After KG became independent, they began to rename many of the old streets with new names. For instance, what used to be called Soviet Street (ул. Советская) was renamed Baitik Baatyr Street (ул. Байтика Баатыра) in honor of a Kyrgyz national hero. All… more »

Tonight I had a get-together at a coffee shop in a part of town I had not been to yet, so I called a cab to get there. I gave the driver the address, but he wanted to know the intersection, not the address, but I hadn't written the cross-street down,… more »

Each summer when I have been in Kazan, my apartment has been without hot water for a period of time. I wondered whether it would be the same here in Bishkek. When I arrived, I was told that the summer maintenance of the water system had already been… more »