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Bishkek in February 2003

Lenin’s statue and the National Museum in the background.  Second floor concentrating on Soviet era events and the third floor on Kyrgyz culture and history.  Located on Chuy avenue, just east of the White House. On August of 2003, the statue was moved to the other side of the building.

The presidential palace is referred to as the  White House. The president does not live in this building.

Bishkek - Chuy avenue looking west.  To the right of this picture is the White House.

Cigarettes (single or by the pack), gum, candy, etc. for sale.

Example of underemployment.  Along Chuy avenue.  Across the street from the White House.

Bananas from Ecuador

Influence from the United States

United States presence continued

Hot Dogs and Hamburgers

Map of Bishkek environs

Electric trolleys are a common form of transportation at a cost of 3 Som (name of local currency) per ride.  Three Som equals about 7 cents US.  In the background is the main telephone and post office.

More hot dogs and hamburgers

Map of Bishkek environs

Even more common are the Marshrutkas at a cost of 5 Som per ride.  These vehicles find their way to every part of the city.

Lenin square.  Statue faced south towards the Tien Shan range. Kyrgyzstan is the only country of the Former Soviet Union that has not destroyed Lenin’s statues. The national museum (formerly Lenin museum) to the left.

The changing of the guard.

Bishkek (Churn) was known during the Soviet Union times as Frunze. Born here, Mikhail Frunze was the Russian commander during the civil war that helped keep tsarist Asia in Bolshevik hands. In 1991 at independence, the city was renamed Bishkek. Laid out in a grid system the city is at about 800 meters above sea level (2625 feet).

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