The ultimate marshrutka experience

Imagine playing Twister in a moving minivan in 90 degree weather and you've got a pretty good picture of what Bishkek marshrutka rides are like. I pay 8 som (around 20 cents) to get a ride around town with 20-25 other people. Yes, that number is over the capacity of what it should normally hold. Since this is Central Asia, older ladies have seating priority and depending on who is getting on and off of the marshrutka, the ride also becomes like a game of musical chairs. Well, maybe not because that would mean that seats would be removed...Anyway, the drivers install hand rails from the van ceiling and we just hang on for dear life along with everyone else and off we go. I did attempt to take a photo, but it's hard to do it justice.

Oh the places you will play

You never know who you will meet and what it will lead to. Through an expat acquaintance at church, I was hired to play piano at the US Ambassador's 4th of July party here in Bishkek. It was quite fun to be background music for diplomats and military personnel as they shmoozed. At one point, the French delegation decided that the piano was the coolest place to hang out and there was excited dialog drowning out the Brahms. Maybe they have something against the German composer. I played some Ravel in their honor afterwards. Cara Denney was hired to sing the national anthem, hence the photo of me at the gig. A good time was had by all, and the only disappointment was the extreme amount of blue food coloring that they added to the decorative cake which turned all the guests' teeth and lips a frightening hue. Since I didn't eat till after the party, I was able to somewhat avoid the aggressive frosting. It did dye my fingers when I was putting the cake on my plate though. Conclusion: I now understand why people used to have cupbearers.