After a peaceful night we wake up before our alarm at 7.00. We pack our bags and let the children get some extra sleep before we leave for the station at 8.00.
The station is literally across the street so no need for a taxi this time. We put all our luggage through the scanner at the entrance of the station and make our way to the station hall. The advised 30 minutes earlier arrival is more than enough so we have plenty of time to get breakfast. We buy many different breads with savoury fillings.
When our train arrives we go to the platform, show our tickets from the Uzbek railway app and our passports and take our seats in the high speed Afrosiab, a new Spanish train. Although we sit at a 4-seat, we sit in one line next to each other. The train service entertains us, brings coffee, tea, earphones and even croissants. It’s a 3-hour ride. Long enough for Zeno to get bored and start throwing stuff at the passengers in front of him. Not nice, but we’re happy that he seems to be his normal, naughty and energetic self.
We arrive on time at Samarkand railway station and start up our Yandex app to arrange a pickup. Once again we make our way through a horde of taxi drivers selling their services to get to our taxi that is already waiting for us. The 15 min drive to our apartment costs one euro and gives us an insight in the slightly chaotic Uzbek traffic that mainly consists of white Chevrolets, we learn that Uzbek motors produces Chevrolets for Russia, Kazachstan and Uzbekistan, which explains why almost every car on the road is a Chevrolet.
We meet up with our Airbnb host and enjoy our early check in. The apartment is situated right opposite the Registan which we can see from our bedroom window. Amazing! It’s also a fully fledged appartment, with two bedrooms, kitchen and bathroom with hot running water. Now we finally have a kitchen, Olga tries the mini market next to the playground for some healthier food. The children are still a bit tired from the short night so they do a nap in their room, while we enjoy our home cooked lunch.
After we’re recharged, we feel more than ready to explore the next door monumental ensemble of Registan, a square with three beautiful madrassa’s. The entrance fee is a very reasonable €9 for our whole family.
We start with the Ulugh Beg Madrasah. Built in 1417, it’s by far the oldest building in the complex. Ulugh Beg was the grandson of Tamerlane, an emperor and astronomer.
The other two madrassas were built in the 17th century in typical Persian style. The whole complex reminds us a lot of the buildings we saw in Iran. Each Madrassa has an impressive portal, square courtyard and several rooms you can visit that show exhibitions and sell Uzbek souvenirs.
After a couple of hours, many foto shoots, petting the cats that walk around and saving Zeno’s life many times as he climbs on everything, we call it quits and cross the street, back to our apartment. We enjoy another home cooked vegan meal at the table. Tim leaves for his first Uzbek evening photo shoot, while the children get a much needed spa session and go to bed. This time Zeno falls a sleep straight away, but Cleo is still singing songs when we write this post at 21.
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