrupted the sleep of those around me judging by the tired glares when the lights went on in the morning. ...I wasn't the only one snoring I can assure you. And I'm recovering from a cold. It's allowed.


I'm getting good at churches etc. now. This one is of Ascention Cathedral for those keeping tabs. 


You know, I never imagined the feeling of a fluffy cotton towel around ones sensitives could provoke such emotion in a grown man. 

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