Because Dad is an ISP man, he got to meet some computer geeks this morning, and talk with them about servers, and voice-over IP, and a bunch of other stuff. I went with him, and learned some more about computer language. After that was over, he and I met up with another couple of the local guys that we had made friends with, and took a trip to the local bazaar (if you think I said bizarre, look again). It was a new experience for me, seeing as the majority of merchandise I see is in K-Mart, iTunes, and between quarters during a football game. The bazaar was the size of two or three Wal-Marts stuffed together, and there were clothes and hats and shoes and people and cigarettes everywhere. The vendors had their wares on ropes, against their stall wall and even hanging from the trusses of the many coverings we were under.

We mostly looked as we walked, but there were a few times where we stopped to examine and scrutinize a few items, like U.S. Army surplus uniforms, Kyrgyzstan rugs, and a horn bow with arrows and a leather case that was the most beautiful piece of weaponry I’ve ever seen in my life. But it cost too much and it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase, so I guess I’ll have to do without the sweetest, baddest, sickest deer-killing machine that isn’t illegal in the 50 states. >Sob< . But I did get myself a nice cute little fuzzy hat, so I don’t feel sad anymore.

We left the bazaar around one, and had some pizza at a nearby restaurant. It was good, and filled us up for the upcoming sightseeing trip; a visit into the Kyrgyzstan mountains! The drive up was a tad bit interesting though. You see, there was a thick fog the entire way, the road was a tiny bit bigger than one lane, there was snow and ice everywhere, and visibility was down to about 30-50 feet. In other words, totally sweet! Once we got up to the parking space, we ditched the van and hit the trail.

There was about a foot of snow on the ground, but the people who had gone before us had carved a nice trail in the snow, and we stuck to it for most of the way. We climbed the mountain, slowly ascending above the lower treetops, and into the cloud cover. The air was cold and clean, and it had none of the lived-in taste of normal air down at ground level. We must have hiked around 1½ miles, climbing into the sky. Finally, we ran out of time and had to turn around and come back. But I did get to see some wonderful scenery and a lot of God’s wonderful creation.

When we came back, we ate at another restaurant, and I had me some mutton kebab and french fries. Kind of a combination between ethnic and familiar, I guess. I had a memorable day today, with the food, the friends, the bazaar, and the beautiful scenery. So next time I have a happy Saturday, be sure to tune back in.

The flights were a different experience for us after riding on Delta and Air France airlines all the time. Both planes were part of Turkish airlines, and I was very glad they were. For starters, the background music was of the Turkish instrumental variety (which had some pretty sweet guitar in it). And the food was not your usual airline offal; no, they actually gave us a menu, and we got a three course meal with dessert! It was incredible.

We showed up in Bishkek at about 5:15 a.m. local time, which is 1:15 a.m. Paris time, which is 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, Cleveland time. Yep, it felt a little wacky. We got through customs, and then drove to our guesthouse, where we promptly fell asleep. We woke up after a few hours of rest, and got to meet some of the local people. The Kyrgystani people look similar to the Mongolians, but with a little Russian influence as well. They’re also very nice.

The culture here in Bishkek is different from America and even Paris. There is a more homey, friendly feel than the bustling City of Lights, and there are lots of people walking around here as well, even though gas is pretty much the same as back home. Their unit of money is the “som,” which equals about 2 cents, and their largest piece of money is a 5000 som bill, which is basically one hundred dollars. Also, they drive on the right side of the road, but their cars have the steering wheel on the right.

After introductions had been made, we all went out to lunch at a local Turkish restaurant. The menus were written in Kyrgyz on one side and Russian on the other, so one of the men translated it for us. I ordered pilmeny and plow (a.k.a. rice with beef and dumplings), and then just to be adventurous, I drank my first Coca-Cola™.

After we had finished eating, we came back to the hotel and relaxed our bodies. And then, to cap off a great day, it started snowing! My first day in Kyrgyzstan was definitely different from my first day in France, but I really enjoyed the feel of the culture and the taste of the food, and I can’t wait to learn more about this country.

It was a long walk, but when we finally reached it, the imposing piece of architecture wowed us big time. It was a massive arch, sitting right in the middle of the road, a boast to all of the power of the man who built it.We spent some time looking at it, admiring its many intricate workings, and then moved on. We continued walking, pausing now and then to inspect the occasional statue, building design or monument. This time, we were heading toward the most famous thing in France; the Eiffel Tower.

It was visible from a long way off, but from that long of a distance, it looked short and squat. It was another good forty minutes after it came in sight before we reached it, and then the sight of it took our breath away. It soared up to the sky, just reaching the stars with its top. We stood in line for almost an hour before we could collect our tickets and go up, but it was definitely worth it. We took the elevator up to the second level, because Dad didn’t want to walk up the stairs, and his back was hurting. I probably should thank him for sparing me the agony, but I still wanted to walk. The view was very nice from the second story, and it was cool to see the steel girders everywhere, supporting the structure’s mammoth weight. When we had looked around for a while, we took the second lift to the very top of the tower.

The view was astounding. All of Paris was stretched out below us, like a miniature model of the city. The wind was chilly, and the clouds seemed within reach. But the best was yet to come. As we had been touring, the sun had been slowly sinking toward the horizon, and as we watched, it disappeared below the surface of the earth. There are no words to describe that sunset that I watched from the Eiffel Tower today. Even pictures can’t do it justice. The deep red color stretched through the clouds almost to the tower itself, weaving patterns in the atmosphere.When the sun dropped out of sight, the royal red color stayed, bathing the Seine river in blood with its hue. It was the most beautiful sight of my young life, and a memory I will hold for as long as I live.
When we came back to our hotel, we were dead tired and my legs were hurting. But that view, that one view from the top of the Tower was a definite highlight of not only the day, but our trip as well. And it’s one I hope you can go experience someday too.

The walk there was a new experience for me, a leisurely stroll through the streets, some busy, some quiet, but all lined with pompous and majestic buildings. The people were different, too. They moved with purpose, but not with frantic haste. Their style is foreign to us Americans, but very very slick (by the way, man-purses are in, flip-flops are out). They were courteous in their greetings, and friendly in their goodbyes. The streets of Paris are, in a word, peaceably beautiful. Yes, I know that’s two words. Deal with it.

We took our time as we walked, soaking in the language and culture. Finally, after thirty or so minutes, we reached the square in front of the cathedral. Wow. When you see a thing like Notre Dame, you just can’t take it in all at once. You have to take it in a few dozen feet at a time. The intricately carved doorways almost ruptured my brain with their beauty, kind of like the first time I saw a silver Ferrari 458 Italia. Ooh la la. Another cool thing about the outside of the basilica is the famous “Point Zero”. This is the spot from which all distances in the entire country are measured, and it’s about 30 yards from the centre (that’s center for you non-French) door of Notre Dame. When we finally walked inside, the awe only grew. The inside is silencing, with its arched Gothic-style roof that soars upward, and its immense pipe organ, dominating an entire wall.

There are stained glass windows and stone walls, and many side rooms with individual scenes, statues, frescoes, and such that command your attention. After looking at the wonders on the inside, we decided to risk decimation to our bodies and climbed the winding stair to the balcony above. There we found ourselves looking down at the square, flanked by the immovable inhabitants of Notre Dame; the gargoyles. Of all shapes, designs, and forms, the silent watchers of the cathedral observe the tourist, the native, and the worker, all without blinking a lash or uttering a sound. They also make great rainspouts.

We took tons of pictures, and then moved onward to the top of the minster. We were up pretty high, and we could see the bottom tier of the Eiffel Tower from where we were, even though the rest of it was lost in the clouds. The parapet we were on ran the entire circumference of the bell tower, and so we walked along the top of it, looking at the people below us. I also saw a really cool sports car, and I figure it was probably the famous Hatchback of Notre Dame… I’m here all week folks.

On the way back down, I counted the steps, and it totaled 385 of them. We then took a whole lot more steps on our way back to the train station, and then back to the hotel. Going to see Notre Dame was a great idea, and I loved gazing in dumbstruck awe at the beautiful designs and scenes on its exterior. And now, as I lay back to go to sleep, I know that Paris will always hold a place in my heart. Right next to Lord of the Rings and waffles.

After we finished the delicious meal, I joined them going back to the Agape building, watching them as they worked. For the past few days. Dad has been teaching some of the guys how to configure and use some helpful software. As always, I sat and observed what went on. They were covering some really high-tech stuff, but Dad was able to work them through the tough stuff. Here are some things I noticed while listening to the conversations about the configuration processes and such:

• It was a very friendly atmosphere. It could have gotten electrically charged very quickly, but it didn’t, because Dad was patient, and the others were willing to learn.
• Some of the guys being trained were non-technical men, but they trusted that Dad knew what he was talking about, so they picked up quickly.
• When there were discussions about the best way to do a certain process or whatever it was, they weren’t heated at all. The guys respected each other, and the others’ ideas as well.

After the work for today was completed, we all had supper. We got a lot of stuff done today, and everyone was happy at our productiveness. Supper was at Ab’s house, and we stayed a long time afterward, just talking and sharing stories. I think all of us are excited about tomorrow, because the bulk of the work is completed, and we’ll be able to rest. I know I am.