Tashkent day 2

 Not such an early start as the day before but still up, showered and out by 10am.. My mission this morning was to get some new headphones for my train journey.  After popping into the supermarket for some freshly baked bread I headed to 'the mall' only to find it was mainly jewellery shops! I spied a shop across the road that looked like it could help.. Again no the guy in his broken English pointed me in the right direction.  There is a bus or a cab ..the cab is only 13000 uz ...umm the bus 1700..yep u guessed I got the bus!

First shop I found did the job...first thing the guy said .."these are fake" 😂😂 the fact they cost less than 2€ i kinda guessed! 

New headphones in hand I walked off to find the Minor Mosque.  Set between high rise and modern buildings this structure was definitely something of beauty.  Again with the bright white walls the brilliant blue dome and the incredible architecture.  There were a handful of people there at the same time so there was a very calm and peaceful feel.  I was given a robe to cover my legs and head and I went into the main 'room'.  As I was given something to cover me I figured we were allowed in.  I was sat peacefully at the side, watching two other tourists walk around and take pictures.  Soon after a guy hurried in and ushered us out.."men only, men only, no womens"! Of course they do not pray together.  The man was very apologetic but of course I should have realised 🥴

Note to self made!!

My next stop took me to the national plov centre.  Plov is one of the traditional dishes of the country.  It is rice based then topped with some meat concoction! As it was a Saturday the place was heaving.  Basically there is a space with lots of big black cauldrons fuelled by wood, cooking the things separately.  Then they all come together in a bigger pot...I mean big!! 

The temperature today was around 35 I think, in this Plov place it must have been 100!! Seriously as you walked in it like walking in to a furnace! How those guys work in there day in day out is incredible! 

I refrained from eating and just took the obligatory picture 😊

As I was walking back to the main road to catch the metro I spotted some blue domes on the other side of the road.  So I hoped across to investigate.  With the help of Google I found out it was the Memorial to the Victims of Repression in Tashkent.  Another beautiful park with monuments and an incredible building which unfortunately was shut for lunch.  But the rest of the park was lovely to wander through.

I headed down to the metro and got off  again at the Uzbekistan hotel.  In front of the hotel is again a park with a statue of an important person.  I sat in a bench in the shade and watched people take their picture with this important person.  I ate my left over bread from breakfast with I feel my new favourite thing...cheese triangles with mushrooms... delicious!! 

I sat for a while and people watched, enjoying the shade.  I then mosied on back towards the hostel.  I had a couple of hours to kill so found a tree and some shade and plonked myself down.  Just enjoying the quietness and the shade and decided to write this blog.. So that's where it all started! 

I wandered back to the hostel, repacked my bag, wrote a bit more then headed for tea.  Yep you guessed it same place! Headed back for a cheeky shower, sorted my last things and headed for the bus.  Destination Tashkent South train station to catch my over night train to khiva.

The train was due to depart at 21h they started loading us on from 20h.  I couldn't quite work out my ticket.  After a few hand gestures and broken words I figured out I was in the right cabin but made up the wrong bed!! (I did think I booked a lower bunk) All sorted cabin full, me and 3 uzbec guys the train starts it's engines and off we go.  At the beginning it was like being in a sauna fully clothed..but as the train starts to chug towards our destination it is bearable.  I'm going to love you and leave you..it's 1am should arrive at our destination by 11am! You gotta love a night train!!

The new headphones I bought have already been donated to my bunk buddy who was watching a movie on full volume, bless him! 

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