Bazaars, Soup & Metro Observations

We actually did a bit of homework last night and read up on some of the history of the Silk Road… which made today’s wandering around the city feel even more interesting.

But first… dinner from the night before.

After a bit of exploring we stumbled across a restaurant that seemed to be full of locals (always a good sign). The only problem was that it was strangely elusive… I couldn’t even find it on my map 😂

Eventually we realised Adras Milly was hiding underneath a large gym. Not the easiest place to spot, but definitely worth the search.

Thankfully they had photo menus and we had Google Translate, so ordering became part of the adventure.

I chose Mastava, a wonderfully warming soup filled with vegetables, rice and a lamb chop.

It was basically a warm, comforting hug in a bowl.

I also ordered some bread for dipping and a pot of lemon green tea… simple, delicious and exactly what was needed after a long day.

> Morning at Chorsu Bazaar

With a slightly later start this morning, we headed straight to the vibrant and busy Chorsu Bazaar.

At the centre stands its distinctive blue-domed building, while the surrounding market spreads out in every direction… a maze of sounds, colours and smells.

Walking through it, I couldn’t help imagining what this place might have looked like centuries ago, filled with merchants arriving along the Silk Road carrying silk, spices and treasures from across Asia.

My favourite stalls were the fruit sellers. Everything looked incredibly fresh and polished… piles of apples, pomegranates and citrus all stacked perfectly.

I didn’t take photos, but the sweet section was fascinating. Vendors scooped bowls of a fluffy sweet called nishalda, piling it high like fresh marshmallow before covering it with chocolate and seeds.

Yzzy would have gone head first into one of those barrels if she had been here 😂

> A Quiet Moment

After the lively chaos of the market, we stepped into the calm courtyard of Kukeldash Madrasah.

This medieval madrasa (Islamic school) has stood here since the 16th century and is still used for teaching today. The peaceful courtyard was a perfect contrast to the energy of the bazaar outside.

> Fast Food, Uzbek Style

Eventually it was time to sit down and refuel, so we stopped at EVOS for a quick bite.

I had a mojito (the non-alcoholic version a lime and mint lemonade) along with a doner roll, which hit the spot perfectly 👍

> Metro Geek Notes 😂

Of course I’ve also been making a few observations about the Tashkent Metro.

A few things I’ve noticed:
• The doors always open on the same side that you boarded from, so there’s no last-second panic about which side to dash for 😂
• Many stations are not very deep, often just two short flights of stairs down
• And the price? About 11p per journey 🤪

Public transport heaven for a transport geek.

🚇

Another lovely day exploring Tashkent… from hidden local restaurants to bustling markets and peaceful historic courtyards.Read more