March 19, 2004 - April 03,2004
Day 15 Friday
April 02, 2004
Tashkent
Submitted by Marie
lvcook@telus.net
On the bus: 8:00 a.m.
Left the hotel: 8:15 a.m.
Weather: It is said: Spring comes in March and then Winter on April 1st til the middle of the month.
It rained on and off all the way to Tashkent – 330 Km away.
We made a stop at Registan Square for a last chance for photos and to give Mary the opportunity to view the very vast and majestic medressa complex that is the centerpiece of Samarkand.
Our last visit in Samarkand was to a wood carver. We saw a guest house he was building. In the living area there was a small pit where ashes from an outside fire would be placed. A table goes over the pit to keep feet warm while eating. This room was very elaborate with carved and painted cabinetry and ceiling. The two entrance doors were expertly carved. We were given a view of the workshop where two younger boys were working on carvings. We saw elaborate patterns used for carvings and the tools used. Meli and Mary purchased small carved panels to take home.
Once more on the bus, we passed Buyuk Ipak Yo’li; people along the highway were selling honey and apples. We made a stop at a small market where Mary and I purchased triangle pom-pom amulets to ward off evil from a woman who came to our bus. People there were grilling Tandoori-Lamb Kebap and various foods were for sale.
Following the San Juan River (sp?) we passed through a small gorge that was named the “Iron Gate of Timur”; a plaque to this effect is mounted on the far railway side of the River. We then drove into a very fertile valley with green hills that had many flocks of goats and sheep.Along the way there were many roadblocks and police stations but we were never held up for long. We stopped at Gulistan for lunch that included the usual vegetable starter dishes, Dumpling Soup and Meatball Kebap.When we arrived in Tashkent we drove to the Opera House, but found it was closed due to the recent terrorist attacks. At 5:00 p.m. we checked into the Grand Orzu Hotel where we had stayed previously.
We walked to a restaurant around the corner from the Hotel where we had dinner. Barbara and Zenobia gifted us with a bottle of white wine they had received as an apology when they were trapped in an elevator.
Our dinner consisted of Greek Salad, Mongolian Stew, Custard Puffs and Tea.
We had an early night because our wake-up call was 3:00 a.m. (our plane was leaving for Istanbul at 6:15 a.m.)
Barbara, Agnes, Zenobia and Paul would be stopping off in Istanbul. Carol, Bob, Mary and Maria would carry on with flights to their homes.
Our adventurous tour was over so soon, but we carried home our memories, notes and pictures.. Now… about the next tour……
