Forgot to tell you that yesterday we came across a well known and well dressed guy whom our guide introduced to us as a TV show host of a Russian fashion and clothing channel. They’re the same the world over. Gay as.
This morning after a very leisurely start, we walked to some of the close-by sites of modern Tashkent starting with Independence Square, situated next to the President’s palace. There were 100s of police everywhere blocking off every path into the park around the square, and we were repeatedly stopped from entering. Eventually one kind officer radioed somebody to let us in. “Make sure your guests are told that it was closed for cleaning“, our guide was told.
In the centre of the park was a statue and flame commemorating the 160,000 deaths of Uzbek men who died fighting for Russia in WWII. As with most Soviet war memorials, it was very moving. By the time we finished at the flame, all the policemen had withdrawn and the park was open. Guess the cleaning had finished.
The Amaliy Sanat Museum of Applied Arts houses a large collection of silk garments, pottery, ceramics, metal crafting of various types, embroidery, wood carving, and instruments, and it was our next stop. Originally housed in an old, traditional Tashkent house, when they needed to expand it they added two wings on in the Soviet style.
Then it was off to the central Chorsu Bazaar for lunch and shop. Very extensive, with different areas for fruit and vegetables, meat, spices, nuts, clothing, homewares and lots of others. Much, much bigger than anything in Australia.
The afternoon was spent at the Holy Imam Square, considered the central heart of the city. We saw a couple of madrasas, and a mausoleum containing the remains of some early Imams, before coming to the ‘highlight of the city’ – the library of the Holy Imam Square.
There is a very early copy of the Sunni Koran on display there. The local Islamic community would like you to believe that is was one of the first 7 copies made of the Koran in the 7th century, and distributed to major cities of the Islamic world. However, carbon dating dates this manuscript from the 8th or 9th century. Nevertheless, it’s very old, and written on animal skins. Legend has it that it was originally sent to Baghdad, pinched by Emir Temur in 1392 when he conquered the city, and taken to back to his capital Samarkand. Pinched again by a Russian general in 1869, it was eventually returned by Lenin as a gesture of goodwill in 1924.
Lastly, we saw the large Tillya Shiekh Mosque, built only 6 years ago, and now about to be obsoleted by a huge Islamic cultural centre and mosque being built next door.
After some packing time, it was off to our farewell dinner at another traditional Uzbek restaurant.