Our last day in Uzbekistan is dedicated to its capital. Our plane took off the next day from the nearby airport. It is therefore a good opportunity to embark on the discovery of Tashkent today.
The Soviet underground heritage
The Soviets did not spend the entire budget on armaments. Indeed, as in all countries, the upkeep of the commons is part of it. And as this was an opportunity to show the success of the system, these commons are often more prestigious than what we are used to in France. This is the case of the Uzbek metro that the Russians have built and which each station is worth a look.
A tour of the market
The Tashkent market is huge and colorful. One hour or two can easily be walked there and it is the ideal place for a glimpse of Uzbek life. We can also take the opportunity to bring back a small edible souvenir. For us, this will be a bag of a mixture of spices typical of the region. The market extends to the open sky, sometimes under an awning, or even under a huge dome for products requiring freshness: meat, cheese and fish.
You will take a little Amir Temur?
The conqueror left an immense imprint in Uzbekistan. In the same way that it is difficult to walk in Paris without seeing an evocation of Napoleon Bonaparte, it is complex to miss those of Amir Temur in Tashkent.
The Romanovs also left their mark
Indeed, the ex-Grand Duke Nicolas Constantinovitch of Russia (1850-1917), cousin of Tsar Nicholas II was banished to Tashkent. He still had a palace for residence. This one is in a perfect summer of conservation. In 2019, however, we could not visit it because it was then a possession of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Independence square
Bearing this name since 1991, the Uzbek government has updated this place. He notably moved the statue of Lenin to make room for symbols of the country. It is here that we end our visit and return to the hotel. The plane will take us back to France the next morning.
If you want to see the other days of this stay, find all our stories. The discovery of Tashkent is not an end in itself but it offers an interesting vision of a formerly soviet capital. If you liked it, this trip can give you the opportunity to visit it for yourself.
