My most recent journey – and it could probably be classified as a voyage, as I chose the longer route via Toronto to sample Turkish Airlines 499 fare to Tashkent via Istanbul – taxes to be added. Arrival in the middle of the night was swift after getting a visa official to open up his booth and let us in – remember you have to arrange ahead of time with the tour operator for the invitation!
Tashkent had a devastating earthquake in 1966 when 300,000 were rendered homeless, (see picture of memorial below) thus the city core has been rebuilt, resulting in wide streets, and fairly modern structures. This has left Tashkent without some of its former personality, but it is a clean city with good hotels.
The following day was spent flying to Khiva close to the Aral Sea. It’s surface area has now shrunk by approximately 60%, and its volume by almost 80%. The receding sea has left huge plains covered with salt and toxic chemicals, which are picked up, carried away by the wind as toxic dust, and spread to the surrounding area; the population around the Aral Sea now shows high rates of certain forms of cancer and lung diseases, as well as other diseases. Crops in the region are also destroyed by salt being deposited onto the land. It is estimated that the lake will be gone by 2020, if drastic measures are not taken.
Khiva
While driving towards Bokhara by bus we noticed the white salt over everything, eroding away the cement walls, and covering the ground like snow.
After 8 hours driving through the desert along the canals coming from the Aral Sea – we arrived into Bohara – a wonderful vibrant city on the Silk Road from China – historic castles, mosques, madrassas (schools) and a somewhat European flair to it. Warm and inviting. We spent a couple of days around the city, en route to Samarkand.
Lunch around one of the mosque pools
Samarkand turned out to be my favourite city in Uzbekistan, however, the mountains towering some distance away from the headquarters of the famous conqueror, Tamerlane, kept us shivering and the pocket books of the elderly sales ladies of knitted camel hair shawls fattened. For 10Euro we purchased gossamer thin lacey shawls that kept us from freezing.
The city is a mix of European architecture with Tajik, Chinese, Jewish, and Muslim influences – Catholic churches, synagogues – two story buildings, and Unesco World Heritage sites. Remarkable city in a fairy tale setting. Impressive. From here one could do a day trip into neighbouring Tajikstan only 40-60 kms away to the border.
We went through a magnificient museum of textiles with exceptional embroidered wall hangings, etc.
Back to Tashkent and home again – One can not cover an eight day trip and do it justice within a page, so let me tell you all about it!
For more information on planning your trip to Uzbekistan, please contact Mona Hubinette and let her fill you in on all the insider information.
