Kazakhstan

Philippe Gougler goes to Kazakhstan, a huge country, often synonymous with long train journeys. Aboard a sleeper train, he meets a local celebrity, a bodybuilder with a trim beard and a keen sense of humor. In Almaty, the country's former capital, he was surprised by the greenery and modernity of the city, particularly its metro, each station of which offered a unique setting. On a high-speed train heading to Astana, the capital, he meets a former French teacher, an opportunity to talk about Kazakh culture.