Our Walk Around the City

We took a walk around the city and spent quite a bit of time checking out this park where there is a war memorial for both World Wars. The same park hosts a few other interesting things, which I'll explain with the pictures.

This is the main feature of the war memorial area. Pretty interesting... it really is a pretty magnificent work...

This is from the back. It initially looks like a mass of rock until Chris pointed out the faces. You can see the man's face below -- he is also holding a grenade.

There is another guy here too!



Most major Soviet cities have/had an eternal flame. It is supposed to burn around the clock (hence the name "eternal").

This is the museum for Kazakh instruments...

Chris standing by a replica of one that is in front of the museum. We didn't go inside the museum this trip, who knows, there may be a follow-up post on what we discover inside!

This is the "backyard" view...

...Of this Russian Orthodox Church. This church is especially unique because it is completely made of wood. No metal nails in this building--they used wooden pegs instead.


I love this picture of the front door. Not only is that a monk, but that little dog actually ran into the church. The best part was that the dog wasn't mistreated or anything, the monk was so nice and just made sure the dog knew that it was ok to be there, it just couldn't go inside. =)


I didn't learn what this building was for, but it is right by the main church building. I am quite sure it's affiliated with it somehow.
On our walk out of the park we saw this pink apartment building.

A fun sign I've seen. I'm not exactly sure why, but it makes me laugh.

Ok. Please note the name of this store. Now go back and see what it is that is sold at this store.

Now imagine me getting a lot of amusement out of the combination of the store name & product.

I know I'm just a silly Mormon girl raised to be modest and all that... but really! If it defiles you why would you even wear it??? In all fairness, most of the clothes I have seen in the window haven't been too bad, but still, isn't there a word that would be more appropriate??? =D