Trip to the Mountains.

Today our driver Emil took us into the mountains. We went to visit an old Soviet outdoor speed skating rink. It is still very much being used. Apparently Almaty is going to host the 2007 Asian games. The speed skating will take place at this rink.

We then got back in the car and proceeded even higher into the mountains to a skiing lodge called Chibonook. It was intimidating to stand at the bottom and look up at the height of those mountains. The views were breathtaking.

Liza and I were very nervous on the road up the mountain. Imagine liza, mac, alina and myself (holding Cal) in the back seat of a Subaru with no car seats. Every hair pin turn we were holding on for dear life. Any cars you meet are totally over the center line until you get right to them and they move to their lane.

We had lunch at the ski lodge. Mac and I played it safe and stuck with an order of fries (we’ve both had some minor stomach issues). Mac proclaimed at the table that the fries were his appetizer and that he would have his main course back at the apartment (peanut butter & banana sandwich). Alina had a bowl of chicken noodle soup which she enjoy. Cal enjoyed the bread dipped in the chicken broth & a few noodles. Liza had a salad that looked delicious and Ken had a chicken-ka-bob cooked to order right outside where we were sitting. None of us are adventurous enough to go “out there” and try some of the strange things on the menu. The one that sticks out in my mind was horse tongue - yummy!

Everywhere you go the TV is turned on and people are staring at the Kazak equivalent to MTV. It is American music for the most part. It’s kind of humorous because that is just what everyone is doing, staring at the music videos. It was no different at the ski lodge.

We made is safely back down the mountain. Cal did not enjoy the restriction of being held in the car. He fell asleep on my shoulder after a brief cry fest. This made us start to realize how hard the plane ride home might be.

Tonight we are meeting up with another American couple from our agency. They are passing through Almaty on their way back to the states. They will return in 2 weeks to take their child out of the baby house. They had court yesterday and are now in the 2 week waiting period before you can get your child’s passport. I know it will be hard on them to leave their child after 3 weeks of visiting. This is an option to any family but we chose to just stick it out so that we could get Cal sooner.

Speaking of passports, we got a call today from our facilitators that Mac’s passport issues have been solved. They canceled the stamp in the back of his passport which had said his passport expired in 2005. No on knows exactly why it was stamped that way. We will be relieved to have in back in our possession so that we know we will have no problems leaving the country when that time comes.

Liza, Alina and I are going to the ballet tomorrow night. The theater is just 2 blocks from our apt. We are going to see Aida. I hope so much that Alina enjoys this. I feel sure she will. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Cal’s still sleeping great. Slept last night from 7 until 7 this morning.

Hope everyone is well at home. We sure miss everyone and cannot wait to come home. I think I calculated that we have been here about 1/4 of the time. There is just NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

Take care,

Alison