Not too bad a night sleeping under the stars - even saw a shooting star.
Straight to the border crossing, I feared another ordeal on the Turkmen side but it was effortless. The Uzbek border was orderly and no bribes! We were through in 2 hours.
The initial road did not bode well. But we soon came across smooth tarmac and the road to Bukhara was excellent.
We got there in about an hour and drove straight into the centre.
What a beautiful place.
Ancient Mosques and tall minarets standing like giant chess pieces. The dome of the central mosque was blue (Lapus Lazuli?). The place was an archaeological dream, all from the 15th century.
Small, domed markets joined up the streets and the most beautiful stepped pond surrounded by fountains sat in the centre of town.
I bumped into Alex in a bar next to the pond. We decided that it was in our interest not to go on to Samarqand - this place was heaven.
We checked into the hotel Caravan and cleaned up (thanks for the travel wash Mum). Back to the pond for cold beer.
We met (for the second time) a team in a London Taxi. 3 lads and an older guy. We later found out that one of the young lads father was 2nd in command at MI6 and had 'sent the boys in' to collect Milosevic. The older guy was an ex-foreign correspondant for an American news agency.
Cool.
We met a Dutch guy and 2 french sisters. The evening was set and we drank ice cold beer until late.
A wonderful place and a wonderful day.
Straight to the border crossing, I feared another ordeal on the Turkmen side but it was effortless. The Uzbek border was orderly and no bribes! We were through in 2 hours.
The initial road did not bode well. But we soon came across smooth tarmac and the road to Bukhara was excellent.
We got there in about an hour and drove straight into the centre.
What a beautiful place.
Ancient Mosques and tall minarets standing like giant chess pieces. The dome of the central mosque was blue (Lapus Lazuli?). The place was an archaeological dream, all from the 15th century.
Small, domed markets joined up the streets and the most beautiful stepped pond surrounded by fountains sat in the centre of town.
I bumped into Alex in a bar next to the pond. We decided that it was in our interest not to go on to Samarqand - this place was heaven.
We checked into the hotel Caravan and cleaned up (thanks for the travel wash Mum). Back to the pond for cold beer.
We met (for the second time) a team in a London Taxi. 3 lads and an older guy. We later found out that one of the young lads father was 2nd in command at MI6 and had 'sent the boys in' to collect Milosevic. The older guy was an ex-foreign correspondant for an American news agency.
Cool.
We met a Dutch guy and 2 french sisters. The evening was set and we drank ice cold beer until late.
A wonderful place and a wonderful day.
1 comment:
Good good good......
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