Astana Days

We returned to Astana from our vacation in Utah (which we still need to do a lot of writing about) at the end of June.  July 6 is President Nazarbayev's birthday, and it is also a holiday (The Day of the Capital).  We missed the celebration last year because we were in the US.  We decided to go to the festivities that were held near Khan Shatyr (the giant tent mall that is one of the famous landmarks of the city).  We went with our friends the Petersons who were getting ready to leave the next day for the US where they took a new job.  We also met our friends the Stice family, so it was a good time.

The kids posing with an eagle used for hunting.

The square across from Khan Shatyr and the Opera theater was set up with tents, yurts, and stadium seating.  There was a lot on display - local crafts, local dances and singing, and eagles (for hunting) and horsemanship displays.  We looked around at what was going on for a few minutes, and then went and took seats for the horse show. We picked seats on the front row, and that ended up being a problem because it filled up and people stood, making our seats the worst ones.

The horse show was amazing - lots of acrobatics, shooting, and trick riding.  We really enjoyed it.  After the show, we wandered around and looked at the other displays for another 90 minutes and ended our day with a meal at Khan Shatyr.

It was a fun day and a nice way to spend our last day with our good friends.

And this post is mostly about the fun pictures below!

Kazakh folk dance on the main tent stage - we peaked in.

Women riders. They were part of a chase game traditional among Kazakhs.  If the boy wins he gets a kiss.  If he loses, the girl gets to whip him the next time around. Fun!!!

Demonstrating Falconry

Horse game traditionally played with a goat carcass.  This was a bundle of wool.

Taking turns attacking using spears and bows.  Thinking about Ghengis Khan sweeping across the Steppe with his cavalry.

One more with the lady riders.

Nika was interviewed for the local news.  She did well - her first television appearance.

Alexandra poses in front of some Yurts.

Lexa with her Mama - her favorite person in the world.

A booth with crafts - leather and wood.