Toshkent, Uzbekistan: Day 23
Cruising Uzbekistan proved considerably easier than expected. Not a land of sand and religion but fields and ice cream vendors. Toshkent radio towers welcomed us to a vast tree-filled college town. My intense illness catches up with Sara and we force ourselves to pay for another hotel.
From the road:
Hoteling it again as there doesn’t appear to be anywhere secure to sleep in UZ. We just drove in to Toshkent and picked up Aygul, a cute 3rd-year med student in a red dress who spoke perfect English and cruised us right to Hotel Orzu. She took some money for a cab ride back to the park where we accosted her but, still, amazing hospitality as usual.
ALSO, The roads are quite decent when you’re not being plowed over by hordes of Ladas and Daewoos, there seems to be a ‘no bullshit’ policy with the police (as in no harassment, no paperwork, no small-talk, no problem) . . . And some of the people still wave and whistle on the roadside! Got a free melon with our directions when we dipped a toe in Kazakhstan this evening. Folks around here stare at you and drive like they have a deathwish but they’re sweet as pie once you say hello.