Why go to the amazing Uzbekistan?

To Uzbekistan would love to go those, who have already visited Italy and Spain,

and want something exotic, but, nearby, without Visa and not expensive.

In my opinion, it is most convenient to travel in this country in the spring.

In winter Russia is also beautiful, and in summer in Uzbekistan is too hot.

40 - 50 °C are not the limit.

At this temperature the whole trip will be reduced to moving from air-conditioned car to hotel room, which is also with air-conditioning.

Besides, the spring there is very delicious, literally and figuratively.

By the way, I going there to eat -

I want to taste pilaf in Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Tashkent and samsa.

I love samsa with lamb very much.

So, the plan is to visit 4 cities.

Each of them at least once was the capital and each of them is interesting, beautiful and unusual in its own way.

Generally speaking, it is logical to build such route:

Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva,

so that the degree of exoticism of the East would change progressively.

Tashkent looks very modern. The city center is built of glass and metal,

and Khiva, on the contrary, is very ancient.

But because of many circumstances my trip went different.

I bought a ticket to Tashkent, from there

I will go to Bukhara,

then to Samarkand

and finally to Khiva.

Until recently, when you were crossing the Uzbek border, you had to fill in

he customs Declaration, in which it was necessary to specify in detail everything, you import.

All the money in all possible currencies, electronic devices including cameras

and mobile phones.

Now this procedure does not exist anymore, you can take any electronic devices with you and it is allowed to import and export without declaring up to 2 thousand dollars.

Thank you - it is much more pleasant to travel now!

The airport in Tashkent is located within the city limits and is quite close to the center.

So you can easily get to any place in the city even by using the public transport - bus, for example.

But the most convenient way, of course, is to take a taxi.

Coming out of the airport in the first place you will see taxi drivers, who are happily greeting you. Their prices are several times higher.

In order not to pay too much as soon as you get out of the airport you can catch a cab. You can also call the "Yandex Taxi" (similar to "Uber") or use similar service.

My plan was to go from Tashkent to Bukhara

by a high speed train "Afrosiyob".

It turned out that it was impossible to buy the tickets at the of the ride.

Everything was sold out.

So I had to take the usual train. The place in a compartment cost $ 13.

I'll specify all the prices in three currencies.

After screening of passengers you will be put a stamp on the back of the ticket

as a proof that you passed this procedure.

Otherwise, you may not be allowed to board the train. The whole ride lasts 8 and a half hours. It is decent, but it is a night train.

Which means, that you can go to sleep, wake up and you are already in Bukhara.

In the next part you will learn, that the "Lyabi-Hauz",

you will see an ancient mosque,

you will learn why women weren't allowed to

touch the men's scissors.

And, of course, we'll taste the Bukhara pilaf.