Tashkent/Uzbekistan

The capital of Uzbekistan, one of the independent Turkic states in Central Asia, is our stop this week. In the geography where you can always feel the traces of our ancestors, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz and Kazakhs help us to feel comfortable. For this reason, you can be sure that you will never feel foreign when you come here. 

The airport of Tashkent city, the capital of the country, has been renovated in recent years, and although it is medium-sized, it has a very effective use. Passport procedures, which take 5-10 minutes for each person on average, may tire you a little after about 5 hours of flight. There are airlines that fly here regularly from our country, even offering flights 3-4 times a day at some times.

When you arrive here with the aforementioned flights, whose arrival times usually coincide with the night period, continental climate features await you in winter and summer periods. While winters are cold and rainy, high temperatures can often be encountered in summer. For this purpose, choosing clothes suitable for the expected weather conditions of the region before you arrive will affect the quality of the pleasure you will get. The best time to visit this geography, where temperature differences between day and night are high, is in spring and fall.

If you do not have a pre-arranged transfer at the terminal exit, a taxi will be the most convenient option for your hotel. Although there is a very efficient metro network in the city, the airport area has not yet been able to have this option. It is possible to reach the city center from the airport within 30-40 minutes depending on the traffic situation. On the way to the city center, if you are in daytime conditions and you know the old times of these places, the change and development experienced here will immediately make itself felt to you. Indeed, the rise in the level of welfare in the last 10 years; the change in people's daily lives can be observed very quickly in a positive sense.

Extremely modern and new technological buildings have increased in a way that attracts attention, especially as you approach the city center. The brands and prices of the vehicles in traffic will be the first things that really catch your eye. Another point is that 8-9 out of every 10 cars you will see here are Chevrolet models. I think this feature, which I have not noticed in other countries in this geography before, will immediately attract your attention when you come here. 

Another feature that will attract your attention when you come to Tashkent city will be the buildings described as state houses from the Soviet Russia time and large parks and rally areas. These houses where low-income people reside will immediately make you realize yourself. There are many madrasahs and mosques to visit in the city. Traces of common history await you in this country and Tashkent city, where the vast majority of the people are Muslim. Emir Timur square is one of these places. Likewise, Independence Square in the very center of the city has these features. The mosques specific to Uzbek architecture are very interesting with their different appearance from the mosques in our country. 

It is possible to reach many places of interest in the city by metro. It is possible to use the subway one way for a very low (2.3 tl) fee. Large and spacious metro stations are preferred by the public with very effective use. The fact that everyone made an effort to give me a seat on the subway on my last visit both surprised me and made me happy that the ethic of giving space to elders within the scope of the education and manners we received when we were young is still alive here. In the meantime, even though I didn't want to admit it, I started to prepare myself to accept that we are getting older. 

In Uzbekistan, a country with historical cities such as Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand, trade makes itself felt in every aspect of life. Natural and very delicious products (walnuts, almonds, grapes, etc.) are waiting for you at affordable prices in many markets in the city center. In the city where people over the age of 40 mainly speak Russian, you can easily fulfill many of your business using Turkish. While traveling along the road, you can easily find the meaning of the signs and the boards on the shops. 

For Uzbek cuisine; You can experience many flavors such as Uzbek pilaf, samsa, Uzbek ravioli at affordable prices in shabby places right next to the markets. You can discover the flavors you desire with different presentations at very affordable prices in many restaurants and cafes in the city. The city of Tashkent, which hosts places where the nightlife is also very colorful and enjoyable, will keep good memories with you on your return. 

I wish you a pleasant trip.