After breakfast we go off in search of a market, which we spotted yesterday, when we were on the way back to the hotel. It's been raining hard, but soon dries off, and the temperature is pleasantly warm enough to wander around in short sleeves.
We have a specific mission this morning - to find somewhere that sells cheap reading glasses; Reg has already lost the 2 pairs he bought at a market stall in Moscow, to replace the 2 pairs he brought from home, and can't see to use his smartphone and computer without them. His 2 favourite sayings this holiday have to be,
"I've lost my glasses ... again! I think I left them in that cafe place!
and
"These boots are superb!" (referring to his new walking boots).
At least he doesn't make dumb statements like I did, while lying in bed this morning.
"That bird's making a funny noise. It sounds like someone scraping mud off their boots."
Reg: " That's no bird. That's me using the computer mouse."
. After quite a long walk and asking a couple of people, we find the market. It's a huge covered fruit and vegetable bazaar, selling everything from huge spring onions to spices, grains, and flour. Around the outside are several stalls selling other goods - domestic wares, cheap toys, and sunglasses. I spot a couple of pairs of reading glasses at the bottom of the stand, and quick as a flash the woman assistant has a whole box of reading glasses out for Reg to choose from. At this point I should say that Reg has his money in a money belt around his waist, which he wears inside his trousers (for absolute safety!) As usual we count out out oodles of notes to pay for the glasses - 31,000 Uzbekistan soms.
Afterwards Reg puts his remaining wad of money back in his money belt and we start to wander away. As we do so, notes pour from the bottom of Reg's trouser leg! He gathers them up and more pour out! And more! Reg, the lady who runs the stall, and I are creased up with laughter. It takes Reg a few minutes to shake all the notes out of his trousers. He must have accidentally missed the money bag! The stall lady hands Reg a couple of elastic bands. Eeenglish! What are we like!!
I can't stop giggling all the way to a little cafe we go into, near the market. It's truly Uzbekistani as in additon to cafe tables and seats there are very low tables with cushions around them on the floor; some people sit at these tables, cross-legged, eating their food. Reg and I so far haven't really enjoyed what we've tasted of food in Tashkent. The food here doesn't look very appetizing either. We order a cup of tea - it's lukewarm - we should send it back but we drink it anyway. At this roadside cafe it's a really cheap cuppa - the equivalent of 25p.
On our way back to our hotel, we look for somewhere to eat. It's Sunday though and many places are closed. We find a little fast-food cafe, and have an orange Fanta and mediocre burger each. Not sensible but the only place we can find open. Reg has to ask for his to be warmed up in the microwave. I hope the Paraclens (herbal protection against tummy upsets) do their job.
We return to the hotel for a rest. As Reg gets changed still more notes fell out of his underpants! Did you really need that information?! We prepare for our overnight train journey to Bukhara. The lovely young girl on reception willingly takes our thermos flask yet again to fill it with boiling water. We've been doing this regularly while here, to enable us to make tea in our room - there are no tea and coffee making facilities here, as in British and European hotels. All the hostels have this facility, but there are no hostels in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, so we are staying in 2 star hotels.
We paid extra to stay in our room until 6 pm. It's now 7 pm, and we're sitting in the hotel lobby, waiting for our taxi to take us to the station. I'm writing this, and Reg is listening to his favourite tracks on Spotify through his smartphone.
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