... well, actually we took the train from Tashkent to Samarkand, but let's not be picky! I was lucky enough to escape the office again last week and headed off on my first visit to Uzbekistan, kindly hosted by our local partners there.
This was an educational trip travelling with 9 other people from various tour operators and we made a whistle stop tour of the main sights of this amazing country, along with lots of hotel & restaurant visits so we could check out the best options for our clients. Everyone in the office warned me against the food, but I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed it ... even plov! The range of fresh salads and delicious bread were a daily highlight, not to mention the wonderful lamb shashlik.
And although I'd seen many pictures of the Registan square in Samarkand, you really can't appreciate it's scale and beauty until you've stood under those towering minarets and shining blue domes. In addition I found Bukhara a delightfully atmospheric town, full of ancient buildings and many small roads and alleys to wander through exploring. Khiva too was like an open-air museum with its fabulous walled old town.
The people are incredibly welcoming and friendly too, and I must admit they know how to party! Visiting over "Navruz" - Uzbek new year - we came across a couple of celebrations and joined in (poorly!) with the local dancing. This really is a destination that captures the imagination and the romance of the old Silk Road.
