Yakshanbe in Dushanbe

In the Tajik language, "Dushanbe" means "Monday", and as the story goes, the capital city received its name for the large market that was held here each Monday. "Yakshanbe" means "Sunday", so you can either read the title of this blog entry as "Sunday in Dushanbe" or "Sunday in Monday", which sounds like a reject from the Mamas and the Papas. Either way, these are some of the pictures I snapped on a brilliant Yakshanbe afternoon in the capital.

The park next to my flat.

Opera House plus fountain and elephant. The elephant isn't mine.

Rudaki Avenue - the main boulevard in the city.

The statue of Samani, founder of the Samanid dynasty and a dead ringer for Sean Connery.

The Presidential Palace at the centre of the city.

Fountains in the central park.

Fountains in the central park.

Mother and daughter in the "Naughty Cat" (?!) Bouncy Castle.

Pirate Ship swing at the carnival, which runs daily throughout the Spring and Summer.

Ferris Wheel with a somewhat alarming tilt.

Mother and daughter on the Flying Swings.

Waiting for their turn.

Bus stop at the carnival site.

Dushanbe Billboards

In Dushanbe, billboards are found throughout the city. Most have a governmental slant, encouraging support for the President or the Roghun Dam, but some make rather unexpected use of celebrities.

Support urged for the Roghun Dam.

You too can look like a princess.

Support for the President, I think.

No Waterworld fallout here. Judging by the number of these billboards in the city, Kevin Costner is the most famous man in Tajikistan. Next to the President, of course.

The Roghun Dam again.

And again.

More Roghun Dam. No, just kidding. Karaoke, drinking and bowling. A dangerous combination.