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Old 12-29-2017, 09:42 AM   #1
limey
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Touring Uzbekistan as a tourist

So it's a bit different visiting these parts with Mr Limey in tow ... and a bit the same.
We checked in our luggage whereas I used to travel hand-baggage only (here in winter for tourism required more clothing) and I am still mildly amazed that it arrived when we did given that we were late landing in Istanbul so had to sprint to the Tashkent gate where boarding had allegedly started.
I am speaking English much more to keep Mr Limey in the loop so am aware of being considerably more conspicuous as a Westerner.
But the first day routine of catching up on a little sleep, changing money (UZS 8,000 or so to USD 1), and buying local sim card each for the phone (USD 12 for network registration, 5GB of data and 2 hours of local calls) was my standard practice.
We also bought some groceries to stock up the fridge in our hotel room and other necessities: USD 5.50 for bread, fruit juice, sausage, loo roll and razors. The shop gave me the picked gherkin i requested from the vat of clearly home-preserved produce as a free gift! Another USD 5.50 for 2.5 litres of beer and a bottle of very pleasant Georgian-style wine.
Dinner in the hotel was USD 20 for 2 courses each and a couple of beers including tip. The bar here where we ate is a separate business leasing space in the hotel premises so there's no putting stuff on the bill. This business model is common in FSU territories I believe.
There was a big, noisy pre-New Year party in the hotel restaurant this evening.
It also seems that the group tour I biked us on consists of a group of just us 2!

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Old 12-29-2017, 09:53 AM   #2
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You're the whole group?!

That will be a great treat.
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Old 12-29-2017, 09:59 AM   #3
limey
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigV View Post
You're the whole group?!

That will be a great treat.
Not sure yet but it looks very like it.

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Old 12-29-2017, 10:35 AM   #4
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The huddling for warmth is better that way. I imagine being a strictly English speaker would be a lot more difficult.
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Old 12-29-2017, 11:30 AM   #5
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Do you have a busy itinerary?
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Old 12-29-2017, 11:34 AM   #6
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Sounds wonderful. Can't wait to hear all about it. Travel safely.
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Old 12-29-2017, 04:07 PM   #7
limey
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Originally Posted by Griff View Post
Do you have a busy itinerary?
Two nights in Tashkent, flight to Bukhara and one night there, train to Samarkand and two nights there, train to Tashkent and two nights here again.
Guided tours and free time everywhere.
I think yes is the answer.

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Old 12-30-2017, 12:38 AM   #8
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Your trip sounds fabulous! Please keep us updated, oh and . . . pics or it didn't happen.

*jealous*
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Old 12-30-2017, 08:38 PM   #9
limey
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Have just realised I must give an account of yesterday before today overwrites it!
First off a visit to the religious centre of Uzbekistan. The religious leader is appointed by the President. The buildings below are among the oldest in Tashkent, which was flattened by an earthquake in 1966 in which just 9 people died.
This was built as a madrassah or religious school but is now a craft centre.

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Old 12-30-2017, 08:42 PM   #10
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next up a visit to the main food market in the centre of town. It was rammed with people buying extra yummy food to celebrate new year's eve.

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Old 12-30-2017, 08:55 PM   #11
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It all looks so good.
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Old 12-30-2017, 10:03 PM   #12
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Looks like there's no food shortage, of course like anywhere else, if you can afford it.
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Old 12-30-2017, 10:04 PM   #13
limey
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Then a trip to Amir Timur square. You'll recognise this fine example of Soviet brutalist architecture because there where I've stayed in previous visits. Amir Timur was a military leader in the 13th century.


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Old 12-30-2017, 10:20 PM   #14
sexobon
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So how did he die? Did they follow the tourist guides' myth?

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Old 12-31-2017, 02:18 AM   #15
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I was hoping to get a live view of Uzbekistan from space; but, the ISS passed over way south along Turkmenistan-Iran border a little while ago. Subsequent orbits will be moving further away. Signal reception is spotty from that part of the globe anyway.
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