Most Inspirational Moment
our tour leader Dilshod who was unfailingly cheerful, knowledgeable, efficient, tactful etc etc., one of the finest of many trips (50+)
but the country is revelatory, relieved of Soviet domination, apparently thriving (natural gas) and happy (although we went off route, deliberately, in Tashkent and walked through districts which had never seen a tourist, a total difference to the sanitised "open" areas, and the cleanliness of the streets was an object lesson))
the "heritage" is spectacular, the most wondrous monuments, heavily restored to almost too spick and span mode
creature comforts adequate, the hotels varied from the Soviet in Tashkent to boutique style in Bokhara to less than modest in Samarkand; acceptable, never less than so but never more, always hot water but lacking in individuality or recommendation
food very samey, excellent salads for those who dared (the markets were most impressive in the wealth and depth of produce), ; 75%+ suffered from intestinal hurry; those of we lucky who eat off the streets were happily spared
Thoughts on Group Leader
brilliant
Advice for Potential Travellers
go go go
Suggestions
the desperation to ensure that we did not miss the returning flight meant that the last 2 days involved a lot of travelling and "free time", so was a let-down; it would appear to be possible to contract this and allow a free day, most of our group of 16 (top weight, fewer would have been more manageable, C&K were restricted to 8, even VJV were fewer) would have voted for an extra night in the desert yurt
stunning venue, superb leader, ghastly flights (internal A320 lovely), outstanding monuments, fascinating people (what an ethnic mix), in the top 10% of trips