Frühling

Dear all,
This is the only opened tulip found in Baikonur city today that might suggest that spring starts up.
Terrace decoration on the Arbat.

Not very surprising due to the rather cold weather we still have here (Refer to previous note Weather in Baikonur).
Tulips will be visible throughout the city later in April and, if you are really impatient to see bulbs in flower, it is strongly advised to go to... Keukenhof!
...
But the only important event in town at the moment is the preparation of the Nauryz (Наурыз) that will take place tomorrow 22/03 in Baikonur city.
It is already widely announced at the entrance of the Baikonur Park in the southern part of the city: Happy celebration of the Nauryz!

Or here when entering the Arbat: Nauryz, the feast of friendship and renewal of life.

The origin of this feast comes from an ancient Persian tradition celebrated since almost 3000 years and known as Nowruz or the Persian new year. This very date coincides in fact with spring and equinox.
This celebration has widely spread over "Iranian" borders in general and in all central Asian countries in particular. It is known in Kazakhstan as "Nauryz", and, by extension, is also considered today as the Muslim new year.
In the Republic of Kazakhstan people don't work since last Saturday till next Wednesday 24/03 for celebrating Nauryz. In Baikonur city, Monday 22/3/2010 only is granted as a bank holiday to allow the city to accommodate and celebrate the festivities.

This will then be the natural continuation of this short postcard of today.

Keep in touch...

Poka

Kirill B.

PS:
I cannot conclude this note without telling you that the Sputnik restaurant team is working hard at the moment as you can see below. They are holding a FRR (Food Resupply Review) to make sure that everything will be in place to welcome ESA and Astrium colleagues next Tuesday to resume the Cryosat-2 launch campaign.

Above, the Kitchen panel (Mira chairman and Zhana secretary) seats in front of the FRR End Item Data Package. No clue how many RIDs have been raised but be sure they eagerly wait for you for the co-location!