The way back home

Our trip around Uzbekistan came to an end and we finished it as we started it in Tashkent. First we took the metro from our hotel to a park. The controls at the metro station can be quite tight, especially if you look like a tourist. So carry your passport or a copy of the same with you.

Next to the park are some governmental buildings. The park was very beautiful, quite and we strolled along the paths and lakes. The city was still covered with a lot of posters of the Independence Day.

On the way back to another metro station we saw some interesting architecture dating back to Soviet times and some younger ones.

Our last mission was to buy several things on the big bazaar. We looked for clothes and found a jeans for Andreas. We moved on through the fruit stands and made our way to the spice and nuts market.

Spice & Nuts market are under the dome

Of course, they were also selling my "most favorite" spice: zira = cumin. We found it nearly on and in every dish in Uzbekistan: in plov, on steak, in and on bread, once even on shashlik.

We took some time to find the eatery of the bazaar and then had chicken, somsa and bread for lunch. You order on the front and then take a seat in the back and you get your meal served. Actually we expected it to be warmer, more tasty and less expensive, but it was definitely an interesting experience.

From the bazaar we saw an interesting building with a spiral staircase winding up on its outside to the top. To get a better view of our surroundings we climbed the stairs up. And found a supermarket, a stork and a good view on Tashkent.

Our visit to supermarket got us some sweets but no vodka, so we nearly asked somebody but then saw the kind of liquor store across the road. There we got some bottles nicely wrapped in an old newspaper. We returned to the hotel with our treasures and packed our luggage for the flight.

Later we met Maksim (our travel agent) for dinner and a night at the favorite skiers', boarders' and rockers' hangout. At the restaurant we paid the highest bill ever in Uzbekistan (94,500 sum).

Around midnight we left the hotel and returned to the airport. We went again through all the procedures and then headed off to Riga.

Early morning we touched down in Riga and went to the city centre for breakfast. We found a nice cafe which offered a wide variety of pastry. Afterwards we strolled through the city until it was time to leave for the airport.

In the early afternoon, we landed in sunny Munich. Uzbekistan and Riga were very interesting and beside the memories in my mind, there is also a table full of souvenirs.

T-Shirt, cosmetic bag, money bag, apricots, apricot stones, almonds, scarves, sweets, book stand, nuts plate, silk paper, business card holder, bread printer, spice bottle and two bottles of vodka.