Leaving Tashkent – First Impressions

<b>Worthy of revisiting</ b>

That would probably be my final summary of Uzbekistan.

There can be a bit of a language barrier in some of the less touristy areas and you shouldn’t expect many signs or notices in English 😂 But honestly, nothing that Google Translate and a few enthusiastic hand signals can’t solve.

In fact, I think that’s part of what made me enjoy this place so much. Even though we’re staying in the modern and relatively wealthy capital, Tashkent, it still doesn’t feel overly tourist-ised. And that is refreshing.

> Feeling Safe

One thing I noticed straight away was how safe I felt here.

Walking around at night, using public transport, wandering through markets it all felt relaxed and comfortable.

Even being called over by stallholders in the bazaar felt friendly rather than pushy… although I suppose it wouldn’t really be a bazaar if people weren’t trying to sell you things 😂

Everyone I asked for help genuinely tried to assist and I can easily imagine travelling here solo without any issues.

> Practical Bits

A couple of useful observations:
• Tap and Go / Apple Pay works in many places, including the Tashkent Metro
• It’s still a good idea to carry some cash
• The currency definitely falls into the “lots of zeros” category 🤪

Overall, accommodation, transport and food are very reasonably priced… though fruit and alcohol can sometimes be a little more expensive.

> Reasons to Return

This definitely feels like a place worth coming back to.

Next time I’d love to explore more of the historic cities along the Silk Road:
• Bukhara
• Khiva
• Samarkand

Places filled with centuries of history, architecture and culture.

And of course… meet more locals and eat plenty more delicious food.

For now though, it’s time to say goodbye to Tashkent… at least for this trip.

But something tells me this won’t be my last visit.Read more