Tashkent. wandering.

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So it's mid-morning by the time we got here, sufficiently refreshed without the need to imbibe cok juice, a rather impressive hotel, nope not where we are sleeping tonight, just a handy place for those who wanted to exchange some sterling/dollars/euros into the local Tenge.

Hello at the back do you not use Apple pay? I swore down I would never use it, but fuck me its handy, and it holds my nectar card in the wallet.

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In April 1966 a catastrophic earthquake occurred with Tashkent at its epicentre, the lives lost were fortunately low but the historic city was destroyed and up to 300,000 people were made homeless. The city was rebuilt. The Hotel Uzbekistan was completed in typical brutalist Soviet style (isn't it gorgeous?) and even today stands as one of the landmarks of the city and best known examples of Soviet architecture in Central Asia.

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It is built at a weird obtuse angle, with the facade covered with shade providing interlocking concrete blocks.

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Given its size, it is surprising that it it only actually has 200 rooms; renovation is being undertaken to complete the conversion of the rooms to western standards. (e.g. sit down bogs and hot running water).

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How much longer! It seems the cashiers are rather anal, any slight mark or crumple on dollar bills are rejected, form filling by hand in triplicate money counted and double checked by an assistant, sheesh. Back in the US back in the US back in the USSR

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I just had to follow my instincts and , well a half open door is an invitation to enter? Surely

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Damn that looked interesting and warranted investigation; but I got no further, challenged by some guy in a suit, not a clue what he was saying, but I got the impression he wanted me to leave the area. Jobsworth!

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So it was back to the lobby to sit and sulk and wait, and wait and Hoofuckingray, it's done let's get going

Courage Monument

On the fringe of a tree filled park, a quiet spot, a small garden with large significance in the history of Tashkent

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At 5:24 am on 26th April 1966, an earthquake of 5.2 on the Richter scale occurred: Tashkent was at the epicentre, it destroyed more than 500 acres of the city and surrounding area. leaving 200 dead and up to 300,000 homeless.

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In 1976 On the 10 year anniversary the Earthquake Memorial was constructed as a lasting memorial to those that died

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The memorial is in the form of a granite cube displaying the time of the first tremor, joined by a zig-zag to a plinth, symbolising the earthquake's destruction on which an Uzbek man protects a woman and child from the ground opening up before them.

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Thanks for visiting my page, I am pleased to make your acquaintance. this is Stephen aka, @grindle, happily retired, travelling the world snapping away. My weapon of choice is currently a Nikon Z6(2). Unless stated all images are shot by me, all text is mine based on various info sources. NOT AI generated. If you like my blog, it would be very much appreciated if you upvote and follow me. Also please feel free to drop a comment. https://worldmappin.com/@grindle

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25 comments
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without the need to imbibe cok juice

😂 Mixed emotions here! You make me laugh out loud and then you make my face turn dark with the earthquake.
Well... I wonder which door you would have opened if you had drunk that juice?

The architecture is really impressive.

And the banknotes... strange!

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cheers @nanixxx always appreciate you dropping in, I hate to think about which door I would be forced through LOl,
I guess my style just lets me wander, I just write what pops into me head and my fingers just take over. I try not to over think lol

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It's the best thing you do hahaha....

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Cheers, but I am good at other things too LOL

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Wow Uzbekistan. What a place to be. What brought you there? Vibe seems interesting but a bit spooky @grindle. Perfect for you 😅 - Thanks for discovering this piece of the map and taking us with you! Very cool.

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you're welcome, I have this quest to visit every former state of the USSR, (there were 15,) of the former USSR and since a kid wanted to travel the silk route, so eventually got round to doing 3 of the stans last year. Loved it. six more republics to do...maybe one day!!

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Cool! How come you set yourself exactly that goal as a kid?! Very interesting! - Looking forward to the next ones already!

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I watched a documentary series, it was on a Sunday night, I still remember it vaguely now, called The Silk Route, it captivated me

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cool, how you still remember the exact moment @grindle! There was a user once that traveled the whole silkroad with his bike. I think his name is https://peakd.com/@silkroad40/posts - Did you know him?

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No I didn't know him, what an adventure!! I shall spend sometime looking at his posts cheers

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Few minutes away from the crazy to relax reading your travel once again. Always finding interesting topics to share with history.

Have a great day!

!BEER

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cheers Joan, good to see you pop in , always enjoy your comments, hope all is ok x

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One day at a time, something not in large supply at the moment. Always enjoy popping in to read, takes me off on a magic carpet ride....

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Understandable, really under the circumstances x

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!LOL !DOOK !PGM !BBH !LUV !BEER !PIZZA !WRD

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