At 7 o’clock in the morning, we land in Tashkent. We have started our journey in Bishkek at 5.45 hours.
Uzbekistan is now the third country on our journey through Central Asia. After the adventurous journey through Tajikistan and the breathtaking nature of Kyrgyzstan, we would like to get to know the culture of the Silk Road.
Sirojiddin Hujamuratov from Registon Travel and the driver Shamil pick us up at the airport. We met Sirojiddin already in Berlin at the ITB in spring and he made us a very attractive offer, so we decided to travel to Uzbekistan as well.
At first, we go to the hotel to drop our luggage. We stay at the Hotel Arien Plaza. A comfortable hotel that offers everything you need.
On the last day of our stay in Uzbekistan, we stay here once again. We can only say that everything is very clean and the staff very friendly.
But first, we need money. We drive via Usman Nasir Street, Shota Rustaveli Street, and Shakhrisabz Street to the center of Tashkent. The Uzbekistan Hotel has a cash machine (ATM). Unfortunately, it is empty.
Via Amir Temur Avenue we drive to the Radisson Blu Hotel, Tashkent. Here we find an ATM and can withdraw dollars. We still have no Uzbek so’m.
Please watch the 4K UHD video
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationSirojiddin informs us. At the time of our stay (September 2017), the official rate is around 4000 so’m for € 1.-. On the black market, you get about 7000 so’m, which of course is not allowed.
Since the inflation rate is around 70%, it is not advisable to exchange a lot of money directly. So he suggests we always exchange $ 100 with him. As soon as the money is used up we change the next € 100.-.
Every time we get a big bundle of bank notes. Later, we saw women in a restaurant carrying a bundle of about 5cm thick. This is normal here. You usually do not keep money in a purse but in a plastic bag.
After that’s done, we drive back to the Uzbekistan Hotel, where we pick up our guide Nargiz, who accompanies us for the rest of the day. Various tours on this day will be shown in another two more videos.
First, we drive back to Usman Nasir Street and turn into Bobur Street. Through Furqat Street, Abdulla Kadiry Street and Karasaray Street, we reach the old town and then visit the Hazrati Imam Mosque.
In Little Ring Road we visit the White Mosque and on Sharaf Rashidov Avenue the Monument of Courage Earthquake Memorial, Monument Muzhestva, which commemorates the devastating earthquake of 1966, see Old City, Mosques and Earthquake Monument in Tashkent.
Afterwards, we will have lunch at the famous Plov Center at Guards Colonel Khodjaev Street.
It is a huge restaurant where one cooks plov, the national dish, of rice, carrots, onions, and meat in huge pots. A plate costs 10,000.- So’m, about € 1,50.
After lunch, we will drive to the Monument of Victims of Repression, dedicated to victims of Soviet times.
But here we have to recognize that we have not chosen the right date for our travel. It is the 30.08. and on the 1st of September one celebrates Independence Day. One expects many foreign delegations.
Wide areas of the city center are cordoned off and one expects the president, who wants to get a personal picture of the proper condition of the facilities.
An Uzbek couple talks to us and they offer us to join them in the celebrations as they have tickets. Unfortunately, we are already in Khiva at this time.
We drive to the government sector at the Independence Square but also here everything is closed.
So never go to Tashkent for a sightseeing tour shortly before the Independence Day.
Finally, we visit the Museum of Applied Arts, the Chorsu Bazaar, before we enjoy the view from the 17th floor bar of the Uzbekistan Hotel in all directions. See Museum, Chorsu Bazaar, Theater and 17th floor Bar in Tashkent
Please read on > Old City, Mosques and Earthquake Monument in Tashkent
Pin it for later
Text, photos and video: Copyright © myVideoMedia