Decided to take a walk around and stretch the legs a bit.
Mike has acquired a city map so no problem getting around and with his handy compass I am pretty sure we will be ok. (Mike for future reference is my Father in law)
It is quite warm (around 30c) which does not bode well for the padded jacket and scarf I have packed we shall see.
First sight is listed as a Photographic exhibition (Ташкентский
Дом Фотографии) which I am pretty sure is Photography, Well its open and free so it would be rude not to so in we go.
Some fairly interesting oil paintings and we are accompanied all the way around by the guard who is insisting on pointing to each picture as we walk past (as if we needed help). Several big rooms full of paintings all local scenes and I have to say they are ok nothing I need to rave about but well executed (no pictures allowed).
The one thing which does strike us is that there are actually “no” photographs at all which for a Photography exhibition seems slightly odd.
We move on past the Congress center a tall white marble edifice which is very
impressive, where the guards are hiding in the shade of the trees and cross a 5
lane road to gardens of Amir Timur Square. We need to read up on our Uzbekistan history as this guy seems important.
Not too many people around but a sprinkling of them sitting on benches and kids playing, it soon becomes apparent that we are becoming the center of attention. People are surreptitiously taking pictures of us.
Now we are not standing out particularly although we are the only none locals around so not a problem for a while but it all begins to get a little out of hand when people want to take a picture of us two old Europeans smiling alongside their children (this won’t we the last time this happens on this trip). This continues for a while until we decide it is getting a little warm and we should continue and find a drink somewhere in the shade