Day 42, in Semey

The city of Semey is famous to Westerners for two reasons; i) it was where Dostoevsky was exiled to and ii) as the base for the Russian Nuclear bomb test/research centre.

Fyodor Dostoevsky was exiled here in the185o’s and where he began his most famous novel, The Brothers Karamazov.  Much of the novel is based on settings around Semey.  In the West being exiled to Siberia has an awful sound to it.  In Canadian terms it would be like being exiled to Calgary, although a bit hotter the summer and a bit colder in the winter.  The city I am in is a bit run down, but clearly has had a glorious past.  

Semey used to be known as Semipalatinsk but was changed to Semey after 1991 due to its nuclear history.  Some 460 nuclear tests were conducted in the Polygon area about 150km west of Semey, both above and below ground.

A positive result from the collection of scientists during the nuclear testing period was that Semey became a centre of eloquence and intellect, amongst other things Semey has a very large and well known teaching and research hospital.

There are extensive squares and “active” parks in the city, by active I mean full of people and kids eating, playing, walking, sitting and drinking etc.,  with lots of food/drink/ice cream vendors.  We don't have enough of this at home in Victoria.

Again, it may be a few days before I am able to post again.

Some pics from around Semey:

A dog picture for Keith and Kathleen:

Dostoevsky and Shokan Ualikhanov (Chokan Valikhanov))

No idea what this is:

Yes, from the "kitchen" where we had lunch...

An interesting collection of statues from the communist days, yes that is Lenin(2nd pic down):

There are a lot of buildings like this: