Back in Almaty... Onwards & Upwards to Ust-Kamenogorsk

Tuesday/Wednesday - 12th/13th November 2006

After a good night sleep we were ready to face another day and whatever it might bring! Had slept well, Declan had got two nights sleep in one so has surely caught up… I have just finished my second book since we left so am not up to scratch in the sleep department… Arrived five minutes late for breakfast to be told that ‘Breakfast finished – 10 o’clock’.. Then think they took pity on us and told us to sit down… Had to take a photo of breakfast to show the others in the Irytsh Hotel in Ust as they will be jealous!!!! Had just finished when they arrived out with a plate of pastries and truffles….

Breakfast at the Eurasia Hotel

We were ready and waiting when the driver came for us and he brought us to the airport and we collected Aida enroute. She had our tickets and we saw that we were flying Air Astana not Air Scat… Our relief was shortlived as air Astana has small planes with propellers and as Declan pointed out to me as we waited in line to board very bald tyres – I thought if we have to pray for a safe landing here God won’t hear us over the noise of the propellers!!! Having said that the flight was fine if noisy and the bald tyres held up okay…. Another plus was having no luggage we did not have to wait for any bags!!!

Would you like to brake with these tyres?!

Snowy Kaz

Alfiya arrived to meet us and I think was genuinely excited to see us and we were glad to be back on familiar territory!! Alexei needed to be at the Baby House to collect the others so we traveled by taxi.. There was snow everywhere, roads are covered with impacted snow and the footpaths have snow piled up along… Alfiya said it had been really cold and there had been lots of snow.

Decided to do the ‘ostrich in the sand’ and did not ask any questions related to passports, leaving etc as was afraid of what the answer might be!!! We would know soon enough! Had lovely reunion with our bonding buddies and they were glad to see us back and likewise we were glad to meet up with them again!!! Mind you, they must welcome any diversion in their daily repetitive routine!!!

Will be brief here because I don’t even want to think about it but….. it is not looking good for getting the passports and to be out of here on the 19th. We met briefly with Alma, the head lady from Astana who flew in today and she said they had a lot of work to do tomorrow and would meet with us in the afternoon after we had visited the Baby House…. Here’s hoping she can pull a few strings, or do whatever to get this passport issue sorted!! We have got to be out of here and home for Christmas! I think we all think that if we don’t talk about it it won’t happen!!

Apart from that depressing news we had a nice night – the others were delighted with the little outfits and gifts we had brought for Daniel and David… Met Sue’s mother – she was delighted with her Sudoku puzzle book we brought. We all went out for dinner at the Pancake House – just like old times – ordered Chicken Yaroslavna, and P-va Bolshoi just like old times!!!!!