Canyons and ice skating

When I was walking to my doctors appointment this past week I found myself walking through a canyon. At least that is what Olivia and Noah call the foot paths in-between the feet of snow, indeed creating a small canyon.

We have had an unusual amount of snow this winter (you know, compared to last year :)) but fortunately the temperatures have not been as severe (they got as low, but it did not last as long). As such, there have been plentiful canyons to walk through. You may wonder what the city does with all the snow it plows off the roads and parking lots...well, they put it into dump trucks and take it out into Siberia.

It's true. You will find massive bulldozers loading up dump trucks in parking lots, on the streets there are these fantastic machines with "arms" that scoop the snow on to a conveyer belt and then into a dump truck. Then the procession of trucks leave the city (it does not take them to long) they dump the snow (because there is nothing surrounding Astana) and come back and do it again.


There is also an interesting system to street sweeping. It is done in a fleet formation. There are usually about 5-6 street sweeper trucks and move together staggered across the road. They drive around town rather efficiently and complete a road in a few minuets.

Along with hiking through snow canyons, we have also taken to recreational sledding and ice-skating. Our apartment complex has a lovely park across the street which is currently a winter wonderland, complete with a great sledding hill.  Additionally our complex have created fantastic ice slides! These are the perfect size for young kids and are nice and close in our outdoor playground.

As for ice-skating we have many options. Among which include the river, several outdoor makeshift rinks and two fancy indoor rinks.  We enjoy one of the outdoor rinks which happens to be located close to one of our favorite malls. The rink is surrounded by an ice wall, ice sculptures, an ice maze, and a couple of LARGE ice slides (some serious speed can be achieved). It is beautiful and lots of fun. This weekend we had a warm spell, 32 F. IT WAS AMAZING! But, with this "spring thaw" much of the snow on the sidewalks melted and then refroze, creating a hazardous and petrifying walk. Fortunately, Sunday was also warm, helping with the defrost, so today going to the doctor (again) I felt much safer then I did walking to church on Sunday. :)


One might even say spring is in the air. Yet as I write this, a blizzard blows outside...sigh.