This month, I celebrated my seventh anniversary on the railways. Seven years since I turned up at the local station for my first day. It’s been a blast. I love my job, as far as jobs go. If they stop paying me, I stop coming in. That might sound like common sense, but there’s plenty … Continue reading Reforming the Railways
The trip to Samarkand from Tashkent is a journey back to the 15th century. Courtesy of a 20th century Soviet rail network. Aboard the speed and luxury of a 21st century Spanish bullet train. Any sensible tourist these days will use the train to get about Uzbekistan. They’re so reasonably priced, you’ll quite possibly treat … Continue reading The Silk Road ‘22
Tashkent sounds exotic. Mysterious. Far away. Exotic. And yet, does the name conjure up any specific image? It didn’t for me, and I suspect I’m not alone. So Tashkent was a journey of discovery, which is the best type of journey in my opinion. How best can I give a brief overview of what I … Continue reading Tashkent Calling
Most visits to Uzbekistan will usually start and finish in the capital, Tashkent. You’ll fly into a modern airport. You’ll catch a modern taxi, most likely a Chevrolet. You’ll drive down decent roads with plenty of sturdy looking buildings on either side. That’s how our trip started and that was my first impression of Tashkent. … Continue reading Uzbek Impressions
Why visit Uzbekistan? A question I’ve been asked plenty just lately. Central Asia is not a part of the world that has traditionally been on the British traveller’s radar. Our adventures in Afghanistan over the last couple of centuries have been filed in the ‘Best If Quickly Forgotten’ drawer. The Silk Road? As kids, we … Continue reading Uzbekistan
The Mexile 