Got to Istanbul where we change planes. Got offered 400 euros each to catch a later flight to Uzbekistan as our flight was overbooked. Well who wouldn't, oh and a free dinner.
Mind you this is Turkey, smoke and mirrors. Just as the first flight was about to leave, and Mike was in the duty free wondering what to spend his windfall on, we were told that all arrangements were off and we had to run. Apparently it was no longer overbooked. Yippee. Even more joy when Mike found himself sitting next to a young man (anyone under the age of 40) who's breath smelt of fermented Yaks milk.
After 4 hours we arrive in Tashkent. The young man was met by a person who looked like they herded yaks for a living, funny old world.
We were met by the owner of the hostel we were to stay at. Noticed that all the cars were Chevrelot, white or black. Apparently any other imported new car is subject to 100% import charge.
We are knackered and just want to get to bed, but our host decides we definitely need a whistle stop tour at 1.30 am. We planned to stay for 3 nights, turns out that a whistle stop tour, and a day in the underground about covers Tashkent.
Mind you this is Turkey, smoke and mirrors. Just as the first flight was about to leave, and Mike was in the duty free wondering what to spend his windfall on, we were told that all arrangements were off and we had to run. Apparently it was no longer overbooked. Yippee. Even more joy when Mike found himself sitting next to a young man (anyone under the age of 40) who's breath smelt of fermented Yaks milk.
After 4 hours we arrive in Tashkent. The young man was met by a person who looked like they herded yaks for a living, funny old world.
We were met by the owner of the hostel we were to stay at. Noticed that all the cars were Chevrelot, white or black. Apparently any other imported new car is subject to 100% import charge.
We are knackered and just want to get to bed, but our host decides we definitely need a whistle stop tour at 1.30 am. We planned to stay for 3 nights, turns out that a whistle stop tour, and a day in the underground about covers Tashkent.
It is the capital city. Under soviet planning, wide 6 Lane straight avenues, 3 up and 3 down; great for soviet tanks, some brutal soviet architecture, and big impressive soviet style bronze statues. All changed with independence in September 1991. Statue of Lenin and other heroes removed, replaced with Uzbek heroes. Lenin Square becomes Independence Square (Mustaqillik Maydoni).
Fortunatly there is still quite a lot of the old city left. You can access most of it from the underground metro system, built in 1977.
Been extended twice since, and is still being developed. Was to double as a place of refuge in case of a nuclear war. You can still see evidence of meter thick blast doors in the old part of the system.
Leave you with some photos. Independence Square;Soviet style road; Metro.
Fortunatly there is still quite a lot of the old city left. You can access most of it from the underground metro system, built in 1977.
Been extended twice since, and is still being developed. Was to double as a place of refuge in case of a nuclear war. You can still see evidence of meter thick blast doors in the old part of the system.
Leave you with some photos. Independence Square;Soviet style road; Metro.
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