Uzbekistan, a country which conjures to mind images of ancient caravans traversing the desert from one city to the next, is quite possible the highlight of the team’s “Stans” portion of the trek. The cities of Tashkent, Khiva, Samarkland, and Bhukara all played a role as major stops along the famed Silk Road. A small country just south of what is left of the Aral Sea is the only Central Asian country to share borders with all the others in the region made it a natural highway for the trade of goods from Marco Polo’s time onward.
After fording the Amu Darya, John Drury will have hopefully had enough time to figure out how to be a good Turkmen and the group can pass into the lands of Uzbekistan. After a quick rest stop in the town of Khiva the group will spend time in awe at the sight of an ancient citadel from the 18th century.
Weaving over top and running along side the great river the group will ramble towards Bhukara, central Asia’s holiest city. After shopping in the great Bhukara Bazaar for much needed supplies and a stop in the capital of Tashkent the intrepid eight will move east towards Tajikistan, bracing the cars for the second highest international highway in the world.
