CNN Journalists Visit Almaty

CNN Travel has visited Almaty. The journalists shared flattering details about the city.

Since the collapse of the USSR, Kazakhstan’s largest city (population 2.2 million and growing) has evolved from a drab, run-of-the-mill Soviet metropolis into the urban star of Central Asia, writes CNN Travel.

Journalist Joe Yogerst writes that Almaty is the most successful example of a city that has “reinvented itself” in recent years.

The author compliments Almaty, saying it has “one of the finest subway systems in the world” and “world-class museums.” The city, meanwhile, is simultaneously a major financial center, a center of luxury boutiques, modern shopping malls, ethnic restaurants, and traditional bazaars.

It’s an incredibly livable city. Green and clean. You don’t need a car. The public transit here is fantastic. And it’s very much the center of contemporary art and dining in Central Asia, says American heritage conservationist Dennis Keene .

Some residents may disagree, though. The American journalists are still quite accurate. In their opinion, Almaty has only benefited from the transfer of the capital to Astana. Almaty is now a city of businesses and artists, with a unique spirit of creativity, great opportunities, and intellectual debate.

Almaty's cuisine is another attribute that stood out for them. Local chefs combine modern culinary techniques with classic ingredients and traditional recipes of their nomadic ancestors, from beshbarmaq with smoked brisket to cold qumys chalop.

CNN Travel journalists also admired Almaty attractions such as the Green Bazaar, the Ascension Cathedral, the Kasteyev Museum, and the Historical Museum:

The city’s most intriguing collection is a “secret museum” that doesn’t even have a formal name. Adding to its mystique is the fact that it’s underground in both a literal and figurative sense — located in the basement of the French House, a luxury shopping arcade on Furmanov Avenue fronted by a replica of the Eiffel Tower. The owner of the private collection is also a mystery, said to be a local oligarch who’s both an avid collector and intensely proud of his hometown. There’s no admission fee, but reservations are mandatory. And to snag a ticket, you need to know someone with the closely guarded phone number or email address to make that reservation. A local guide (who also wants to remain anonymous) calls it “Kazakhstan’s most important collection of native art and artifacts, writes CNN Travel .

Original Author: Nikita Drobny