Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan, October 2022

In October, one of our humans were going to attend a conference in Samarkand in Uzbekistan, wow! We were invited to travel with them, and after Samarkand we went to Bukhara and Khiva.

Click each photo to enlarge


Part 1: Samarkand.

Part 2: Bukhara and Khiva.

Part 2: Bukhara and Khiva

Samarkand, October 2022

Next morning the group gathered in front of Hotel Ishonch. There were two coaches to bring us to the next city; Bukhara. We would be following our humans in one of the coaches.
"Would it make any difference, if our humans would be on one bus, and we ended up in a different coach?" Tom asked of curiosity.
"Well, it might cause certain confusion as to where we belong," McBear believed. "Plus of course the panic it would create among our humans..."
"Naaarh," Roger said confident. "I am sure everybody know who we are and they would post us back to Ireland..."




Uzbekistan, October 2022

We had a very experienced driver. He did a great job on the Uzbek roads - and they were rough in places. He managed to stay focused and steer us past all pot holes and ditches. Roger handed him our business card, and he put it right above his sun screen.




Uzbekistan, October 2022

We were following the main road A380. On the way, just after Gi'jduvon, we stopped to visit a ceramic factory, Farzona.




Uzbekistan, October 2022

They made some pretty nice stuff. Roger could think of a lot to buy, however, McBear pointed out that our humans might not approve the extra weight in our luggage on the way home. And where would we put it? Our human's house was already full of bear stuff...
"I have heard that our belongings take up 5 boxes," Tom pointed out.
"5 boxes?" Roger asked. "Is it that much?"
"Yes, and your wardrobe alone fills up between one and two boxes..."
"Well, it seems our humans have their priorities right..."




Bukhara, October 2022

We arrived the Al-Salam hotel in Bukhara. At first glance it didn't look of much, and Roger was a bit disappointed. We suspect he had expected a more posh welcome. It turned out however, that it was a lovely hotel and we had a great room with lots of space. And the dining facilities downstairs were great too.




Bukhara, October 2022

Next morning after breakfast we went outside to wait for our minibus to come around and pick us up.
"I imagine the driver will spot our humans, but will he spot us as well?"




Bukhara, October 2022

Our first stop was at a huge market place, the Xaridingiz Barakali Bo'lsin, also known as the central bazaar, and found lots of stalls all around. You could get any kind of food there.




Bukhara, October 2022

They had an abundance of spices and herbs, delicatessen and sweets. While we enjoyed different foods, we pointed out to McBear he couldn't all he wanted; he needed to watch his grams...




Bukhara, October 2022

There were lots of pidgeons too, but it seemed the Uzbek people where friendly and let the pidgeons eat nuts and seeds...




Bukhara, October 2022

Then it was time for lunch, and we went to an outdoor restaurant. There were many cats around both here and in Samarkand, and one of them kept us company.




Bukhara, October 2022

We lined up for a group selfie at the old city wall.




Bukhara, October 2022

This is the gate to the old city. They were still excavating the old city centre.




Bukhara, October 2022

Everywhere in Uzbekistan one could see old Russian trucks like this fine example of what McBear had called an "Oldsky Junksky".




Bukhara, October 2022

Many places we saw examples of old architecture in both Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.




Uzbekistan, October 2022

We left Bukhara. On the way to Khiva we stopped for a break. We had hoped it was a coffee break, however, it was only a restroom break...




Khiva, October 2022

After a 450 kilometers' drive, we arrived the Khiva Silk Road Hotel in Khiva. The hotel is named after its location at the old silk road.




Khiva, October 2022

As our humans checked in at the reception, we sat down to enjoy the lounge and the interior.




Khiva, October 2022

Next day we went on a city tour. Here we are at the Khiva city gate. The old city dates back to midieval times.




Khiva, October 2022

The Kalta Minor Minaret.




Khiva, October 2022

In Khiva we discovered a stand with camel toy animals for sale.




Khiva, October 2022

The days in Khiva were much too soon over. We packed our gear and went down to the lounge to wait for our taxi.
On the table was a chessboard with counters. Now, Roger was not mad about chess. When counters were everywhere and there were myriads of options and moves, he used to get headache. McBear therefore proposed a limited field of 2 rows with 5 counters in the front line and 3 counters behind.
"Ok, we'll do that," Roger agreed. "I am the king, so you'll be the queen!"
"Eh... right, right," McBear said. "We'll grant them equal characteristics."
When McBear moved out the queen's gambit, Roger got quiet.
"I feel threatened now..." he said. "But let me see what my inner response team can come up with..."
But then we heard the taxi blowing the horn outside and we had to abandon the game...




Tashkent Dom. Airport, October 2022

The taxi brought us to Urgench Airport. We had seats on a flight to Tashkent Domestic Airport.
Here we're arriving the gate in Tashkent..




Tashkent Dom. Airport, October 2022

From Tashkent Domestic Airport we got a taxi that took us to the international airport 5 miles away. Then a Turkish Airlines flight brought us to Istanbul and finally another flight back to Dublin. Gosh, it was looong night to get back home.




Part 1: Samarkand.

Part 2: Bukhara and Khiva.




#Teddy Bears
#Uzbekistan
#Travelling
#Bears
#Toy Animals




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