Karakol

This city is typical of other cities, that I have visited, which have been under Russian influence in that the vast majority live in concrete high rise flats, it has wide boulevards, monuments aplenty, open squares but lacking character.  The city has a rural feel to it with open public squares but is quite scruffy.

There are also some colonial buildings which are in need of maintenance.

 

 

 

The main shopping precinct.

 

Market stalls.

 

 

 

Wide streets.

 

A monument to the man after whom the town was once named.  The monument is also has a small museum type display of the early exploration of the area.

 

 

 The city changed it's name after the collapse of the Soviet Union.  It's previous name was Prezhavelsk.  Named after a Polish explorer who opened the country to colonial Russian influence.

 

These photographs took my interest.  They show some of the indigenous peoples that the explorers came across.

The city does have two spectacular buildings - one being the Russian Orthodox Church which is constructed of timber and the second is the Mosque which is built in the Chinese style.

 

The Russians turned the church into a nightclub but it was re-consecrated on the demise of the Soviet Union.

 

The 'Chinese' architecture or style Mosque must be unique.

 

 

Hope to get up into the mountains tomorrow.