Before my trip to Uzbekistan, I thought that there is nothing to tell about its capital - Tashkent.
Well, usual city, quite modern, However, revising the footage I came to an unexpected conclusion, that is so much material, that one episode won't be enough.
In the first part I will tell you about three iconic places of Tashkent, which are close to each other: the TV tower, the center of pilaf and the "Tashkentland".
Preparing for the trip, I read on the Internet that it is forbidden for the tourists to make on the Tashkent TV tower is to shoot videos.
Even the mobile phones could be taken away at the entrance. I was upset of course.
After all, the footage from that height means a lot! At some point, even thought not to go to the tower.
But still I took the risk - and it was worth it! First we had to pay for the entrance, it is necessary to have a passport.
For a non-residents ticket to the tower is more expensive than for a citizen of Uzbekistan.
It cost 40 thousand so'm pro person (approximately $5).
- It is the Tashkent TV tower.
- It is said that for some time it was prohibited to shoot any footage here, even the mobile phones were taken away.
Now if you don't have any professional cameras or equipment you're allowed to shoot videos.
A tourist on the TV tower can visit only two floors - the 6th and 7th floor.
You're taking the high-speed elevator and watching, what how it looks in the shaft.
The 6th is a walking floor, with a circular panorama.
Visitors come to the windows, gasp, admire, look for their houses and take photos.
Tashkent is an ancient city, just good looking. It was founded somewhere in the 2nd century BC.
In the 11th century it has received its present name, which means "The Stone city".
Tashkent was guarded by a wall in case of raids, the wall had 12 gates.
They were named either after areas where they were located or after directions.
For example, those that went to the Samarkand tract, were called - Samarkand.
In 1865, representatives of the Tashkent nobility presented the symbolic keys to the 12 gates to the commander of the Russian troops General Mikhail Chernyaev as a sign of unconditional surrender of the city.
Those days Tashkent was under the rule of Kokand Khan.
And the people of Tashkent didn't want it.
The keys to the city were made of pure gold, their total weight was more than 1,5 kilograms.
On each key there was an engraving - which gate did they belong to.
Now the keys to the city are stored in the national Bank of Uzbekistan.
On the floor above is a restaurant.
You would say - nothing special, a typical restaurant on a TV tower, but there is one thing...
It spins.
Feels unusual...
Of course it does not move so fast to get you sick, even if the visitor had a little too much to drink.
The speed is quite comfortable.
I didn't order anything in the restaurant, I'm going to eat in the center of pilaf, which is just 200 meters away from the tower.
It's a paradise for those, who lose pilaf.
For Tashkent residents this place is so famous and popular that it's even, as we could say, pop (has lost its exclusivity).
But it's still very popular.
Every day thousands of people come here to eat.
It is cooked by the best specialists in the country, who are constantly switching between each other.
There are a lot of people here, so the cauldron must be huge.
Even it is difficult to assume how many portions of pilaf it contains.
But by two o'clock, everything it is already empty!
Then the smaller cauldrons, "reserves", take the battle.
- What's the difference between this and that pilaf?
- Andijan pilaf - it is a different type of rice, is called "Devzira".
- And here we have usual Tashkent wedding pilaf
- The main difference is the rice.
- And what's on the right?
- This is also a wedding pilaf.
- It is the same as the one in a big cauldron.
- The only difference is the size of cauldron.
Tourists are brought here non-stop.
Before they start eating, everyone takes a picture of a giant cauldron.
You can even pretend that you're the one, who has cooked - a scoop was put here extra for tourist photo sessions.
And this are ingredients for the main dish. Only with some additives you will be full. Looks impressive.
My mouth's watering! I want to eat this beauty. We're coming inside.
And you are already lost.
What to do? Whom to ask?
There are many waiters, but they are all elusive.
We still managed to get one and demanded to bring a pilaf. He ran away.
Then brought us a portion, but without any beauty, just rice and meat.
- Of course with such a flow of guests the level of service falls.
- For example, they brought us a pilaf, which was not complete (no quail and chicken eggs and other things).
- So we asked to bring us everything complete.
- Here are the sausages, quail and chicken eggs.
The pilaf was pretty good, but it is too much going on, you can't enjoy it.
I wouldn't come here a second time.
Would find a quiet place where you can comfortably sit on the couch, and where the waiter is not in a hurry, and carefully and patiently listens the same words:
"Oh, I don't know what to eat, maybe you can recommend me something."
And with a smile he recommends the pilaf.
