Tashkent

By Paul Bryers

Toured around Tashkent for a couple of hours on our bus – far too hot outside (over 40 C).

Interestingng architecture – Soviet, Arabic, Western (Holiday Inn!).

Visited an in-city valley where Moscow’s KGB slaughtered around 7,000 Uzbeks/other peoples and interned other Uzbek dissidents for their intellect or unacceptable views.

After the fall of the USSR, the Uzbekistan government built the Remembrance memorial in said valley. No mention of course of the Uzbekistan governments hideous crimes committed against their own people in the times since independence.

Tashkent

By Paul Bryers

The extreme heat outside, with temperatures reaching over 105 degrees, made walking around the city impractical.

So, I had the opportunity to explore the Tashkent Metro, visiting various stations over the course of three hours. Mary, another guest, joined me.

The Soviet-constructed Metro and its stations, excluding the newest line, feature opulent designs, commemorating Soviet accomplishments, inc. in science and space exploration.

Additionally, Mary and I visited the Churzo Bazar, which boasted an impressive array of fruits, vegetables, meats, spices, breads, and teas. The smells were exceptional. We selected some delightful teas and savored bread and samosas.