- Jamie Shannon
Bukhara. An unforgettable place
I enjoyed a couple of very relaxed days in Bukhara and it felt great to get off the bike. The hotel that I found as I wandered the streets in the evening of the day I’d like to forget turned out to be one of my better decisions. I was treated to, once again, exceptionally warm hospitality, a huge double room and a succulent breakfast every morning – and all for the bargain price of $15! That wouldn’t even get you a bed in some European cities but out here it seems I can really afford some comfort for a change.
Bukhara really is an exceptionally beautiful city and that’s all I’m really going to say about it. If you’d like to know more then I’m afraid you’ll have to empty your wallet of $150 for the visa.
Walking around the old town, it felt like I was the youngest ‘tourist’ there. It was nice to be surrounded by other westerners again and to not stick out like a sore thumb like I usually do but every person there seemed to be part of a tour group for the over sixties. Well with myself feeling like I was part of an over sixties cruise, It’s no surprise that I didn’t meet anyone else but that’s probably also down to the fact that I didn’t stay in a hostel. My bad. Look’s like Ill be heading off into the desert alone again. Oh fiddle sticks!
It really feels a little different down this end of the country too. You really have to watch the prices carefully as they tot them up for you on the calculator. They are always trying to add on an extra 500 here and 200 there and it’s really beginning to piss me off. In the shop, as the guy was doing it, I noticed he typed in 8500 for a bar of chocolate when I knew the price was 8000. I gestured that his fingers were pressing the wrong buttons and he typed in the real price. It’s not much money but I just don’t like the practice.
With my Tajik visa printed out, it was time to head to country number 19 or country number 28 if I’m including last years aborted trip and for reasons of vanity, I think I will.
