Having taken one single two-hour flight, I have left the old capital of Almaty in the south, for the new capital of Astana in the north. I did have the option of a 15-hour train ride but that did not seem appealing especially as much of the journey is through the Great Steppe. This large region of the country is flat grassland for as far as the eye can see. Here are my first impressions of Astana Kazakhstan, a city I have been curious about for a while.
Woah
I’m not really a city girl, having never spent much time in one. The larger they are the less appealing. Noise, crowds, chaos, stink, danger, you get the idea. But this one? This one looks like it was built 25 years into the future from now. I’ve never seen anything like it before.
Modern
A little bit of an understatement, the planning of Astana has been guided by a Japanese architect known for his futuristic structures. But it’s the underlying ground work that is truly impressive. You get the impression immediately that the city is very well thought out. Streets in a grid pattern, large, wide, clean, free of obstruction and unnecessary items. Sidewalks built for walkers, wide, clear, benches, garbage cans, everything planned down to the smallest detail.
Architecture
I haven’t ventured into the centre yet, but the surrounding districts are all modern geometric apartment complexes, and there are thousands of them. Like Lego buildings, they seem to spring straight up from the ground. Its bizarre!
Like most well designed cities, these apartment complexes have businesses in the bottom or ground floor. Residents always have easy and quick access to food, both restaurants and groceries. Also filling these spaces are salons, banks, café’s, pet shops, anything that the residents might need and don’t have to hop into a vehicle to get.
Clean
The city is under construction; you see it and feel it everywhere. Boulevards are still being implemented and gardens planted. Light standards and statues placed, but it is all being done without piles of debris visible. Without stepping over or around material or people. There are city workers everywhere, keeping spaces clean, painted, maintained. There are no dusty or dirty buildings here, everything looks fresh and clean.
I am incredibly excited to explore Astana. From the photo’s I have viewed online to the feeling I already have; this is going to be a city that is exciting and interesting. While this is not an historical city, and that is almost always what I gravitate to, this is history in the making. An enticing capital is springing up before my eyes and I’m here to discover it.
