Kostanai benchmark

Kostanai, roughly analogous to Leicester, has charming housing. Benches abound here, including this lovely pink piece in the park where we enjoyed a lovely walk.

The analogy breaks down almost immediately of course. Kostanai was the breadbasket of the Soviet union and continues to produces masses of grain for export, as symbolised by this roundabout,

Best taken with a pinch of salt.

The landscape around the city shows almost endless flat, harvested land.

Eventually we reach no-man's-land, the endless steppe. Constant winds, beating summer sun, and the lush, intense smells of wild herbs.

An eagle chillaxing on the steppe