We have been here for three days, two on our own, sort of and then today with the entire group and the first official tour day. Day one we wondered to the State Department store down Peace Avenue. It is a modern department store just like you find in the US but a bit smaller. Spent quiet a bit time on the top floor looking at local crafts--hats, boots, carvings, paintings and cashmere. Bought little since we were tired and found some items at a fair trade store along the way. Ate at the Amsterdam cafe.
The city is modern and old all mixed together. In 1921 it was a town of only ger buildings, so even the old is fairly new. It has grown rapidly to 1.5 million people in a county of 3 million. With it comes all the issues of a city--traffic and bad roads....And just fun we will tell that it is hot.
City is in a bowl, surrounded by green big hills (little mountains). High, high blue skies that they represent in the blue on their flag. Costs are comparable to US, so no particular bargains.
We fell asleep at 4:00 pm and got up at 7:30 to get ready for bed at 9:00. Skipped dinner and woke up at 4:00 am. Not quite on local time yet. The group of early arrivers went to a temple and then we split off to go to an art museum. Had two canadians with us who were quite surprised by the traveling exhibit of Arctic Canadian photographs. We enjoyed the photos and especially the Mongolian art, fairly contemporary but also depicting nomadic life.Happy July 4. We will finish the news of today at a later date....
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