Day 78. Bishkek
There are many similarities between Almaty and Bishkek. There are obvious ones like the spectacular mountain backdrops, they both are striving to become vibrant modern cities. They are quite tidy and clean with good roads and infrastructure. If you delve a little deeper you see friendly, open people and modern commerce mixed with traditional traders. They have their issues with unemployment but it seems that they are trying. There is not too much by way of tourist attractions to attract the hordes of tourists from the west, but if you like mountains for hiking or climbing or even just to look at them and enjoy the atmosphere you will be spoilt for choice. This morning we had a wander around the Osh market, if you can’t find it here you don’t need it. I found jandals woohoo. We then headed into the centre of town to some lovely parks with many statues of past civic leaders as well as Lenin and Marx of course. Beautifully manicured flower beds and fountains set a nice sc...