Bishkek welcomes Bud and Ashley

A stroll in Erkindik Park.

Sampling blinchiki with tvorog at the cafe Faisa

So there I was, rinsing out a pillowcase that Sebby had just thrown up on at 5 in the morning, using only cold water because the city of Bishkek shuts off the hot for a month every year, when Bud walked in and gave me a hug anyway, just barely having arrived in Bishkek. The fun continued when Misha woke up and ran out to give hugs to Bud and Ashley, at which point we realized that Misha's hair would also need a cold-water washing before he could give any hugs, having slept too close to Sebby... As far as memorable family reunions go, that one was pretty memorable!

Misha's welcome card

Content brothers

Misha and Uncle Bud

Walking near our apartment

Josh has long dreamed of having his brother visit Bishkek to show him the country we've spent nearly four years in. Just as our time was just about up, it happened - Bud and Ashley came for a whirlwind two-week Kyrgyzstan adventure! Three years before, they joined us in Egypt for another two-week whirlwind. This time it was easier, since we live in Bishkek, have our own apartment, and speak the language. We had so much to show them that we realized very quickly how little we could actually cram into two weeks. But we certainly tried!

Misha and Sebby were thrilled to see their aunt and uncle. Misha had made them a bilingual welcome card and helped them read it, and then he proceeded to teach them Russian letters and words. Sebby often forgot which language to use with them. The first morning, looking around for Bud, he called out, "Dyadya Bud! Ti gdye? V toilet, chto li?" (Uncle Bud, where are you? In the bathroom or something?) To which Bud would respond with one of his newly-learned Russian words - "chto?" (what?), "da" (yes), or "horosho" (OK).

Banya girls - Alesia, me, Ashley

Bud has been waiting years for the banya experience. The domes behind us are the men's and women's swimming pools.

On their very first day, after letting them get a bit of sleep after their grueling flight, we took them to the banya (bath house). Perfect after a long flight! (And also perfect for the first day without hot water.) The Russian banya is one of those experiences you don't want to miss out on in life, so we did the whole shebang - washing and steaming completely naked to our hearts' content, slapping each other with the oak-leaf bundle to get the blood moving, and jumping into the icy pool just after exiting the extremely hot steam. Our screams echoed off the domed walls and we raced to be the first up the ladder, until we were finally standing again on solid ground and feeling the rather pleasant stinging of our skin. On the boys' side, Bud enjoyed the banya just as much as Josh! They were not afraid to sit in the steam room for 10 minutes or more, while Ashley, Alesia, and I could only stand a minute or two at a time of the intense heat.

Within the first three days, we managed to fit in quite a bit - eating in Kyrgyz, Chinese, and Korean cafes, introducing them to our friends and neighbors, playing lots of Hearts, walking the leafy streets, scoping out ZUM and Vefa (malls), showing them the kids' school, and browsing the massive Osh Bazaar. After that, we were forced to take a couple of R&R days, since either Sebby's germs, the cognac or the Kyrgyz food wreaked havoc on everyone's systems. Nonetheless, we were undaunted and we managed to fit in the trip we've been dying to take - to Arslanbob. But that's for later. For now, adventures in Bishkek:

 Food, food, food!

Gan fan

Manti

Out for Chinese!

Samsa

Korean food (including dog soup) with Pasha ...

and Marina

and Vladik and Yarik

Lagman and shashlik with Anara

and Turat and Alihan

Anara and Ashley ... with shashlik.

Savoring my walks in Bishkek.

More walking

More walking...

Walking near my home

Magic tricks for the kids

It's magic!!

Misha's "open lesson" for Kyrgyz at school. I loved listening to the teacher's Kyrgyz.

Bud and Ashley came along to watch.

Classmates Timur, Yan, Misha, Pasha, and Tolik

After school fun

And of course, the trip to Osh Bazaar.

So much stuff!

Kalpaks

Robes, hats, rugs ...

Beautiful rugs

and fun spices, including very cheap saffron

A guys' evening with Pasha, Cognac 101

Loving the beard

A race on small children's wheeled vehicles.

Ushu competition at Misha's school

Ushu demos in the park

Continuing violin lessons with Kulia

Bud and Ashley on the train bridge near our home.

Walking in lovely Erkindik while eating ice cream

This is what Bishkek is like in May. :)

Stay tuned ... The fun continues. :)